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Friday, April 30, 2010
Quinn Direct - NI
Assembly Committee holds useful meeting with Administrator for Quinn Insurance The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, today met with the Administrator for Quinn Insurance Ltd to discuss the future of the business. Chair of the Committee, Alban Maginness MLA said, “We took the opportunity today to stress the importance of opening up the profitable aspects of the Quinn business in Northern Ireland and the UK as soon as possible. Following today’s productive conversation we are hopeful this will happen in the near future. He added, “While the possibility of any staff redundancies was not discussed, we need to agree the importance of staff being the first to know any specifics on the future of the Quinn business. We will continue to keep in touch with the Administrators and Quinn employee representatives and offer our assistance and support wherever we can.†ENDS Committee Membership: Mr. Alban Maginness (Chairperson) Mr. Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson) Mr. Gregory Campbell Mr. Leslie Cree Ms. Jennifer McCann Dr. Alasdair McDonnell Mr. Gerry McHugh Mr. Daithà McKay Mr. Stephen Moutray Mr. Sean Neeson Mr. David Simpson Media enquiries to: Jennifer Pleavin Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 1606 Mobile : 07502 379339 Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk Sinead Murphy Deputy Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 905 25938 Mobile : 07825 146794 Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Murder Appeal
PSNI appeal over nurse's murder
The PSNI today urged the killer of a nurse who was strangled in Co Antrim to hand themselves in.
Pauline Haveron (53), was found dead at her home in Ballyclare on April 18th.
One man who was questioned about the murder was later released without charge.
Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, who is leading the investigation, said the killer should come forward to ease the suffering of her three children, who were numb with grief.
“You have caused terrible suffering to Pauline’s children,” Mr Galloway said. “They have been consumed by grief and have been struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
“You are responsible for taking away their mother whom they loved more than anything else. Your silence only prolongs their suffering. I am asking you to do the right thing. Come forward and speak to police.”
Detectives are trying to trace taxi and delivery drivers as well as people coming and going from work who may have seen a car or someone leaving on foot from the town’s Huntington area where the victim lived.
Mrs Haveron, whose funeral is being held today, had two grown-up sons and a daughter, who said she lived for her family and church.
“We are absolutely devastated that someone has taken our beautiful mother from us,” they said in a statement.
“Words cannot describe how extremely close we all were to her and, in times such as these, how we relied on her strength and advice.
“We miss her dreadfully and always will. While we feel that our lives are ruined and that it will be very hard to ever recover from this, it would give us some small degree of comfort if the person responsible could be brought to justice," they added.
“We appeal to anyone who knows anything about this to come forward and contact the police.”
The PSNI today urged the killer of a nurse who was strangled in Co Antrim to hand themselves in.
Pauline Haveron (53), was found dead at her home in Ballyclare on April 18th.
One man who was questioned about the murder was later released without charge.
Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, who is leading the investigation, said the killer should come forward to ease the suffering of her three children, who were numb with grief.
“You have caused terrible suffering to Pauline’s children,” Mr Galloway said. “They have been consumed by grief and have been struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
“You are responsible for taking away their mother whom they loved more than anything else. Your silence only prolongs their suffering. I am asking you to do the right thing. Come forward and speak to police.”
Detectives are trying to trace taxi and delivery drivers as well as people coming and going from work who may have seen a car or someone leaving on foot from the town’s Huntington area where the victim lived.
Mrs Haveron, whose funeral is being held today, had two grown-up sons and a daughter, who said she lived for her family and church.
“We are absolutely devastated that someone has taken our beautiful mother from us,” they said in a statement.
“Words cannot describe how extremely close we all were to her and, in times such as these, how we relied on her strength and advice.
“We miss her dreadfully and always will. While we feel that our lives are ruined and that it will be very hard to ever recover from this, it would give us some small degree of comfort if the person responsible could be brought to justice," they added.
“We appeal to anyone who knows anything about this to come forward and contact the police.”
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Deaths of Irish Abroad to be Registered at Home
Oireachtas Committee Calls for Change to Legislation to Allow Deaths of Irish Nationals Abroad to be Registered at Home
Relatives Say Current Situation Leaves to Sense of Hurt and Lack of Closure
28 April 2010
The Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs has today unanimously recommended altering the relevant legislation in order to enable deaths of Irish citizens who have died abroad to be registered here.
Currently, most deaths of Irish citizens overseas can only be registered within the county where the death occurs and an Irish death certificate cannot be obtained.
The Committee heard today from family members of Irish people who have died abroad. Among those at today’s meeting were the relatives of the late Keith O’Reilly from Co Galway. Keith died in a swimming accident last July in the United States while working there on a student visa. When it came to registering his death in Ireland, his family discovered they were unable to do so.
