theirishtimes--2020-02-20--Police did not search yard where man accused of garda murder said he had been

A senior garda investigating the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has said he doesn ’ t know why police in Northern Ireland didn ’ t search a yard where the man accused of his murder said he was laundering diesel on the evening of the shooting .
Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation also told prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the accused man Aaron Brady was deported to Ireland from America in 2017 having pleaded guilty to criminal damage , unlawful taking of a vehicle and dangerous driving five years earlier .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe ( 41 ) who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty shortly before 9.30pm on January 25 , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
The defendant has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location .
Defence counsel Michael O ’ Higgins questioned Insp Phillips over several hours about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Northern Ireland to search a yard on Concession Road in Armagh where Mr Brady said he was loading cubes of “ diesel waste ” on the evening when Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead .
Inspector Phillips said : “ I can ’ t say why it wasn ’ t searched but that was a decision taken by the senior investigating officer.
” He said that nothing Mr Brady told gardaí was deemed “ trivial ” but at the time , in February 2013 , Mr Brady was a witness in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he didn ’ t know if the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) was ever alerted to the possibility that there was a diesel laundering operation at the site , and he said that would be a matter for the district office in Dundalk .
Inspector Phillips told Mr Grehan for the prosecution that he didn ’ t investigate the site further because in 2013 Mr Brady said he was at the yard for ten to 15 minutes some time between 8pm and 9pm .
From 9pm to 10.30pm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fatal shooting , he put himself in an area known as Lough Road .
He said gardaí tried to corroborate this story and were told by three other people that Mr Brady was at Lough Road at that time .
He said the first time he was aware that Mr Brady had said he was at the yard at the time of the murder was in September 2019 .
He added that in December 2019 Mr Brady supplied information for the first time about what he was doing there .
Insp Phillips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Dundalk to investigate the robbery and murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe at Lordship and was not there to investigate diesel laundering .
The jury also heard that one million pages of materials were generated in the investigation into Det Gda Donohoe ’ s murder .
Insp Phillips agreed with Mr Grehan that there were 40,000 hours of CCTV footage , 6,000 jobs in 36 jobs ’ books , more than 3,000 statements and thousands of garda reports .
He further agreed with Mr O ’ Higgins that about 215 new witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as notices of additional evidence in the months leading up to the trial .
Having gone through the dates of each notice of additional evidence Mr O ’ Higgins said that he wanted the jury to “ get the full picture ” in a situation where the defence ’ s behaviour is “ going to be put under scrutiny ” .
Mr O ’ Higgins also pointed out that in a normal trial before the Central Criminal Court there would be one solicitor , one senior counsel and one junior counsel each for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial there are two state solicitors for the prosecution , one solicitor for the defence and both sides have two seniors , two juniors and a documentary junior .
In follow-up questions from Mr Grehan Insp Phillips agreed that in an investigation “ every ‘ i ’ must be dotted and every ‘ t ’ crossed ” and that new witnesses can come forward .
The witness further agreed that the investigation is ongoing “ notwithstanding the fact Mr Brady is the only person on trial.
” Detective Sergeant Michael Sheridan told Lorcan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtained a search warrant for a house belonging to the parents of a man the prosecution has said was involved in the robbery .
The warrant was executed on March 13 , 2013 .
Sergeant David O ’ Leary said he was part of the search team and he identified a walkie talkie that was found and photographed during the search .
The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women .

Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe (41). File photograph: Collins
A senior garda investigating the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has said he doesn't know why police in Northern Ireland didn't search a yard where the man accused of his murder said he was laundering diesel on the evening of the shooting.
Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation also told prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the accused man Aaron Brady was deported to Ireland from America in 2017 having pleaded guilty to criminal damage, unlawful taking of a vehicle and dangerous driving five years earlier.
Mr Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe (41) who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty shortly before 9.30pm on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
The defendant has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
READ MORE
Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins questioned Insp Phillips over several hours about the fact that gardaí did not ask police in Northern Ireland to search a yard on Concession Road in Armagh where Mr Brady said he was loading cubes of "diesel waste" on the evening when Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead.
Inspector Phillips said: “I can’t say why it wasn’t searched but that was a decision taken by the senior investigating officer.”
‘Trivial’
He said that nothing Mr Brady told gardaí was deemed "trivial" but at the time, in February 2013, Mr Brady was a witness in the case and not a suspect. He said he didn't know if the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was ever alerted to the possibility that there was a diesel laundering operation at the site, and he said that would be a matter for the district office in Dundalk.
Inspector Phillips told Mr Grehan for the prosecution that he didn’t investigate the site further because in 2013 Mr Brady said he was at the yard for ten to 15 minutes some time between 8pm and 9pm. From 9pm to 10.30pm, which covers the time of the robbery and fatal shooting, he put himself in an area known as Lough Road. He said gardaí tried to corroborate this story and were told by three other people that Mr Brady was at Lough Road at that time.
Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation said Aaron Brady was deported to Ireland from America in 2017. Photograph: Collins Courts
He said the first time he was aware that Mr Brady had said he was at the yard at the time of the murder was in September 2019. He added that in December 2019 Mr Brady supplied information for the first time about what he was doing there.
Insp Phillips also told Mr Grehan that he was in Dundalk to investigate the robbery and murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe at Lordship and was not there to investigate diesel laundering.
‘Investigation is ongoing’
The jury also heard that one million pages of materials were generated in the investigation into Det Gda Donohoe’s murder. Insp Phillips agreed with Mr Grehan that there were 40,000 hours of CCTV footage, 6,000 jobs in 36 jobs’ books, more than 3,000 statements and thousands of garda reports.
He further agreed with Mr O’Higgins that about 215 new witness statements have been furnished to the defence as notices of additional evidence in the months leading up to the trial. Having gone through the dates of each notice of additional evidence Mr O’Higgins said that he wanted the jury to “get the full picture” in a situation where the defence’s behaviour is “going to be put under scrutiny”.
Mr O'Higgins also pointed out that in a normal trial before the Central Criminal Court there would be one solicitor, one senior counsel and one junior counsel each for the defence and prosecution but in this trial there are two state solicitors for the prosecution, one solicitor for the defence and both sides have two seniors, two juniors and a documentary junior.
Defence counsel Michael O’Higgins questioned Detective Inspector Mark Phillips over several hours about the fact that gardaí did not ask police in Northern Ireland to search a yard. Photograph: Collins Courts
In follow-up questions from Mr Grehan Insp Phillips agreed that in an investigation “every ‘i’ must be dotted and every ‘t’ crossed” and that new witnesses can come forward. The witness further agreed that the investigation is ongoing “notwithstanding the fact Mr Brady is the only person on trial.”
Detective Sergeant Michael Sheridan told Lorcan Staines SC for the prosecution that he obtained a search warrant for a house belonging to the parents of a man the prosecution has said was involved in the robbery. The warrant was executed on March 13, 2013. Sergeant David O’Leary said he was part of the search team and he identified a walkie talkie that was found and photographed during the search.
The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-02-20--Woman injured by bolting horse awarded €52,500 against neighbours

A High Court judge has awarded a woman €52,500 damages against her neighbours for a back injury after she was knocked down by a horse which bolted from a stable .
Mary O ’ Regan ( 66 ) lived next door to and was friendly with Doug and Anita McGuinness , who owned the stables and a house at Reacasla , Brosna , Co Kerry .
The McGuinnesses had moved to another house about nine miles away in Meenkilly , Abbeyvale , Co Limerick , some years before the accident in 2014 .
As part of an arrangement in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep her miniature ponies at Reacasla stables on the basis she would feed a Clydesdale cob and yearling owned by Mr McGuinness .
There was a serious dispute about the terms of the arrangement and whom it was with , the court heard .
On March 20th , 2014 , Ms O ’ Regan said she went to the stable to feed the cob .
She opened the door and the cob bolted , knocking her to the ground .
She was unable to get up and rang her partner who arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hospital .
She claimed , as a result of an injury to her back from the incident , she suffered back injuries which have severely compromised her mobility and require her to use crutches .
The defendants denied the claims and issued a full defence arguing , among other things , trespass and contributory negligence .
It was also alleged by Mr McGuinness the accident had not happened where Ms O ’ Regan said it had .
It was further claimed Ms O ’ Regan collapsed at the bottom of the stairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier .
In a judgment last October , published this week , Mr Justice Bernard Barton found the defendants were negligent in common law .
He found the cob had not been let out for exercise the day Ms O ’ Regan arrived to feed it or the day before .
It was therefore reasonably foreseeable on the part of the defendants , if the cob was insufficiently exercised and/or overfed , he would eventually want to get out of his stable , he said .
He found Ms O ’ Regan was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arrangement but was not responsible for exercising the animals .
As a person with long experience of horses , she could have reasonably foreseen the circumstances that on opening the stable door the cob might try to get out and injure her in the process , he also held .
She exposed herself to that risk and was guilty contributory negligence assessed at 30 per cent , the judge found .
He awarded €75,000 but deducted €30,000 for contributory negligence , resulting in an award of €52,500 .

The judge found Mary O’Regan, as a person with long experience of horses, could have reasonably foreseen the circumstances that on opening the stable door the cob might try to get out and injure her in the process.
A High Court judge has awarded a woman €52,500 damages against her neighbours for a back injury after she was knocked down by a horse which bolted from a stable.
Mary O'Regan (66) lived next door to and was friendly with Doug and Anita McGuinness, who owned the stables and a house at Reacasla, Brosna, Co Kerry.
The McGuinnesses had moved to another house about nine miles away in Meenkilly, Abbeyvale, Co Limerick, some years before the accident in 2014.
As part of an arrangement in 2012, Ms O’Regan was allowed to keep her miniature ponies at Reacasla stables on the basis she would feed a Clydesdale cob and yearling owned by Mr McGuinness.
READ MORE
There was a serious dispute about the terms of the arrangement and whom it was with, the court heard.
On March 20th, 2014, Ms O’Regan said she went to the stable to feed the cob. She opened the door and the cob bolted, knocking her to the ground.
She was unable to get up and rang her partner who arrived and got an ambulance which took her to hospital.
She claimed, as a result of an injury to her back from the incident, she suffered back injuries which have severely compromised her mobility and require her to use crutches.
The defendants denied the claims and issued a full defence arguing, among other things, trespass and contributory negligence.
It was also alleged by Mr McGuinness the accident had not happened where Ms O’Regan said it had. It was further claimed Ms O’Regan collapsed at the bottom of the stairs in her own home some six weeks earlier.
In a judgment last October, published this week, Mr Justice Bernard Barton found the defendants were negligent in common law.
He found the cob had not been let out for exercise the day Ms O’Regan arrived to feed it or the day before.
It was therefore reasonably foreseeable on the part of the defendants, if the cob was insufficiently exercised and/or overfed, he would eventually want to get out of his stable, he said.
He found Ms O’Regan was not a trespasser and was party to the arrangement but was not responsible for exercising the animals.
As a person with long experience of horses, she could have reasonably foreseen the circumstances that on opening the stable door the cob might try to get out and injure her in the process, he also held.
She exposed herself to that risk and was guilty contributory negligence assessed at 30 per cent, the judge found.
He awarded €75,000 but deducted €30,000 for contributory negligence, resulting in an award of €52,500.


theirishtimes--2020-02-20--Tourism Ireland’s ’Global Greening’ initiative to light up 500 sites

More than 500 buildings and structures across the world will light up green for St Patrick ’ s ’ s day this year , a record number for the tenth anniversary of Tourism Ireland ’ s “ Global Greening ” initiative .
This year Madison Square Garden in New York , The Frame in Dubai , the world ’ s largest beaver statue in Canada , as well as a giant statue of a kissing couple in Amsterdam , will be added to the list of icons going green .
Other new sites taking part in celebrating St Patrick ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include the National Museum of Qatar , City Hall in Bangkok , and the National Theatre in London .
Already in the line up from previous years are the Leaning Tower of Pisa , Niagara Falls , the chain bridge in Budapest and Moulin Rouge in Paris among others .
Welcoming the new additions , Niall Gibbons chief executive of Tourism Ireland said the success of the initiative had been greatly helped by the the diaspora and the Republic ’ s embassy network around the world .
He said there was “ eagerness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet to take part a feature which underlined deep connections with Ireland .
He said the event brought “ saturation coverage ” of the island of Ireland across radio , TV , print and digital media around the world .
New for 2020 is a Tourism Ireland “ Green is the new black ” campaign which is modelled on the Black Friday shopping day premise .
Green is the new black is designed to coincide with a time-limited sales period offering prospective visitors in all of the island ’ s main markets exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and services when they get here .
The aim is to capitalise on the Global Greening initiative and to stimulate sales at a key booking period .

Minister for tourism Brendan Griffin with Niall Gibbons, Chief executive of Tourism Ireland, at the launch of Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative for St Patrick’s Day 2020. Photograph: Keith Arkins
More than 500 buildings and structures across the world will light up green for St Patrick’s’s day this year, a record number for the tenth anniversary of Tourism Ireland’s “Global Greening” initiative.
This year Madison Square Garden in New York, The Frame in Dubai, the world’s largest beaver statue in Canada, as well as a giant statue of a kissing couple in Amsterdam, will be added to the list of icons going green.
Other new sites taking part in celebrating St Patrick’s’s Day by going green include the National Museum of Qatar, City Hall in Bangkok, and the National Theatre in London.
Already in the line up from previous years are the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, the chain bridge in Budapest and Moulin Rouge in Paris among others.
READ MORE
Welcoming the new additions, Niall Gibbons chief executive of Tourism Ireland said the success of the initiative had been greatly helped by the the diaspora and the Republic’s embassy network around the world. He said there was “eagerness” among cities and countries across the planet to take part a feature which underlined deep connections with Ireland.
He said the event brought “saturation coverage” of the island of Ireland across radio, TV, print and digital media around the world.
New for 2020 is a Tourism Ireland “Green is the new black” campaign which is modelled on the Black Friday shopping day premise. Green is the new black is designed to coincide with a time-limited sales period offering prospective visitors in all of the island’s main markets exclusive savings on fares and discounts on products and services when they get here.
The aim is to capitalise on the Global Greening initiative and to stimulate sales at a key booking period.


theirishtimes--2020-02-20--Bernadette McAliskey: ‘The North’s economy cannot survive without immigrant labour’

There will be a “ whitening ” of immigration into the UK as a result of the country ’ s points-based application system , the activist and campaigner Bernadette McAliskey has warned .
“ The poorer southern hemisphere economies [ will ] support a smaller percentage of individuals meeting the various thresholds than the European countries with which they are now competing , ” she told The Irish Times .
She also said the new measures could also encourage EU nationals and firms to leave Northern Ireland and move across the Border to the Republic .
“ The economy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labour , and this points system will make it extremely difficult .
“ So where will industry go ?
The problem for us in the North , sitting here in this town [ Dungannon , Co Tyrone ] , is that if you want to have freedom of movement and be able to do your job you might as well move back to the European Union .
You don ’ t have far to go .
“ To be able to keep a pool of labour that is legally recruited , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow you ?
” The UK government announced on Wednesday that a points-based immigration system which will apply to both EU and non-EU citizens will come into force from January 1st , 2021 .
EU , EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK from before December 30th , 2020 , must apply to the UK ’ s EU Settlement Scheme ( EUSS ) to continue to remain after June 30th , 2021 .
Under Common Travel Area rules , Irish citizens will continue to be able to live and work in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , applicants who wish to come to the UK must be skilled workers who meet sufficient criteria to gain 70 points on the new system .
To do so , they must speak English and have a job offer from an “ approved employer ” at an “ appropriate skill level ” .
They must also meet a salary threshold of £25,600 ( €30,300 ) , hold a PhD in a particular area , or have an offer of a job in areas where there are shortages .
This has been criticised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland , who say the new rules do not reflect lower salaries in the North and argue it will cause shortages of staff , particularly in sectors such as agri-food .
Ms McAliskey is chief executive of the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme ( Step ) , a community development organisation that works with migrants in the Dungannon area .
She warned that any EU nationals currently who are already in the country must register for settled status by December 31st , 2020 , or they would become subject to the new rules .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , would “ automatically become a non-documented migrant and subject to these new immigration regulations ” .
“ When the politicians say ‘ Oh , any EU citizen already here is okay ’ , that ’ s not true , ” Ms McAliskey said .
“ If people look at the documentation , [ it says ] there will be no change to the rights and status of an EU citizen currently living in the UK who has applied to the EU settlement scheme .
“ If you haven ’ t applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians leave that bit off , because they don ’ t really care if you apply or not.
” Since last May , she said , Step has supported almost 20,000 EU citizens to complete their applications for settled status , with a focus on “ the most vulnerable who are not able to register easily .
“ There are , however , a significant number of EU citizens who could independently complete the online registration application , which is English-only , and should do so for their own protection.
” The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be Windrush down the line ” , referring to the scandal over the treatment of so-called Windrush generation , mostly children of those who arrived in Britain from the Caribbean in 1948 and who were given permission to stay in the country but had no documentation to prove it in 2018 when some of them were incorrectly told they were living in Britain illegally .
“ What happens around young people , totally unaware of their undocumented status until they go to get a national insurance card and discover they aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though this is the only place they have been ?
” Brexit , she said , “ was always about reducing the number of immigrants ” and this was the “ expected outworking of it ” .
“ A right-wing government that wants to reduce immigration will introduce an immigration system that makes it increasingly difficult for people to come and live and work here.
” It would not , however , reduce immigration .
“ It simply will push people who are desperate to emigrate from wherever they are to more desperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it increases the risks that people will take .
“ It will increase the refugee asylum-seeking population by simply narrowing the economic opportunity to emigrate .
”