The Committee was told that in the last three years, 598 Irish citizens have died outside this country. In 2009, the figure was 244 and to date in 2010, over 40 Irish nationals have lost their lives overseas.
Relatives outlined to the Committee the hurt and distress the present situation is causing them. It means they cannot gain closure and that for grieving families there is a sense of unfinished business. Mr O’Reilly’s told the Committee that “without a record of registration of Keith’s death here in Ireland, it will forever feel as though a piece of him remains stranded across a vast ocean, miles from family, miles from home.”
The Committee unanimously resolved to contact the Minister for Social and Family Affairs asking him to amend the relevant section of the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow deaths abroad to be registered in Ireland.
Under the present legislation, only deaths of members of the Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces, deaths on board an Irish aircraft or ship, deaths of Irish citizens on board a foreign ship or foreign aircraft travelling to or from a port or airport or the death of an Irish citizen in a State where there is no system of registration in place can receive an Irish death certificate.
It is estimated that over 6,000 J1 visas are granted annually, 22,000 working holiday visas, while in 2009 approximately seven million trips were made from these shores by Irish people.
Relatives Say Current Situation Leaves to Sense of Hurt and Lack of Closure
28 April 2010
The Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs has today unanimously recommended altering the relevant legislation in order to enable deaths of Irish citizens who have died abroad to be registered here.
Currently, most deaths of Irish citizens overseas can only be registered within the county where the death occurs and an Irish death certificate cannot be obtained.
The Committee heard today from family members of Irish people who have died abroad. Among those at today’s meeting were the relatives of the late Keith O’Reilly from Co Galway. Keith died in a swimming accident last July in the United States while working there on a student visa. When it came to registering his death in Ireland, his family discovered they were unable to do so.
The Committee was told that in the last three years, 598 Irish citizens have died outside this country. In 2009, the figure was 244 and to date in 2010, over 40 Irish nationals have lost their lives overseas.
Relatives outlined to the Committee the hurt and distress the present situation is causing them. It means they cannot gain closure and that for grieving families there is a sense of unfinished business. Mr O’Reilly’s told the Committee that “without a record of registration of Keith’s death here in Ireland, it will forever feel as though a piece of him remains stranded across a vast ocean, miles from family, miles from home.”
The Committee unanimously resolved to contact the Minister for Social and Family Affairs asking him to amend the relevant section of the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow deaths abroad to be registered in Ireland.
Under the present legislation, only deaths of members of the Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces, deaths on board an Irish aircraft or ship, deaths of Irish citizens on board a foreign ship or foreign aircraft travelling to or from a port or airport or the death of an Irish citizen in a State where there is no system of registration in place can receive an Irish death certificate.
It is estimated that over 6,000 J1 visas are granted annually, 22,000 working holiday visas, while in 2009 approximately seven million trips were made from these shores by Irish people.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier
New Information about the Murder of Sophie
Woman who was beaten by Ian Bailey says Bailey is being stitched up.
During a number of civil actions taken by Ian Bailey against a number of newspapers it became clear that Ian Bailey was a man who engaged in domestic violence against his live in partner Miss Jules Thomas. Miss Jules Thomas continues to live with Ian Bailey at her home in CountyCork. Miss Jules Thomas has told a French TV crew that, “I would not stay with a murderer. I am not a stupid woman”. Miss Thomas was speaking about the fact that the French authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Mr Ian Bailey in relation to the murder of 39 year old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork in 1996.
La femme qui a été battue par Ian Bailey dit que Bailey est piqué en haut.
Pendant un certain nombre de mesures civiles prises par Ian Bailey contre un certain nombre de journaux il est devenu clair qu'Ian Bailey était un homme qui s'est livré à la violence dans la famille contre son vivant dans Mlle de partenaire Jules Thomas. Mlle Jules Thomas continue à vivre avec Ian Bailey à sa maison dans le Liège de Comté. Mlle Jules Thomas a dit à un équipage de TV français que, “je ne resterais pas avec un meurtrier. Je ne suis pas une femme stupide”. Mlle Thomas parlait du fait que les autorités françaises ont délivré un mandat d'arrestation européen pour M. Ian Bailey par rapport au meurtre de femme française de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier dans le Liège en 1996.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
French (English below)
Les Nouveaux Renseignements sur le Meurtre de Sophie
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Qui Fait Cela ?
Pour ces Rédacteurs en chef populaires qui tenaient souvent la première page pour Ian Baileys insightful et copie exclusive sur les reportages du meurtre brutal de producteur de film de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier, près de sa résidence secondaire à l'extérieur Schull dans le Liège ouest, le 22 décembre 1996, Ian Bailey est maintenant le persona non grata aux mêmes Rédacteurs en chef.
Gardai croit que Sophie Toscan du Plantier s'enfuyait de son attaquant quand elle a été sauvagement assassinée. On y croit que le soir ou dans la nuit du 22 décembre 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier a été dérangée ou surprise par sa maison par son tueur. Une chose est à coup sûr, elle a subi un meurtre brutal et lâche.
Pendant que les tabloïdes ont versé l'insightful d'Ian Bailey et des reportages exclusifs sur le meurtre de Sophie Toscan du Plantier, les Gardai commençaient à trouver le nom d'Ian Bailey apparaissant sur leur radar d'investigation.
English
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
UPDATE
irishtimes.com 24th April 2010.
Journalist Ian Bailey was arrested shortly before midnight last night after the High Court earlier endorsed a European Arrest Warrant.
Mr Bailey is being sought by the French authorities in connection with the murder of French film producer, Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork 13 years ago.
Officers from the Garda Extradition Section in Dublin travelled to West Cork last night where they arrested Mr Bailey shortly before midnight at his home outside Schull and brought him to Bandon Garda Station arriving there at around 1.15am.
It's expected that Mr Bailey will be brought before the High Court today where he's likely to apply for bail pending a full hearing in which the decision of the French authorities to issue a European Arrest Warrant for his arrest will be contested.
Last night's arrest came after Mr Justice Michael Peart sitting in the High Court in Dublin endorsed the European Arrest Warrant for Mr Bailey issued last month by French magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon who is investigating Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder.
Lawyers from the Chief State Solicitors Office went before the High Court in Dublin yesterday afternoon with the original European Arrest Warrant issued by French Magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon last month and presented it to Mr Justice Michael Peart.
Last week, Mr Justice Peart had asked for the original warrant and upon receipt of the document yesterday afternoon, he endorsed it, paving the way for the arrest last night of Mr Bailey (53) who is currently studying for his final law exams at his home near Schull in West Cork.
Mr Bailey's arrest is likely to trigger a protracted legal battle as Mr Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer has already indicated that his client will vigourously contest the validity of the warrant and any attempt to extradite him to France when he is brought before the High Court.
And Mr Buttimer is on the record as saying that, in what he believes is the unlikely event of his client losing in the High Court, then he will appeal the matter to the Supreme Court as he believed granting a warrant in such circumstances would raise broader constitutional issues.
However the news that Mr Justice Peart had endorsed the European Arrest Warrant was last night enthusiastically welcomed by relatives and friends of Ms Toscan du Plantier who have campaigned to have her killer brought to justice.
Ms Toscan du Plantier's uncle, Jean Pierre Gazeau described the news as "fantastic" and congratulated the Irish justice system for its speedy endorsement of the European Arrest Warrant to facilitate the arrest of Mr Bailey.
"This is fantastic and it is so heartening for Sophie's parents, Georges and Marguerite because they have been waiting for 14 years for something like this," said Mr Gazeau who is also President of the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
"Of course we know and fully expect Mr Bailey to fight this in the Irish High Court and the Irish Supreme Court if necessary so we still have many more steps to travel but tonight our hope grows a lot stronger," he told The Irish Times .
Mr Gazeau commended Judge Gachon on his work to date and he re-iterated his challenge to Mr Bailey to come to France to face the magistrate if, as he has continually claimed, he is innocent of any involvement in his niece's death.
"Ian Bailey has always said that he had nothing to do with the murder of Sophie - if that is the case, then he should to come to France to answer the many contradictions between his testimony and those of other witnesses in his libel action - let him come to France," he said.
Lawyer, Alain Spilliaert who advises the family and ASSOPH, also welcomed the news that European Arrest Warrant had been endorsed and described it as "a historic moment in the long and very determined struggle by the family to get justice".
"I am surprised because I had read that it would take several weeks for the judge to decide but the Irish authorities had shown great urgency and the investigation is now at a critical time but for us now there is a ray of hope in the distance and it's brightening all the time."
UPDATE
BARRY ROCHE Southern Correspondent - irishtimes.com
THE DECISION by French authorities to seek the extradition of Ian Bailey in connection with the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is based on a number of factors, including Mr Bailey’s behaviour in the immediate aftermath of the killing, The Irish Times has learned.
It is understood that investigating magistrate Judge Patrick Gachon has based his decision to issue a European arrest warrant for Mr Bailey on three distinct grounds, following a close examination of the Garda file on the killing and affidavits sworn by Garda witnesses.