There will be a “whitening” of immigration into the UK as a result of the country’s points-based application system, the activist and campaigner Bernadette McAliskey has warned.
“The poorer southern hemisphere economies [will] support a smaller percentage of individuals meeting the various thresholds than the European countries with which they are now competing,” she told The Irish Times.
She also said the new measures could also encourage EU nationals and firms to leave Northern Ireland and move across the Border to the Republic.
“The economy of Northern Ireland cannot survive without immigrant labour, and this points system will make it extremely difficult.
READ MORE
"So where will industry go? The problem for us in the North, sitting here in this town [Dungannon, Co Tyrone], is that if you want to have freedom of movement and be able to do your job you might as well move back to the European Union. You don't have far to go.
“To be able to keep a pool of labour that is legally recruited,” she said, “why would industry not follow you?”
The UK government announced on Wednesday that a points-based immigration system which will apply to both EU and non-EU citizens will come into force from January 1st, 2021.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK from before December 30th, 2020, must apply to the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to continue to remain after June 30th, 2021.
Under Common Travel Area rules, Irish citizens will continue to be able to live and work in the UK as they do now.
From January, applicants who wish to come to the UK must be skilled workers who meet sufficient criteria to gain 70 points on the new system.
‘Approved employer’
To do so, they must speak English and have a job offer from an “approved employer” at an “appropriate skill level”. They must also meet a salary threshold of £25,600 (€30,300), hold a PhD in a particular area, or have an offer of a job in areas where there are shortages.
This has been criticised by politicians and business leaders in Northern Ireland, who say the new rules do not reflect lower salaries in the North and argue it will cause shortages of staff, particularly in sectors such as agri-food.
Ms McAliskey is chief executive of the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (Step), a community development organisation that works with migrants in the Dungannon area.
She warned that any EU nationals currently who are already in the country must register for settled status by December 31st, 2020, or they would become subject to the new rules.
Anyone who does not apply, she said, would “automatically become a non-documented migrant and subject to these new immigration regulations”.
“When the politicians say ‘Oh, any EU citizen already here is okay’, that’s not true,” Ms McAliskey said. “If people look at the documentation, [it says] there will be no change to the rights and status of an EU citizen currently living in the UK who has applied to the EU settlement scheme.
“If you haven’t applied,” she said, “the politicians leave that bit off, because they don’t really care if you apply or not.”
Since last May, she said, Step has supported almost 20,000 EU citizens to complete their applications for settled status, with a focus on “the most vulnerable who are not able to register easily.
“There are, however, a significant number of EU citizens who could independently complete the online registration application, which is English-only, and should do so for their own protection.”
Windrush scandal
The new system, she warned, “will be Windrush down the line”, referring to the scandal over the treatment of so-called Windrush generation, mostly children of those who arrived in Britain from the Caribbean in 1948 and who were given permission to stay in the country but had no documentation to prove it in 2018 when some of them were incorrectly told they were living in Britain illegally.
“What happens around young people, totally unaware of their undocumented status until they go to get a national insurance card and discover they aren’t actually equal to everybody else, even though this is the only place they have been?”
Brexit, she said, “was always about reducing the number of immigrants” and this was the “expected outworking of it”.
“A right-wing government that wants to reduce immigration will introduce an immigration system that makes it increasingly difficult for people to come and live and work here.”
It would not, however, reduce immigration. “It simply will push people who are desperate to emigrate from wherever they are to more desperate measures to get into the UK, so it increases the risks that people will take.
“It will increase the refugee asylum-seeking population by simply narrowing the economic opportunity to emigrate.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-20--New direct Dublin to China flight deferred over coronavirus concerns

A new direct Dublin to China air service due to start in March has been deferred as a result of the coronavirus outbreak , and there is concern for seasonal flights due to resume in April .
This decision as well as the cancellation of a sales mission to China by Tourism Ireland comes as the Department of Foreign Affairs advises against travel to mainland China , excluding Hong Kong and Macau .
The Irish Association of Travel agents said growing corporate travel between Ireland and China has been badly hit by the outbreak .
The head of the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe to boost funding to fight the coronavirus while the outbreak is still mostly confined to China , and the airline industry forecast the first annual decline in global passenger demand in more than decade .
On Thursday the global death toll from the virus climbed to 2,129 and confirmed cases reached 75,730 .
The death toll in China rose to 2,118 , with cases at 74,576 .
Officials said earlier this week more than 80 per cent of cases had been mild .
Pat Dawson chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a value on the Chinese business facilitated by the association ’ s members .
But he said while it was only “ one or two percent ” of overall business , the association ’ s overall business was worth about €1.5 billion to €1.6 billion annually .
He said the industry ’ s first thoughts were with those affected by the virus .
On Thursday , Air France-KLM said the flight cancellations to mainland China until the end of March could wipe almost €200 million off their earnings between February and April .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more then €90 million .
Chinese airline Juneyao Air was to launch a new twice weekly year-round route between Dublin and China ’ s largest city Shanghai next month .
However a spokesman for the airline told The Irish Times this would be deferred .
He said a tentative date of April had been put forward but this could not be certain .
Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons confirmed the cancellation of a sales mission involving major Irish tour and venue operators , scheduled for next week .
A four-city tour to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be very successful and the most popular Chinese tour to Britain now included an Irish leg , visiting Northern Ireland and the Republic .
Mr Gibbons said although the Chinese represented just 0.9 percent of the foreign tourist numbers visiting the island there were many people geared up to accommodate them .
He said Stena Line brought 75,000 Chinese tourists into Belfast and out of Dublin last year while many shops had special interpreters and assistance provided for the visitors .
Asian holiday specialists Trailfinders said it will not be selling trips to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers as a priority to try and adjust their trip and we will keep on top of any changes to the Department of Foreign Affairs advice .
We will not be selling trips to China which include travel dates up and including June 30th.
” A spokesman said the company has a 24 hour team in place to support clients if required adding “ we will work with our suppliers to amend any travel arrangements ” .
Mr Gibbons said Tourism Ireland was in constant touch with Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct from Dublin to China and Hong Kong respectively .
But he said the situation was currently “ very fluid ” .

The moves by airlines as well as the cancellation of a sales mission to China by Tourism Ireland come as the Department of Foreign Affairs advises against travel to mainland China. Photograph: Kate Geraghty/The Irish Times
A new direct Dublin to China air service due to start in March has been deferred as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, and there is concern for seasonal flights due to resume in April.
This decision as well as the cancellation of a sales mission to China by Tourism Ireland comes as the Department of Foreign Affairs advises against travel to mainland China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau.
The Irish Association of Travel agents said growing corporate travel between Ireland and China has been badly hit by the outbreak.
The head of the World Health Organisation called for nations around the globe to boost funding to fight the coronavirus while the outbreak is still mostly confined to China, and the airline industry forecast the first annual decline in global passenger demand in more than decade.
READ MORE
On Thursday the global death toll from the virus climbed to 2,129 and confirmed cases reached 75,730.
The death toll in China rose to 2,118, with cases at 74,576. Officials said earlier this week more than 80 per cent of cases had been mild.
Pat Dawson chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association said it was difficult to put a value on the Chinese business facilitated by the association’s members. But he said while it was only “one or two percent” of overall business, the association’s overall business was worth about €1.5 billion to €1.6 billion annually.
He said the industry’s first thoughts were with those affected by the virus.
Losses
On Thursday, Air France-KLM said the flight cancellations to mainland China until the end of March could wipe almost €200 million off their earnings between February and April. Quantas said the outbreak could cost it more then €90 million.
Chinese airline Juneyao Air was to launch a new twice weekly year-round route between Dublin and China’s largest city Shanghai next month. However a spokesman for the airline told The Irish Times this would be deferred. He said a tentative date of April had been put forward but this could not be certain.
Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons confirmed the cancellation of a sales mission involving major Irish tour and venue operators, scheduled for next week. A four-city tour to China last year had been deemed to be very successful and the most popular Chinese tour to Britain now included an Irish leg, visiting Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Mr Gibbons said although the Chinese represented just 0.9 percent of the foreign tourist numbers visiting the island there were many people geared up to accommodate them. He said Stena Line brought 75,000 Chinese tourists into Belfast and out of Dublin last year while many shops had special interpreters and assistance provided for the visitors.
Fluid situation
Asian holiday specialists Trailfinders said it will not be selling trips to China as “we are operatively contacting passengers as a priority to try and adjust their trip and we will keep on top of any changes to the Department of Foreign Affairs advice. We will not be selling trips to China which include travel dates up and including June 30th.”
A spokesman said the company has a 24 hour team in place to support clients if required adding “we will work with our suppliers to amend any travel arrangements”.
Mr Gibbons said Tourism Ireland was in constant touch with Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific which were due to resume seasonal flights, direct from Dublin to China and Hong Kong respectively. But he said the situation was currently “very fluid”.


theirishtimes--2020-02-20--John Delaney joined as notice party to watchdog application over FAI documents

Former FAI chief executive John Delaney has been joined as a notice party to proceedings by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement concerning materials recently seized from the FAI ’ s offices on foot of a search warrant .
The corporate watchdog , as part of its investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI , has asked the High Court to determine if the seized documents and material are legally privileged .
If the court finds it is , it can not be used by the ODCE in its investigation .
When the application was briefly mentioned before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack Tchrakian BL , for Mr Delaney , said his client would like to be joined as a notice party .
When the matter was raised before the court earlier this week , the judge had suggested Mr Delaney be made a notice party after being informed the documents may raise private issues regarding Mr Delaney .
Kerida Naidoo SC , with Elva Duffy BL , for the ODCE , and Brian Gageby BL , for the FAI , said their clients had no objection to Mr Delaney being joined as a notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be joined and adjourned the matter to next month .
Mr Delaney , who had held a number of positions with the FAI , including chief executive and executive vice president , left the association last September .
The ODCE ’ s application , made under various sections of the 2014 Companies Act , was brought after documents were seized from the FAI ’ s offices at Abbottstown on foot of a search warrant issued executed on February 14th last .
The application is among several made by the ODCE since it commenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court ruled that extracts of certain documents given by the FAI and its auditors Deloitte Ireland LLP to the ODCE are covered by legal professional privilege and can not be used in the ODCE investigation .