Judge Gachon believes Mr Bailey has a case to answer on the basis that he knew certain details about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home in Toormore near Schull in 1996 prior to these details being confirmed by the police.
It is also understood that Judge Gachon is of the view that Mr Bailey’s statements that he suffered scratches to his face and arms while killing turkeys and cutting down a Christmas tree on the day before Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed do not stand up to close scrutiny.
Judge Gachon also believes that there is sufficient evidence on the Garda file to suggest that Mr Bailey was not at his home at Liscaha, Schull, for the entirety of the night of December 22nd/December 23rd, 1996, when Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed.
Judge Gachon has spent 12 months examining the Garda file, which includes statements from over 240 witnesses as well as a review of the Garda handling of the original investigation, while he also heard evidence from two officers who were centrally involved in the investigation.
Supt Liam Horgan, who is heading the Garda investigation into the killing and who was a liaison officer with Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family, and Det Garda Jim Fitzgerald spent three days giving evidence before Judge Gachon last November.
Mr Bailey, who was arrested on foot of the European arrest warrant at his home in Schull late last Friday night and brought before the High Court in Dublin on Saturday, has stated in court that he believes the warrant is based on false information.
His solicitor Frank Buttimer has indicated that his client will fully contest the warrant in the High Court and that if he loses that decision he will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, as he believes it raises broader constitutional issues.
Mr Bailey, who was twice arrested by gardaí for questioning about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier and was twice released without charge, hasconsistently protested his innocence and denied any involvement in the killing.
Ms Toscan du Plantier’s mother, Marguerite Bouniol, has welcomed the issuing of the European arrest warrant by Judge Gachon and said the family was hopeful that Mr Bailey would be extradited to France to allow Judge Gachon progress his inquiry into the murder.
Woman who was beaten by Ian Bailey says Bailey is being stitched up.
During a number of civil actions taken by Ian Bailey against a number of newspapers it became clear that Ian Bailey was a man who engaged in domestic violence against his live in partner Miss Jules Thomas. Miss Jules Thomas continues to live with Ian Bailey at her home in CountyCork. Miss Jules Thomas has told a French TV crew that, “I would not stay with a murderer. I am not a stupid woman”. Miss Thomas was speaking about the fact that the French authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Mr Ian Bailey in relation to the murder of 39 year old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork in 1996.
La femme qui a été battue par Ian Bailey dit que Bailey est piqué en haut.
Pendant un certain nombre de mesures civiles prises par Ian Bailey contre un certain nombre de journaux il est devenu clair qu'Ian Bailey était un homme qui s'est livré à la violence dans la famille contre son vivant dans Mlle de partenaire Jules Thomas. Mlle Jules Thomas continue à vivre avec Ian Bailey à sa maison dans le Liège de Comté. Mlle Jules Thomas a dit à un équipage de TV français que, “je ne resterais pas avec un meurtrier. Je ne suis pas une femme stupide”. Mlle Thomas parlait du fait que les autorités françaises ont délivré un mandat d'arrestation européen pour M. Ian Bailey par rapport au meurtre de femme française de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier dans le Liège en 1996.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
French (English below)
Les Nouveaux Renseignements sur le Meurtre de Sophie
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Qui Fait Cela ?
Pour ces Rédacteurs en chef populaires qui tenaient souvent la première page pour Ian Baileys insightful et copie exclusive sur les reportages du meurtre brutal de producteur de film de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier, près de sa résidence secondaire à l'extérieur Schull dans le Liège ouest, le 22 décembre 1996, Ian Bailey est maintenant le persona non grata aux mêmes Rédacteurs en chef.
Gardai croit que Sophie Toscan du Plantier s'enfuyait de son attaquant quand elle a été sauvagement assassinée. On y croit que le soir ou dans la nuit du 22 décembre 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier a été dérangée ou surprise par sa maison par son tueur. Une chose est à coup sûr, elle a subi un meurtre brutal et lâche.
Pendant que les tabloïdes ont versé l'insightful d'Ian Bailey et des reportages exclusifs sur le meurtre de Sophie Toscan du Plantier, les Gardai commençaient à trouver le nom d'Ian Bailey apparaissant sur leur radar d'investigation.
English
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
UPDATE
irishtimes.com 24th April 2010.
Journalist Ian Bailey was arrested shortly before midnight last night after the High Court earlier endorsed a European Arrest Warrant.
Mr Bailey is being sought by the French authorities in connection with the murder of French film producer, Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork 13 years ago.
Officers from the Garda Extradition Section in Dublin travelled to West Cork last night where they arrested Mr Bailey shortly before midnight at his home outside Schull and brought him to Bandon Garda Station arriving there at around 1.15am.
It's expected that Mr Bailey will be brought before the High Court today where he's likely to apply for bail pending a full hearing in which the decision of the French authorities to issue a European Arrest Warrant for his arrest will be contested.
Last night's arrest came after Mr Justice Michael Peart sitting in the High Court in Dublin endorsed the European Arrest Warrant for Mr Bailey issued last month by French magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon who is investigating Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder.
Lawyers from the Chief State Solicitors Office went before the High Court in Dublin yesterday afternoon with the original European Arrest Warrant issued by French Magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon last month and presented it to Mr Justice Michael Peart.
Last week, Mr Justice Peart had asked for the original warrant and upon receipt of the document yesterday afternoon, he endorsed it, paving the way for the arrest last night of Mr Bailey (53) who is currently studying for his final law exams at his home near Schull in West Cork.
Mr Bailey's arrest is likely to trigger a protracted legal battle as Mr Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer has already indicated that his client will vigourously contest the validity of the warrant and any attempt to extradite him to France when he is brought before the High Court.
And Mr Buttimer is on the record as saying that, in what he believes is the unlikely event of his client losing in the High Court, then he will appeal the matter to the Supreme Court as he believed granting a warrant in such circumstances would raise broader constitutional issues.
However the news that Mr Justice Peart had endorsed the European Arrest Warrant was last night enthusiastically welcomed by relatives and friends of Ms Toscan du Plantier who have campaigned to have her killer brought to justice.
Ms Toscan du Plantier's uncle, Jean Pierre Gazeau described the news as "fantastic" and congratulated the Irish justice system for its speedy endorsement of the European Arrest Warrant to facilitate the arrest of Mr Bailey.
"This is fantastic and it is so heartening for Sophie's parents, Georges and Marguerite because they have been waiting for 14 years for something like this," said Mr Gazeau who is also President of the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
"Of course we know and fully expect Mr Bailey to fight this in the Irish High Court and the Irish Supreme Court if necessary so we still have many more steps to travel but tonight our hope grows a lot stronger," he told The Irish Times .
Mr Gazeau commended Judge Gachon on his work to date and he re-iterated his challenge to Mr Bailey to come to France to face the magistrate if, as he has continually claimed, he is innocent of any involvement in his niece's death.
"Ian Bailey has always said that he had nothing to do with the murder of Sophie - if that is the case, then he should to come to France to answer the many contradictions between his testimony and those of other witnesses in his libel action - let him come to France," he said.
Lawyer, Alain Spilliaert who advises the family and ASSOPH, also welcomed the news that European Arrest Warrant had been endorsed and described it as "a historic moment in the long and very determined struggle by the family to get justice".
"I am surprised because I had read that it would take several weeks for the judge to decide but the Irish authorities had shown great urgency and the investigation is now at a critical time but for us now there is a ray of hope in the distance and it's brightening all the time."
UPDATE
BARRY ROCHE Southern Correspondent - irishtimes.com
THE DECISION by French authorities to seek the extradition of Ian Bailey in connection with the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is based on a number of factors, including Mr Bailey’s behaviour in the immediate aftermath of the killing, The Irish Times has learned.
It is understood that investigating magistrate Judge Patrick Gachon has based his decision to issue a European arrest warrant for Mr Bailey on three distinct grounds, following a close examination of the Garda file on the killing and affidavits sworn by Garda witnesses.
Judge Gachon believes Mr Bailey has a case to answer on the basis that he knew certain details about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home in Toormore near Schull in 1996 prior to these details being confirmed by the police.
It is also understood that Judge Gachon is of the view that Mr Bailey’s statements that he suffered scratches to his face and arms while killing turkeys and cutting down a Christmas tree on the day before Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed do not stand up to close scrutiny.
Judge Gachon also believes that there is sufficient evidence on the Garda file to suggest that Mr Bailey was not at his home at Liscaha, Schull, for the entirety of the night of December 22nd/December 23rd, 1996, when Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed.
Judge Gachon has spent 12 months examining the Garda file, which includes statements from over 240 witnesses as well as a review of the Garda handling of the original investigation, while he also heard evidence from two officers who were centrally involved in the investigation.
Supt Liam Horgan, who is heading the Garda investigation into the killing and who was a liaison officer with Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family, and Det Garda Jim Fitzgerald spent three days giving evidence before Judge Gachon last November.
Mr Bailey, who was arrested on foot of the European arrest warrant at his home in Schull late last Friday night and brought before the High Court in Dublin on Saturday, has stated in court that he believes the warrant is based on false information.