The judge has directed former FAI head John Delaney be joined to the case taken by the ODCE. and adjourned the matter to next month. File photograph: Laura Hutton/The Irish Times
Former FAI chief executive John Delaney has been joined as a notice party to proceedings by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement concerning materials recently seized from the FAI's offices on foot of a search warrant.
The corporate watchdog, as part of its investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI, has asked the High Court to determine if the seized documents and material are legally privileged.
If the court finds it is, it cannot be used by the ODCE in its investigation.
When the application was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Thursday, Jack Tchrakian BL, for Mr Delaney, said his client would like to be joined as a notice party.
READ MORE
When the matter was raised before the court earlier this week, the judge had suggested Mr Delaney be made a notice party after being informed the documents may raise private issues regarding Mr Delaney.
Kerida Naidoo SC, with Elva Duffy BL, for the ODCE, and Brian Gageby BL, for the FAI, said their clients had no objection to Mr Delaney being joined as a notice party.
The judge directed Mr Delaney be joined and adjourned the matter to next month.
Mr Delaney, who had held a number of positions with the FAI, including chief executive and executive vice president, left the association last September.
The ODCE’s application, made under various sections of the 2014 Companies Act, was brought after documents were seized from the FAI’s offices at Abbottstown on foot of a search warrant issued executed on February 14th last.
The application is among several made by the ODCE since it commenced its investigation.
Last year, the court ruled that extracts of certain documents given by the FAI and its auditors Deloitte Ireland LLP to the ODCE are covered by legal professional privilege and cannot be used in the ODCE investigation.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Teenager charged with Cameron Blair’s murder appears in court for third time

Gardaí are to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) on Friday in relation to a teenager charged with the murder of a 20-year-old student in Cork city last month , a court has heard .
The boy ( 17 ) , who can not be named as he is a juvenile , was before Cork City Children ’ s Court on Friday morning for his third court appearance charged with the murder of Cameron Blair .
A second year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology , Blair from Ballinascarthy , Co Cork @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stabbed at house party in Cork city .
The teenager was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court last month where he was first charged with the murder of Blair at Bandon Road , Cork on January 16th .
Det Garda Rory O ’ Connell gave evidence of the arrest charge and caution and told the court the accused made no reply to the single charge when it was put to him after caution .
On Friday at Cork Children ’ s Court , Insp Brian O ’ Donovan said gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the DPP today and it should be with the DPP by Monday and he sought a two week adjournment .
Defence solicitor , Eddie Burke said he had previously requested a psychological assessment of his client but the request may have inadvertently asked Oberstown Detention Campus to carry it out .
Judge Mary Dorgan noted a letter from Oberstown in relation to the request and said she would now ask the forensic mental health service to carry out a psychological assessment of the boy .
She remanded the accused into continuing detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks and ordered him to appear again at Cork Children ’ s Court on March 6th .

Cameron Blair (20) died after being wounded in the neck by a knife outside a house party in Cork on January 16th. Photograph: Denis Boyle
Gardaí are to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Friday in relation to a teenager charged with the murder of a 20-year-old student in Cork city last month, a court has heard.
The boy (17), who cannot be named as he is a juvenile, was before Cork City Children's Court on Friday morning for his third court appearance charged with the murder of Cameron Blair.
A second year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology, Blair from Ballinascarthy, Co Cork died at Cork University Hospital after being stabbed at house party in Cork city.
The teenager was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court last month where he was first charged with the murder of Blair at Bandon Road, Cork on January 16th.
READ MORE
Det Garda Rory O’Connell gave evidence of the arrest charge and caution and told the court the accused made no reply to the single charge when it was put to him after caution.
On Friday at Cork Children’s Court, Insp Brian O’Donovan said gardaí were sending a file on the case to the DPP today and it should be with the DPP by Monday and he sought a two week adjournment.
Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke said he had previously requested a psychological assessment of his client but the request may have inadvertently asked Oberstown Detention Campus to carry it out.
Judge Mary Dorgan noted a letter from Oberstown in relation to the request and said she would now ask the forensic mental health service to carry out a psychological assessment of the boy.
She remanded the accused into continuing detention at Oberstown Detention Campus for a further two weeks and ordered him to appear again at Cork Children’s Court on March 6th.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Cash, car, laptops and documents seized in Louth CAB search

A Mercedes Benz , thousands in cash , laptops , phones and documents have been sized during a Criminal Assets Bureau ( CAB ) search in Co Louth .
On Friday morning the bureau , assisted by the Emergency Response Unit and the Revenue Customs Dog Unit and an expert property valuation professional carried out the search at a residence in Co Louth .
During the course of the search about €5,000 in cash ; a white AMG Mercedes Benz C200 coupe with a 171 registration ; various electronic devices including laptops and mobile phones ; and assorted documents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secured a court restraining order in respect of about €30,000 in a financial institution .
An Garda Síochána says this ongoing CAB investigation is targeting assets linked to a Moldovan organised crime group suspected of being heavily involved in the sale and supply of illicit drugs .
Friday ’ s search operation is a significant development in the identification of assets , including property , linked to the organised crime group and acquired with the proceeds of crime .
In particular , the Garda says , the investigation is focused on the purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is being searched on Friday .

A Mercedes Benz, thousands in cash, laptops, phones and documents have been sized during a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) search in Co Louth.
On Friday morning the bureau, assisted by the Emergency Response Unit and the Revenue Customs Dog Unit and an expert property valuation professional carried out the search at a residence in Co Louth.
During the course of the search about €5,000 in cash; a white AMG Mercedes Benz C200 coupe with a 171 registration; various electronic devices including laptops and mobile phones; and assorted documents and banking records were seized. CAB also secured a court restraining order in respect of about €30,000 in a financial institution.
Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Photograph: An Garda Síochána
An Garda Síochána says this ongoing CAB investigation is targeting assets linked to a Moldovan organised crime group suspected of being heavily involved in the sale and supply of illicit drugs.
READ MORE
Friday’s search operation is a significant development in the identification of assets, including property, linked to the organised crime group and acquired with the proceeds of crime. In particular, the Garda says, the investigation is focused on the purchase and extensive re-development of the residential property that is being searched on Friday.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Some 1,500 staff in healthcare bodies on strike over pay restoration

About 1,500 staff in several organisations which receive State funding to provide health and social services are to go on strike on Friday over pay .
The 24-hour work stoppages by members of the trade unions Siptu and Fórsa will affect 10 organisations - known technically as Section 39 bodies - in various parts of the country , including the National Council of the Blind In Ireland , South West Doctors , Galway Rape Crisis and Western Alzheimers .
The unions contend that while Section 39 organisations were urged to cut staff pay in line with reductions in remuneration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the personnel involved have not seen pay restoration unlike direct State employees .
A planned strike by home helps in Dublin which was also scheduled to take place on Friday was called off after a last-minute agreement on the restoration of pay in three organisations providing these services .
Siptu has warned there could be stoppages in other Section 39 organisations in the weeks ahead .
There are about 300 Section 39 organisations which provide services on foot of grants paid by the HSE .
A deal was reached last year for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these bodies including the home help providers .
However it is understood that the HSE does not have the money to fund the estimated €7 million cost of restoring pay in the remaining 250 Section 39 organisations .
In its service plan for this year the HSE said it would engage with the Workplace Relations Commission “ in relation to the feasibility of extension beyond the ( original ) 50 ” .
One of the Section 39 organisations which faces strike action , the National National Council for the Blind of Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday and said the stoppage was inevitable due to the lack of pay restoration .
It said the strike would impact on its ability to deliver services to blind and visually impaired people , with assessments and other activities being postponed .
NCBI chief Chris White said : “ We understand why our staff are taking this action as we have tried multiple avenues to resolve this with the HSE but to no avail.
” The HSE in the south said it had been in contact with South West Doctors and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was being done to avoid or minimise the impact of the strike .
HSE Community Healthcare West said it regretted that industrial action was planned by staff at Western Alzheimers Respite and Day Centre in Marian House , Ballindine , Co. Mayo .
“ Day services will be closed on the 21st February and some but not all of the 12 respite beds will be closed following negotiations with the union .All service users and their families/carers have been advised.
” Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell , said strike action was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get policy makers and those who fund the services to take notice .

Chris White (right), CEO of the NCBI, speaks to demonstrators at the strike on Whitworth Road in Dublin on Friday. Photograph Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times
Further strike action by workers in State-funded organisations providing health and social services is inevitable unless they receive restoration of pay cuts at the same pace as public servants, unions have warned.
About 1,500 staff represented by the trade unions Siptu and Fórsa in what are known technically as Section 39 organisations began a 24-hour stoppage on Friday morning as part of a campaign to secure the reintroduction of pay which they lost following the economic crash.
The organisations concerned receive grant aid from the HSE to provide services. While the staff are not considered to be public service personnel, unions argue that they experienced pay cuts similar to direct State employees.
The 24-hour work stoppages by members of the trade unions Siptu and Fórsa will affect 10 organisations - known technically as Section 39 bodies - in various parts of the country, including the National Council of the Blind In Ireland, South West Doctors , Galway Rape Crisis and Western Alzheimers.
Staff in health and social care organisations striking on Friday. Forsa held a media event at the National Council for the Blind on Whitworth Road. Audrey Tormey (centre), shop stewart, NCBI and her guide dog Zorro take part. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Among the organisations hit by the strike on Friday were the National Council of the Blind In Ireland, South West Doctors, Galway Rape Crisis and Western Alzheimers.
READ MORE
A strike planned by home helps in Dublin on the same issue was called off on Thursday while a stoppage originally scheduled at Camphill in Wexford did not go ahead. Siptu said an engagement on pay was underway.
‘Unfinished business’
Speaking at the picket line at the National Council of the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) in Dublin the general secretary of Fórsa Kevin Callinan said the workers in Section 39 organisations were "preparing to make sure that the in-coming government has to deal with this unfinished business".
“That means if we do not get an agreement to restore the pay of these workers at the same pace as the rest of the public service then industrial action is inevitable.”
"We thought we had an agreement with the Government brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission but they reneged on that agreement. So we will be saying to any incoming government that this needs to be fixed and fixed quickly."
Mr Callinan said many of the Section 39 organisations were supportive of their staff involved in the campaign for pay restoration.
“The Government used the 2009 [financial emergency] legislation to cut their pay just as they did to all public servants but are refusing to restore pay as public servants are getting their losses back.”
“The State relies on various organisations to provide key public servants. When it came to cutting pay,they cut the pay of the workers in these services but they seem to have a problem in restoring their pay.Really a State that treats workers so unfairly is an unjust State.”
Mr Callinan said many of the Section 39 organisations could not understand how their staff were treated as public servants one day but the next day were ignored.
“That is unacceptable”, he said.
South-Doc
Out of hours medical cover in Cork and Kerry looks set to be affected by the Siptu action tonight when up to 50 Siptu members in 25 centres go on strike.
South Doc, which is headquartered in Killarney, Co Kerry, provides out of hours GP cover from 6pm at the majority of its centres in Cork and Kerry until 11pm. It also provides through-the-night cover at a smaller number of centres including two in Cork city, Blackpool and Kinsale Road.
Union members at the 25 centres provide reception and driving services to doctors.
Liam Allen of Siptu’s health division said members will be withdrawing their services from South Doc.
“Our members in South Doc are private employees but their wages have always been funded by the HSE and the Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform and they always had a pay relationship with their colleagues directly employed by the HSE so they got the same pay cuts as everyone else,” he said.
“But they haven’t got pay restoration of the 5pc pay cut plus there’s been an incremental pay freeze so if you include those missed increments, their pay has been cut by 7-8pc - in fact over the last ten years, they’ve seen no pay increase save for a 1pc pay rise just over two years ago.”
Mr Allen said South Doc as an employer was happy to embark on pay restoration once it received funding from the HSE and DPER and has pledged to pass on the money once it is received from central government.
Regret
The HSE said it regretted that industrial action was undertaken as it would affect patient and client services.
Asked whether agencies where services were affected as a result of the strike would lose out on funding under its service agreement with the HSE, the health authority said:
“The HSE very much values the work of these important providers of health and social services and will approach this matter in a spirit of partnership .”
“In many instances cost avoidance due to a one day stoppage is minimal and the impact of this action is variable locally.”
“However the issue will be raised in the context of Compliance meetings with providers.”
The Labour Party on Friday said the incoming Government must restore pay for Section 39 workers.
Labour Party health spokesman Alan Kelly said: "The current Government has spent years boasting about of the success of a growing and stable economy while it denies vital pay restoration to thousands of workers in Section 39 organisations."
“It’s beyond time for Minister to engage with Section 39 workers and ensure this situation is resolved. Neither recent budgets nor the HSE service plan have addressed this problem.”
Siptu has warned there could be stoppages in other Section 39 organisations in the weeks ahead.
Previous deal
There are about 300 Section 39 organisations which provide services on foot of grants paid by the HSE. A deal was reached last year for the restoration of pay in an initial 50 of these bodies including the home help providers.
However it is understood that the HSE does not have the money to fund the estimated €7 million cost of restoring pay in the remaining 250 Section 39 organisations. In its service plan for this year the HSE said it would engage with the Workplace Relations Commission “in relation to the feasibility of extension beyond the (original) 50”.
One of the Section 39 organisations where staff went on strike, the National National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), criticised the HSE on Thursday and said the stoppage was inevitable due to the lack of pay restoration.
It said the strike would impact on its ability to deliver services to blind and visually impaired people, with assessments and other activities being postponed.
NCBI chief Chris White said: "We understand why our staff are taking this action as we have tried multiple avenues to resolve this with the HSE but to no avail."
Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell, said strike action was the only option left open to members to get policy makers and those who fund the services to take notice.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Britain phases out sale of coal and wet wood for burning at home

The sale of the most polluting fuels burned in household stoves and open fires will be phased out from next year to clean up the air , the British government has said .
Plans to phase out the sale of house coal and wet wood have been confirmed , as part of efforts to tackle tiny particle pollutants known as PM2.5 , which can penetrate deep into lungs and the blood and cause serious health problems .
Wood burning stoves and coal fires are the single largest source of PM2.5 , contributing three times as much of the pollution as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environment Department ( Defra ) said .
Sales of two of the most polluting fuels , wet wood and house coal , will be phased out from 2021 to 2023 , to give householders and suppliers time to move to cleaner alternatives such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels .
These produce less smoke and pollution , and are cheaper and more efficient to burn , officials said .
Environment secretary George Eustice , said : “ Cosy open fires and wood-burning stoves are at the heart of many homes up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of certain fuels means that they are also the biggest source of the most harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK .
“ By moving towards the use of cleaner fuels such as dry wood we can all play a part in improving the health of millions of people .
“ This is the latest step in delivering on the challenge we set ourselves in our world-leading clean air strategy .
“ We will continue to be ambitious and innovative in tackling air pollution from all sources as we work towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human health from air pollution by 2030.
” Sales of all bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021 , and the sale of loose coal direct to customers via approved coal merchants will end by February 2023 .
Sales of wet wood in units of under two cubic metres will be restricted from sale from February 2021 , to allow for existing stocks to be used up .
Wet wood sold in larger volumes will need to be sold with advice on how to dry it before burning from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manufacturers of solid fuels will also need to show they have a very low sulphur content and only emit a small amount of smoke.–PA

Wood burning stoves and coal fires are the single largest source of PM2.5, contributing three times as much of the pollution as road transport, the UK’s Environment Department (Defra) said. Photograph: iStock
The sale of the most polluting fuels burned in household stoves and open fires will be phased out from next year to clean up the air, the British government has said.
Plans to phase out the sale of house coal and wet wood have been confirmed, as part of efforts to tackle tiny particle pollutants known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into lungs and the blood and cause serious health problems.
Wood burning stoves and coal fires are the single largest source of PM2.5, contributing three times as much of the pollution as road transport, the UK’s Environment Department (Defra) said.
Sales of two of the most polluting fuels, wet wood and house coal, will be phased out from 2021 to 2023, to give householders and suppliers time to move to cleaner alternatives such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels.
READ MORE
These produce less smoke and pollution, and are cheaper and more efficient to burn, officials said.
Environment secretary George Eustice, said: “Cosy open fires and wood-burning stoves are at the heart of many homes up and down the country, but the use of certain fuels means that they are also the biggest source of the most harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK.
“By moving towards the use of cleaner fuels such as dry wood we can all play a part in improving the health of millions of people.
“This is the latest step in delivering on the challenge we set ourselves in our world-leading clean air strategy.
“We will continue to be ambitious and innovative in tackling air pollution from all sources as we work towards our goal to halve the harm to human health from air pollution by 2030.”
Sales of all bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021, and the sale of loose coal direct to customers via approved coal merchants will end by February 2023.
Sales of wet wood in units of under two cubic metres will be restricted from sale from February 2021, to allow for existing stocks to be used up.
Wet wood sold in larger volumes will need to be sold with advice on how to dry it before burning from this date, the government said.
Manufacturers of solid fuels will also need to show they have a very low sulphur content and only emit a small amount of smoke.–PA


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Woman released after arrest over alleged threats to rape victim

A woman arrested for alleged threats to kill or cause harm to a victim of sexual violence in a courtroom after two men were jailed for raping her , has been released .
On Monday morning , two Leitrim men were jailed for seven years for raping a woman who had blacked out at a house party in 2017 .
After the sentence was handed down and the judge had left the courtroom , some supporters of the men shouted at the victim .
One woman shouted obscenities , and another person shouted “ You ’ re a liar ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay for this ” .
On Thursday gardaí said they had “ arrested a woman in her early 20s in connection with an allegation of making threats to kill or cause harm to the injured party in a trial which concluded at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday February 17 last ” .
They said the woman was arrested on foot of a complaint received by gardaí .
She was being held under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co Leitrim before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and gardaí say investigations are ongoing .