His solicitor Frank Buttimer has indicated that his client will fully contest the warrant in the High Court and that if he loses that decision he will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, as he believes it raises broader constitutional issues.
Mr Bailey, who was twice arrested by gardaí for questioning about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier and was twice released without charge, hasconsistently protested his innocence and denied any involvement in the killing.
Ms Toscan du Plantier’s mother, Marguerite Bouniol, has welcomed the issuing of the European arrest warrant by Judge Gachon and said the family was hopeful that Mr Bailey would be extradited to France to allow Judge Gachon progress his inquiry into the murder.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Irish Aid
Progress of Irish Aid Funded Countries on UN Millennium Development Goals to be Outlined by Programme Director at Oireachtas Committee
27 April 2010
The progress of those Developing nations, who have been prioritised for funding by Irish Aid, in achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be detailed at tomorrow’s (28th) meeting of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee.
The United Nations Programme Director, Mr Salil Shetty will appear at the Committee.
The meeting will take place at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.
Last year, almost €700 million in Irish taxpayers’ money was spent on overseas development assistance. Much of this output is targeted towards reaching the eight UN MDGs. The Millennium Development Goals are eight targets to be achieved by 2015 that will solve the world’s main hunger and poverty challenges.
Committee Chairman, Dr Michael Woods TD said;
“Some encouraging progress on the MDGs have been recorded in priority countries for Ireland’s aid programme. Though there have been a number of positive indicators others point to a need to accelerate progress if the 2015 targets are to be achieved.
The meeting tomorrow will allow us to assess how Irish Aid money is being spent in these nations and what else can be done to achieve the stated deadlines.”
27 April 2010
The progress of those Developing nations, who have been prioritised for funding by Irish Aid, in achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be detailed at tomorrow’s (28th) meeting of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee.
The United Nations Programme Director, Mr Salil Shetty will appear at the Committee.
The meeting will take place at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.
Last year, almost €700 million in Irish taxpayers’ money was spent on overseas development assistance. Much of this output is targeted towards reaching the eight UN MDGs. The Millennium Development Goals are eight targets to be achieved by 2015 that will solve the world’s main hunger and poverty challenges.
Committee Chairman, Dr Michael Woods TD said;
“Some encouraging progress on the MDGs have been recorded in priority countries for Ireland’s aid programme. Though there have been a number of positive indicators others point to a need to accelerate progress if the 2015 targets are to be achieved.
The meeting tomorrow will allow us to assess how Irish Aid money is being spent in these nations and what else can be done to achieve the stated deadlines.”
1916
Consideration Must be Given to Altering Moore St Development Plans in order to Safeguard Historic 1916 Buildings-Oireachtas Environment Committee
27 April 2010
The proposed redevelopment of the Moore Street and O’Connell Street area must not disregard the historic features of the quarter and their significant link to the 1916 Rising, according to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Committee members were today given a detailed and extensive tour of the area by members of the Save 16 Moore Street Committee. The tour was conducted by James Connolly Heron, great-grandson of James Connolly and Honor O Brolchain, great-niece of Joseph Plunkett.
An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for a major retail and residential development of the zone. Much of the area has significant historic interest encompassing the escape route from the GPO taken by the leaders of the 1916 Rising and their ultimate final headquarters in 16 Moore Street.
Relatives of the 1916 leaders have expressed concern that the development will damage the integrity of the area and demolish the significant historical buildings of the Rising.
Committee Chairman, Se n Fleming TD said;
“We were extremely impressed by what we saw and learnt today. Following this, we feel that there is a genuine case for altering the development plans as they currently stand in order to preserve the most significant historical features of the area.
The centenary of the 1916 Rising will soon be upon us and we feel it would be a shame if the streets and houses where these momentous events took place were not maintained to some extent.
Therefore, we intend to contact the Minister for Environment to put our views to him regarding how this sensitive development should be handled. While we all acknowledge that development is necessary, there must also be a central place maintained for our national heritage and history.”
27 April 2010
The proposed redevelopment of the Moore Street and O’Connell Street area must not disregard the historic features of the quarter and their significant link to the 1916 Rising, according to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Committee members were today given a detailed and extensive tour of the area by members of the Save 16 Moore Street Committee. The tour was conducted by James Connolly Heron, great-grandson of James Connolly and Honor O Brolchain, great-niece of Joseph Plunkett.
An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for a major retail and residential development of the zone. Much of the area has significant historic interest encompassing the escape route from the GPO taken by the leaders of the 1916 Rising and their ultimate final headquarters in 16 Moore Street.
Relatives of the 1916 leaders have expressed concern that the development will damage the integrity of the area and demolish the significant historical buildings of the Rising.
Committee Chairman, Se n Fleming TD said;
“We were extremely impressed by what we saw and learnt today. Following this, we feel that there is a genuine case for altering the development plans as they currently stand in order to preserve the most significant historical features of the area.
The centenary of the 1916 Rising will soon be upon us and we feel it would be a shame if the streets and houses where these momentous events took place were not maintained to some extent.
Therefore, we intend to contact the Minister for Environment to put our views to him regarding how this sensitive development should be handled. While we all acknowledge that development is necessary, there must also be a central place maintained for our national heritage and history.”
New Oireachtas Sub-Committe
Former Minister Michael McDowell to be First Witness at New Oireachtas Sub-Committee
27th April 2010
A new Oireachtas sub-Committee which will consider how the Houses of the Oireachtas can best use the new powers and entitlements granted under the Lisbon Treaty will hold its first public hearings, tomorrow, 28th April at 5pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.
Former Justice Minister and current Senior Counsel, Michael McDowell will be the first witness at the new Committee. Mr McDowell will be joined by fellow Senior Council Anthony Collins.
Over the course of the coming weeks the Committee will hold hearings with a number of witnesses from the political, civic and legal area. Among those due to appear before the Committee are former Taoiseach, John Bruton and past President of the European Parliament Pat Cox
The Committee will also be hearing from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, MEPs and other relevant figures.
The Committee will review the interim arrangements agreed by the D il and Seanad last December for the implementation of the relevant Lisbon Treaty provisions. As part of its work, the Committee intends to look at what can be learnt from approaches taken by other parliaments post Lisbon.
The Committee will also recommend new approaches to advancing the discussion of European Affairs within the Oireachtas and how it can effectively use the new powers guaranteed under the Lisbon Treaty.
Committee Chairperson, Lucinda Creighton TD said;
“The Lisbon Treaty has significantly changed national parliaments’ relationship with the EU. Parliaments have been given a range of new powers and entitlements which enable them to contribute actively to the good functioning of the Union.
The onus is now on us to make sure that we properly use this new authority to find the best way to scrutinise and critically analyse European proposals in the best interest of Ireland.
It is vitally important that these new rights are effectively implemented by the Oireachtas and by each national parliament in the EU if the Union is to become more transparent, accountable and ultimately democratic.
In order for the Oireachtas to achieve this, the way we deal with EU matters needs to be critically examined and significantly revised in light of the Lisbon Treaty. The work of this Committee will help to realise this objective.”
The Committee is a sub-Committee of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee and the Oireachtas Committee on European Scrutiny. Its full title is Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the Review of the Role of the Oireachtas in European Affairs. The two Joint Committees have been asked to report to both Houses within six months.
The Committee will also review the recommendations made by Sub Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union which reported in November 2008.
The Committee can be viewed on line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
27th April 2010
A new Oireachtas sub-Committee which will consider how the Houses of the Oireachtas can best use the new powers and entitlements granted under the Lisbon Treaty will hold its first public hearings, tomorrow, 28th April at 5pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.
Former Justice Minister and current Senior Counsel, Michael McDowell will be the first witness at the new Committee. Mr McDowell will be joined by fellow Senior Council Anthony Collins.
Over the course of the coming weeks the Committee will hold hearings with a number of witnesses from the political, civic and legal area. Among those due to appear before the Committee are former Taoiseach, John Bruton and past President of the European Parliament Pat Cox
The Committee will also be hearing from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, MEPs and other relevant figures.
The Committee will review the interim arrangements agreed by the D il and Seanad last December for the implementation of the relevant Lisbon Treaty provisions. As part of its work, the Committee intends to look at what can be learnt from approaches taken by other parliaments post Lisbon.
The Committee will also recommend new approaches to advancing the discussion of European Affairs within the Oireachtas and how it can effectively use the new powers guaranteed under the Lisbon Treaty.
Committee Chairperson, Lucinda Creighton TD said;
“The Lisbon Treaty has significantly changed national parliaments’ relationship with the EU. Parliaments have been given a range of new powers and entitlements which enable them to contribute actively to the good functioning of the Union.
The onus is now on us to make sure that we properly use this new authority to find the best way to scrutinise and critically analyse European proposals in the best interest of Ireland.
It is vitally important that these new rights are effectively implemented by the Oireachtas and by each national parliament in the EU if the Union is to become more transparent, accountable and ultimately democratic.
In order for the Oireachtas to achieve this, the way we deal with EU matters needs to be critically examined and significantly revised in light of the Lisbon Treaty. The work of this Committee will help to realise this objective.”