A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and gardaí say investigations are ongoing
A woman arrested for alleged threats to kill or cause harm to a victim of sexual violence in a courtroom after two men were jailed for raping her, has been released.
On Monday morning, two Leitrim men were jailed for seven years for raping a woman who had blacked out at a house party in 2017.
After the sentence was handed down and the judge had left the courtroom, some supporters of the men shouted at the victim. One woman shouted obscenities, and another person shouted “You’re a liar” and “You’re going to pay for this”.
On Thursday gardaí said they had “arrested a woman in her early 20s in connection with an allegation of making threats to kill or cause harm to the injured party in a trial which concluded at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday February 17 last”.
READ MORE
They said the woman was arrested on foot of a complaint received by gardaí. She was being held under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co Leitrim before being released on Friday morning. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and gardaí say investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Antibiotic that kills drug-resistant bacteria discovered through AI

A powerful antibiotic that kills some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria in the world has been discovered using artificial intelligence .
The drug works in a different way to existing antibacterials and is the first of its kind to be found by setting AI loose on vast digital libraries of pharmaceutical compounds .
Tests showed that the drug wiped out a range of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria , including Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacteriaceae , two of the three high-priority pathogens that the World Health Organization ranks as “ critical ” for new antibiotics to target .
“ In terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a first , ” said Regina Barzilay , a senior researcher on the project and specialist in machine learning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) .
“ I think this is one of the more powerful antibiotics that has been discovered to date , ” added James Collins , a bioengineer on the team at MIT .
“ It has remarkable activity against a broad range of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
” Antibiotic resistance arises when bacteria mutate and evolve to sidestep the mechanisms that antimicrobial drugs use to kill them .
Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million lives around the world could be at risk each year from infections by 2050 , the Cameron government ’ s O ’ Neill report warned .
To find new antibiotics , the researchers first trained a “ deep learning ” algorithm to identify the sorts of molecules that kill bacteria .
To do this , they fed the programme information on the atomic and molecular features of nearly 2,500 drugs and natural compounds , and how well or not the substance blocked the growth of the bug E.coli .
Once the algorithm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good antibiotics , the scientists set it working on a library of more than 6,000 compounds under investigation for treating various human diseases .
Rather than looking for any potential antimicrobials , the algorithm focused on compounds that looked effective but unlike existing antibiotics .
This boosted the chances that the drugs would work in radical new ways that bugs had yet to develop resistance to .
Jonathan Stokes , the first author of the study , said it took a matter of hours for the algorithm to assess the compounds and come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the researchers named “ halicin ” after Hal , the astronaut-bothering AI in the film 2001 : A Space Odyssey , looked particularly potent .
Writing in the journal Cell , the researchers describe how they treated numerous drug-resistant infections with halicin , a compound that was originally developed to treat diabetes , but which fell by the wayside before it reached the clinic .
Tests on bacteria collected from patients showed that halicin killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis , the bug that causes TB , and strains of Enterobacteriaceae that are resistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are considered the last resort for such infections .
Halicin also cleared C difficile and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in mice .
To hunt for more new drugs , the team next turned to a massive digital database of about 1.5 billion compounds .
They set the algorithm working on 107 million of these .
Three days later , the programme returned a shortlist of 23 potential antibiotics , of which two appear to be particularly potent .
The scientists now intend to search more of the database .
Dr Stokes said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all 107 million compounds by the conventional route of obtaining or making the substances and then testing them in the lab .
“ Being able to perform these experiments in the computer dramatically reduces the time and cost to look at these compounds , ” he said .
Dr Barzilay now wants to use the algorithm to find antibiotics that are more selective in the bacteria they kill .
This would mean that taking the antibiotic kills only the bugs causing an infection , and not all the healthy bacteria that live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists aim to use the algorithm to design potent new antibiotics from scratch .
“ The work really is remarkable , ” said Jacob Durrant , who works on computer-aided drug design at the University of Pittsburgh .
“ Their approach highlights the power of computer-aided drug discovery .
It would be impossible to physically test over 100 million compounds for antibiotic activity.
” “ Given typical drug-development costs , in terms of both time and money , any method that can speed early-stage drug discovery has the potential to make a big @ @ @ @ @

To find new antibiotics, the researchers first trained a “deep learning” algorithm to identify the sorts of molecules that kill bacteria
A powerful antibiotic that kills some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria in the world has been discovered using artificial intelligence.
The drug works in a different way to existing antibacterials and is the first of its kind to be found by setting AI loose on vast digital libraries of pharmaceutical compounds.
Tests showed that the drug wiped out a range of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacteriaceae, two of the three high-priority pathogens that the World Health Organization ranks as "critical" for new antibiotics to target.
"In terms of antibiotic discovery, this is absolutely a first," said Regina Barzilay, a senior researcher on the project and specialist in machine learning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
READ MORE
"I think this is one of the more powerful antibiotics that has been discovered to date," added James Collins, a bioengineer on the team at MIT. "It has remarkable activity against a broad range of antibiotic-resistant pathogens."
Antibiotic resistance arises when bacteria mutate and evolve to sidestep the mechanisms that antimicrobial drugs use to kill them. Without new antibiotics to tackle resistance, 10 million lives around the world could be at risk each year from infections by 2050, the Cameron government's O'Neill report warned.
To find new antibiotics, the researchers first trained a “deep learning” algorithm to identify the sorts of molecules that kill bacteria. To do this, they fed the programme information on the atomic and molecular features of nearly 2,500 drugs and natural compounds, and how well or not the substance blocked the growth of the bug E.coli.
Once the algorithm had learned what molecular features made for good antibiotics, the scientists set it working on a library of more than 6,000 compounds under investigation for treating various human diseases. Rather than looking for any potential antimicrobials, the algorithm focused on compounds that looked effective but unlike existing antibiotics. This boosted the chances that the drugs would work in radical new ways that bugs had yet to develop resistance to.
Jonathan Stokes, the first author of the study, said it took a matter of hours for the algorithm to assess the compounds and come up with some promising antibiotics. One, which the researchers named "halicin" after Hal, the astronaut-bothering AI in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, looked particularly potent.
Writing in the journal Cell, the researchers describe how they treated numerous drug-resistant infections with halicin, a compound that was originally developed to treat diabetes, but which fell by the wayside before it reached the clinic.
Tests on bacteria collected from patients showed that halicin killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bug that causes TB, and strains of Enterobacteriaceae that are resistant to carbapenems, a group of antibiotics that are considered the last resort for such infections. Halicin also cleared C difficile and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in mice.
To hunt for more new drugs, the team next turned to a massive digital database of about 1.5 billion compounds. They set the algorithm working on 107 million of these. Three days later, the programme returned a shortlist of 23 potential antibiotics, of which two appear to be particularly potent. The scientists now intend to search more of the database.
Dr Stokes said it would have been impossible to screen all 107 million compounds by the conventional route of obtaining or making the substances and then testing them in the lab. “Being able to perform these experiments in the computer dramatically reduces the time and cost to look at these compounds,” he said.
Dr Barzilay now wants to use the algorithm to find antibiotics that are more selective in the bacteria they kill. This would mean that taking the antibiotic kills only the bugs causing an infection, and not all the healthy bacteria that live in the gut. More ambitiously, the scientists aim to use the algorithm to design potent new antibiotics from scratch.
"The work really is remarkable," said Jacob Durrant, who works on computer-aided drug design at the University of Pittsburgh. "Their approach highlights the power of computer-aided drug discovery. It would be impossible to physically test over 100 million compounds for antibiotic activity."
“Given typical drug-development costs, in terms of both time and money, any method that can speed early-stage drug discovery has the potential to make a big impact,” he added.–Guardian


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Drug dealer loses codes for €53.6m bitcoin accounts

A drug dealer who amassed a €55 million fortune in the cryptocurrency bitcoin has lost the codes to access the accounts after hiding them with his fishing rod , which has now gone missing .
The Criminal Assets Bureau ( Cab ) has confiscated the 12 online accounts , or wallets , containing 6,000 bitcoin .
However , The Irish Times has learned the accounts can not be accessed because the codes are missing .
It means the €53.6 million monetary value of the bitcoin inside them , which is the biggest case in the Cab ’ s 25-year history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reach .
Garda officers said they were hopeful advances in technology would one day enable them to access the bitcoin so it could be sold .
Clifton Collins ( 49 ) , originally from Crumlin , Dublin , bought most of the bitcoin in late 2011 and early 2012 using cash he made growing crops of cannabis .
The crypto currency has soared in value since then .
Collins spent some of his money buying a two-seater gyro plane and learning how to fly it .
In early 2017 he had just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he feared it may be too easy for a hacker to access .
He decided to spread his wealth across 12 new accounts and transferred exactly 500 bitcoin , worth almost €4.5 million , into each of them .
Collins then printed out the codes for the 12 accounts onto an A4 piece of paper .
He hid the paper inside the aluminium cap of his case containing his rod which he kept at his rented home in Farnaught , Cornamona , Co Galway .
But when he was arrested with cannabis herb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for five years , there was a break-in at the house and it was also cleared on behalf of the landlord with many of Collins ’ s items being taken to a dump in Co Galway .
Workers at the dump told gardaí they remembered seeing discarded fishing gear .
However , waste from the dump is sent to Germany and China to be incinerated and the fishing rod case has never been found .
Collins told gardaí he has had time to come to terms with the loss of the money and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stupidity .
Much of what he has told the Garda has been supported by a range of witnesses , including those who cleared his house , his landlord and others who helped him break up his bitcoin fortune into 12 accounts .
Garda believe he has genuinely lost the codes for the accounts , which had not been accessed for a year before he came to the attention of the Garda .
The Dubliner is a former security guard who briefly became a beekeeper and won awards for his honey before he turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a decade .
Collins had much smaller amounts of bitcoin in other accounts , valued at €1.5 million , that the Cab has been able to access .
Those bitcoin and more than €100,000 in cash has been seized from him .

The €53.6 million value of the Bitcoin is the biggest case in the Cab’s 25-year history, but is out of the bureau’s reach.
A drug dealer who amassed a €55 million fortune in the cryptocurrency bitcoin has lost the codes to access the accounts after hiding them with his fishing rod, which has now gone missing.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) has confiscated the 12 online accounts, or wallets, containing 6,000 bitcoin. However, The Irish Times has learned the accounts cannot be accessed because the codes are missing.
It means the €53.6 million monetary value of the bitcoin inside them, which is the biggest case in the Cab’s 25-year history, is out of the bureau’s reach.
Garda officers said they were hopeful advances in technology would one day enable them to access the bitcoin so it could be sold.
READ MORE
Clifton Collins (49), originally from Crumlin, Dublin, bought most of the bitcoin in late 2011 and early 2012 using cash he made growing crops of cannabis. The crypto currency has soared in value since then. Collins spent some of his money buying a two-seater gyro plane and learning how to fly it.
In early 2017 he had just over 6,000 bitcoin in one account but he feared it may be too easy for a hacker to access. He decided to spread his wealth across 12 new accounts and transferred exactly 500 bitcoin, worth almost €4.5 million, into each of them.
Collins then printed out the codes for the 12 accounts onto an A4 piece of paper. He hid the paper inside the aluminium cap of his case containing his rod which he kept at his rented home in Farnaught, Cornamona, Co Galway.
But when he was arrested with cannabis herb in 2017 in Co Wicklow and jailed for five years, there was a break-in at the house and it was also cleared on behalf of the landlord with many of Collins's items being taken to a dump in Co Galway.
Workers at the dump told gardaí they remembered seeing discarded fishing gear. However, waste from the dump is sent to Germany and China to be incinerated and the fishing rod case has never been found.
Punishment
Collins told gardaí he has had time to come to terms with the loss of the money and regarded it as punishment for his own stupidity.
Much of what he has told the Garda has been supported by a range of witnesses, including those who cleared his house, his landlord and others who helped him break up his bitcoin fortune into 12 accounts. Garda believe he has genuinely lost the codes for the accounts, which had not been accessed for a year before he came to the attention of the Garda.
The Dubliner is a former security guard who briefly became a beekeeper and won awards for his honey before he turned his attention to growing cannabis for more than a decade. Collins had much smaller amounts of bitcoin in other accounts, valued at €1.5 million, that the Cab has been able to access. Those bitcoin and more than €100,000 in cash has been seized from him.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Tullamore direct provision: ‘This won’t be another Oughterard’

John Cusack , the manager of the Bridge Shopping Centre in Tullamore , prides himself on neutrality .
He recalls with a flicker of a smile how he recently stopped the Minister for Finance from canvassing in the centre because he had not asked permission .
“ I have to be seen to remain neutral.
” So , like many in the Co Offaly town , he is reluctant to give a personal view on what he thinks about the new direct provision centre opening on the main street .
As a prominent local businessman , Cusack has heard all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a lot of anger about the way it was announced , ” he says , standing in the middle of the busy shopping centre .
Rumours have been circulating about the centre since well before Christmas , he says .
“ But there was no official mention of it before the election.
” But there is also “ a lot of sympathy ” for the asylum seekers who will start moving into the centre in as little as two weeks .
Furthermore , locals have seen how the proposed opening of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to protests and community tensions – tensions which were sometimes inflamed by far-right , anti-immigration activists .
It is early days but so far there is little evidence of a similar trend in Tullamore .
It ’ s a prospect the town wants to avoid , says Cusack .
“ Look , this is going to happen one way or the other .
We have to try keep dialogue open , keep people talking.
” Eventually , Cusack ventures an opinion of his own .
“ Personally I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big challenge .
This is a multicultural town already .
Look at the amount of nationalities that are after passing since we started talking.
” Up the main street the sounds of builders can be heard from inside the Marian Hostel as work continues to convert it from a 35-bed hostel to a modern facility intended for up to 168 asylum seekers .
The first residents – nine families from a variety of countries – arrive next month , with the rest arriving on a phased basis later .
The Department of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s managers , Bridgestock .
Outside the Marian , locals are reluctant to share their views .
Most of those who do talk usually decline to give their name .
“ I would be very against it , ” said an elderly woman bringing her shopping home .
“ With all the homeless we have.
” Evelina , who works nearby , says she will welcome the asylum seekers – “ I put myself in their shoes ” – but she fears they might experience a negative backlash from some locals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate , a lot of fear.
” Since confirmation of the centre came on Monday , local radio station Midlands 103 has heard from many of these locals .
“ The callers have generally been pretty negative , ” says director of news Sinéad Hubble who produces the station ’ s flagship broadcast , the Will Faulker Show .
Some of this is down to confusion and misinformation , she says , including rumours that the asylum seekers will go to the top of the housing list .
The department has said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for the housing list .
If they are later granted asylum and qualify for social housing they will take their place on the list like everyone else , officials said .
Many locals have wondered how 168 men , women and children will fit into a 35-room building .
The answer came during a meeting between department officials and local representatives on Thursday evening .
As well as in the Marian , asylum seekers will be housed in three other properties located beside and across the road from the former hostel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure of 168 is the maximum capacity .
“ We don ’ t think that many will actually be housed there.
” Fresh out of the meeting , Fianna Fáil councillor Tony McCormack says officials told him they were not able to hold prior consultations about the centre because the contracts had not yet been signed .
He is not satisfied with the explanation .
“ A lack of information causes vacuums and those vacuums are filled with fear and racism.
” Nevertheless he does not believe Tullamore will see protests like those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , the councillor says he has already heard from “ a good few ” people eager to join the welcoming committee for the centre .
“ We have seen that when these centres are up and running , around the country , there isn ’ t a another word about them , ” McCormack says .
Back at the Bridge Shopping Centre , Cusack tends to agree .
“ In a month ’ s time everyone will turn around and ask what was that all about .
”

John Cusack, the manager of the Bridge Shopping Centre in Tullamore, prides himself on neutrality.
He recalls with a flicker of a smile how he recently stopped the Minister for Finance from canvassing in the centre because he had not asked permission. “I have to be seen to remain neutral.”
So, like many in the Co Offaly town, he is reluctant to give a personal view on what he thinks about the new direct provision centre opening on the main street.
As a prominent local businessman, Cusack has heard all sides of the argument. “There’s a lot of anger about the way it was announced,” he says, standing in the middle of the busy shopping centre.
READ MORE
Rumours have been circulating about the centre since well before Christmas, he says. “But there was no official mention of it before the election.”
But there is also “a lot of sympathy” for the asylum seekers who will start moving into the centre in as little as two weeks.
Furthermore, locals have seen how the proposed opening of centres in towns like Oughterard and Rooskey led to protests and community tensions – tensions which were sometimes inflamed by far-right, anti-immigration activists.
It is early days but so far there is little evidence of a similar trend in Tullamore. It’s a prospect the town wants to avoid, says Cusack. “Look, this is going to happen one way or the other. We have to try keep dialogue open, keep people talking.”
‘Multicultural town’
Eventually, Cusack ventures an opinion of his own. “Personally I don’t think it’s going to be a big challenge. This is a multicultural town already. Look at the amount of nationalities that are after passing since we started talking.”
Up the main street the sounds of builders can be heard from inside the Marian Hostel as work continues to convert it from a 35-bed hostel to a modern facility intended for up to 168 asylum seekers.
The first residents – nine families from a variety of countries – arrive next month, with the rest arriving on a phased basis later. The Department of Justice has a two-year contract with the facility’s managers, Bridgestock.
Outside the Marian, locals are reluctant to share their views. Most of those who do talk usually decline to give their name.
“I would be very against it,” said an elderly woman bringing her shopping home. “With all the homeless we have.”
Evelina, who works nearby, says she will welcome the asylum seekers – “I put myself in their shoes” – but she fears they might experience a negative backlash from some locals. “Some people have a lot of hate, a lot of fear.”
Sinead Hubble. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Since confirmation of the centre came on Monday, local radio station Midlands 103 has heard from many of these locals. “The callers have generally been pretty negative,” says director of news Sinéad Hubble who produces the station’s flagship broadcast, the Will Faulker Show.
Some of this is down to confusion and misinformation, she says, including rumours that the asylum seekers will go to the top of the housing list.
The department has said that those in the asylum system are not eligible for the housing list. If they are later granted asylum and qualify for social housing they will take their place on the list like everyone else, officials said.
Many locals have wondered how 168 men, women and children will fit into a 35-room building.
The answer came during a meeting between department officials and local representatives on Thursday evening. As well as in the Marian, asylum seekers will be housed in three other properties located beside and across the road from the former hostel. Furthermore, one official said, the figure of 168 is the maximum capacity. “We don’t think that many will actually be housed there.”
Tony McCormack, Tullamore town councillor. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Fresh out of the meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor Tony McCormack says officials told him they were not able to hold prior consultations about the centre because the contracts had not yet been signed.
He is not satisfied with the explanation. “A lack of information causes vacuums and those vacuums are filled with fear and racism.”
Nevertheless he does not believe Tullamore will see protests like those in Oughterard, Achill and elsewhere. In fact, the councillor says he has already heard from "a good few" people eager to join the welcoming committee for the centre.
“We have seen that when these centres are up and running, around the country, there isn’t a another word about them,” McCormack says.
Back at the Bridge Shopping Centre, Cusack tends to agree. “In a month’s time everyone will turn around and ask what was that all about.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--Chance encounter with gardaí unmasked bitcoin millionaire drug dealer

When Clifton Collins pulled his Lexus 4x4 into a forest road near Sally Gap in the early hours one Tuesday morning , three years ago , his world was about to collapse .
For nearly 12 years he had lived a secret life ; growing cannabis at rented houses in counties Galway , Meath and Longford before harvesting his crops and selling his illicit merchandise to drug dealers in his native Crumlin in south Dublin .
He had also accrued a fortune in bitcoin ; buying up the cryptocurrency with the proceeds of his drug sales and then watching his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bitcoin soared .
Gardaí in a marked car on a routine patrol on Military Road near Sally Gap spotted Collins ’ s Lexus and went to investigate its presence in the middle of nowhere at 2.30am .
His vehicle was searched and cannabis herb valued at €2,000 was found .
Collins , then aged 46 , was arrested and taken into custody at Wicklow Garda station .
Detectives got to work immediately , securing a search warrant within hours for the property Collins was living at in Farnaught , Cornamona , Co Galway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light .
They discovered the house had been converted by Collins into a sophisticated cannabis grow house .
More than 500 plants with a combined value of €400,000 were discovered .
A pellet gun and a stun gun , which he kept for his own protection , were also found .
Gardaí believe he had been growing cannabis for almost 12 years .
He had used three properties – including the rented house in Co Galway , another in Kells , Co Meath , and a third in Drumlish , Co Longford – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 2005 to early 2017 .
He had access to all three houses for a number of years during that period .
Collins would harvest and vacuum pack the crop and then travel up and down to Dublin to sell the drugs to people he refused to name in Garda interviews .
He also soaked the least valuable parts of cannabis plants in isopropyl in a process that produces cannabis oil .
When he was arrested he was growing a crop of cannabis every 16 weeks in Galway , from which he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he then sold for about €28,000 .
After he was arrested , and jailed for five years , it emerged he had amassed a bitcoin fortune .
Collins – who spent most of his adult life unemployed before working as a security guard and beekeeper – bought most of the currency he held in late 2011 and early 2012 when each bitcoin was worth only a fraction of the €8,900 each is valued at today .
He was so nervous about having all his bitcoin in one account that , four years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed 6,000 bitcoin , worth €53.6 million , equally across them .
Twelve accounts meant a series of 12 access codes and Collins decided to write them on a piece of paper which he hid inside a fishing rod case at his home in Co Galway .
The fishing rod case later went missing after his house was broken into and was also cleared of his belongings after his arrest in 2017 , he claimed .
His 12 bitcoin virtual wallets , containing 6,000 bitcoin , have been seized by the Criminal Assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their €53.6 million monetary value – can not be unlocked despite being seized by Cab .
Garda officers hope that in time advances in technology will enable the accounts to be accessed so the bitcoin can be sold and the value of it converted to cash and realised by the State as the proceeds of crime .

When Clifton Collins was arrested he was growing a crop of cannabis every 16 weeks in Galway, which he eventually sold for about €28,000. Photograph: iStock
When Clifton Collins pulled his Lexus 4x4 into a forest road near Sally Gap in the early hours one Tuesday morning, three years ago, his world was about to collapse.
For nearly 12 years he had lived a secret life; growing cannabis at rented houses in counties Galway, Meath and Longford before harvesting his crops and selling his illicit merchandise to drug dealers in his native Crumlin in south Dublin.
He had also accrued a fortune in bitcoin; buying up the cryptocurrency with the proceeds of his drug sales and then watching his personal wealth explode as the value of bitcoin soared.
Gardaí in a marked car on a routine patrol on Military Road near Sally Gap spotted Collins’s Lexus and went to investigate its presence in the middle of nowhere at 2.30am. His vehicle was searched and cannabis herb valued at €2,000 was found.
READ MORE
Collins, then aged 46, was arrested and taken into custody at Wicklow Garda station. Detectives got to work immediately, securing a search warrant within hours for the property Collins was living at in Farnaught, Cornamona, Co Galway, and commencing the search at first light.
They discovered the house had been converted by Collins into a sophisticated cannabis grow house. More than 500 plants with a combined value of €400,000 were discovered.
Three properties
A pellet gun and a stun gun, which he kept for his own protection, were also found. Gardaí believe he had been growing cannabis for almost 12 years. He had used three properties – including the rented house in Co Galway, another in Kells, Co Meath, and a third in Drumlish, Co Longford – to grow crops in the period from late 2005 to early 2017. He had access to all three houses for a number of years during that period.
Collins would harvest and vacuum pack the crop and then travel up and down to Dublin to sell the drugs to people he refused to name in Garda interviews. He also soaked the least valuable parts of cannabis plants in isopropyl in a process that produces cannabis oil.
When he was arrested he was growing a crop of cannabis every 16 weeks in Galway, from which he would yield about 4kg of cannabis herb which he then sold for about €28,000.
Bitcoin fortune
After he was arrested, and jailed for five years, it emerged he had amassed a bitcoin fortune.
Collins – who spent most of his adult life unemployed before working as a security guard and beekeeper – bought most of the currency he held in late 2011 and early 2012 when each bitcoin was worth only a fraction of the €8,900 each is valued at today. He was so nervous about having all his bitcoin in one account that, four years ago, he created 12 new accounts and distributed 6,000 bitcoin, worth €53.6 million, equally across them.
Twelve accounts meant a series of 12 access codes and Collins decided to write them on a piece of paper which he hid inside a fishing rod case at his home in Co Galway. The fishing rod case later went missing after his house was broken into and was also cleared of his belongings after his arrest in 2017, he claimed.
Virtual wallets
His 12 bitcoin virtual wallets, containing 6,000 bitcoin, have been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. However, the accounts – and their €53.6 million monetary value – cannot be unlocked despite being seized by Cab.
Garda officers hope that in time advances in technology will enable the accounts to be accessed so the bitcoin can be sold and the value of it converted to cash and realised by the State as the proceeds of crime.


theirishtimes--2020-02-21--High Court quashes permission for Ronan dockland tower

The High Court has quashed An Bord Pleanála ’ s decision to approve developer Johnny Ronan ’ s 13-storey tower beside Salesforce ’ s Dublin docklands headquarters , in a landmark decision for the planning system .
Dublin City Council had taken judicial review proceedings in what was its first legal challenge to a grant of planning permission by the board .
Mr Ronan has described the outcome as “ perverse ” , but the council said it took the action to preserve the integrity of the planning process .
The board last December granted Ronan Group Real Estate ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and co-living units in blocks up to 13 storeys , against the recommendation of its inspector .
The site is in a Strategic Development Zone ( SDZ ) , with heights set at five to seven storeys .
The council has applied to the board to amend the SDZ , which would increase height on the site to 12 storeys .
However , the board has yet to make a decision on this application .
The board ’ s inspector last November said Mr Ronan ’ s application was “ premature ” pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The board on Thursday consented in the High Court to the quashing of its decision , which will now be returned to it for a fresh determination .
RGRE said construction of homes now had to stop .
“ People have a right to expect better from Dublin City Council , and the planning process , ” it said .
City planner John O ’ Hara said city councillors , the public and landowners developed the SDZ .
“ The city council was very reluctant to take judicial review proceedings but the SDZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was essential to ensure the integrity of the plan-making process was maintained .
”

Impression of the Salesforce tower – to the immediate left of the Central Bank’s docklands headquarters.
The High Court has quashed An Bord Pleanála's decision to approve developer Johnny Ronan's 13-storey tower beside Salesforce's Dublin docklands headquarters, in a landmark decision for the planning system.
Dublin City Council had taken judicial review proceedings in what was its first legal challenge to a grant of planning permission by the board.
Mr Ronan has described the outcome as “perverse”, but the council said it took the action to preserve the integrity of the planning process.
The board last December granted Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) permission for almost 550 apartments and co-living units in blocks up to 13 storeys, against the recommendation of its inspector.
READ MORE
The site is in a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), with heights set at five to seven storeys. The council has applied to the board to amend the SDZ, which would increase height on the site to 12 storeys. However, the board has yet to make a decision on this application.
The board’s inspector last November said Mr Ronan’s application was “premature” pending the outcome of the SDZ process.
The board on Thursday consented in the High Court to the quashing of its decision, which will now be returned to it for a fresh determination.
RGRE said construction of homes now had to stop. “People have a right to expect better from Dublin City Council, and the planning process,” it said.
City planner John O’Hara said city councillors, the public and landowners developed the SDZ. “The city council was very reluctant to take judicial review proceedings but the SDZ is a democratically made plan and it was essential to ensure the integrity of the plan-making process was maintained.”