The Committee is a sub-Committee of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee and the Oireachtas Committee on European Scrutiny. Its full title is Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the Review of the Role of the Oireachtas in European Affairs. The two Joint Committees have been asked to report to both Houses within six months.
The Committee will also review the recommendations made by Sub Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union which reported in November 2008.
The Committee can be viewed on line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
Monday, April 26, 2010
1916
Oireachtas Committee to Meet with Relatives of 1916 Leaders to Inspect Planned Redevelopment of Historical Moore Street Site
26th April 2010
Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will meet with the relatives of the 1916 leaders to inspect the impact of the proposed redevelopment of the Carlton Cinema Site on the historic buildings on Moore Street.
The Committee will meet with the relatives, tomorrow (27th) at 12 pm at the GPO.
Committee members will be given a tour of the area to consider the effects the development may have.
Relatives of the 1916 leaders have expressed concern by the decision by An Bord Plean la to grant permission for a major retail and residential development at the former Carlton cinema site. They fear the development will damage the integrity of the area which has significant historical interest encompassing much of the escape route from the GPO during the 1916 rising.
Numbers 14-17 Moore Street are now national monuments and featured the last stand of the Rising’s leaders.
26th April 2010
Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will meet with the relatives of the 1916 leaders to inspect the impact of the proposed redevelopment of the Carlton Cinema Site on the historic buildings on Moore Street.
The Committee will meet with the relatives, tomorrow (27th) at 12 pm at the GPO.
Committee members will be given a tour of the area to consider the effects the development may have.
Relatives of the 1916 leaders have expressed concern by the decision by An Bord Plean la to grant permission for a major retail and residential development at the former Carlton cinema site. They fear the development will damage the integrity of the area which has significant historical interest encompassing much of the escape route from the GPO during the 1916 rising.
Numbers 14-17 Moore Street are now national monuments and featured the last stand of the Rising’s leaders.
Exclusive - Department of Justice Staff done secret deal with Prisoner
Exclusive by theirishobserver.blogspot.com
Department of Justice doing deals with Prisoners while ignoring concerns of Staff
The resignation of Prison Governor Kathleen Mc Mahon from the Dochas Centre in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison after ten years in that post and thirty-three years in the Irish Prison Service is a dark day for the Department of Justice.
Kathleen Mc Mahon is regarded as a first class professional by all those people who have had dealings with her in her role as Governor of the Dochas Centre. Kathleen Mc Mahon clearly feels that her concerns and views have not been taken seriously by senior staff in the Irish Prison Service or indeed the Department of Justice. Such undermining of Kathleen Mc Mahon’s position is nothing less than scandalous.
Kathleen Mc Mahon will leave her post as Governor on the 21st May 2010 after ten years of dedicated service in that position. Kathleen Mc Mahon has not met with glass ceilings but rather with brick walls. Kathleen Mc Mahon’s concerns about over crowding and lack of focus on rehabilitation have not been treated in the manner they should have been by those in authority.
Kathleen Mc Mahon has been one of the few to confront the Department of Justice about the chronic overcrowding and lack of facilities in the Irish Prison system. However the lack of vision for the Irish Prison system has been institutionalised over many years as Government Ministers such as John O Donoghue and senior civil servants were more concerned with their own career paths, inflated salaries and expenses than they were about public safety. Wheatfield Prison, Cork, Limerick are all over crowded and lacking any rehabilitative vision.
Many people continue to fill our prisons simply because they cannot meet repayments on small loans or cannot afford to pay over inflated fines. What is the logic of fining a woman 400 Euro for stealing a pair of 10 Euro runners from Dunnes, this is the type of ridiculous situation that is on going in our courts while corrupt bankers and property speculators continue to live in multi-million euro houses as the Government bails them out with Billions of Euro of our money.
Senior staff within the Department of Justice seems more concerned with pleasing the ghoulish appetite of tabloid editors and readers than they are with community safety and crime prevention.
However, the irishobserver.blogspot.com can reveal by way of a FOI request that both Sean Aylward and Frank Mc Dermot done a secret deal with a convicted sex offender (see, document above). So it appears that these senior members of the Justice Department are more concerned with civil proceedings by a prisoner than they are about the concerns of a senior professional within their own ranks.
Department of Justice doing deals with Prisoners while ignoring concerns of Staff
The resignation of Prison Governor Kathleen Mc Mahon from the Dochas Centre in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison after ten years in that post and thirty-three years in the Irish Prison Service is a dark day for the Department of Justice.
Kathleen Mc Mahon is regarded as a first class professional by all those people who have had dealings with her in her role as Governor of the Dochas Centre. Kathleen Mc Mahon clearly feels that her concerns and views have not been taken seriously by senior staff in the Irish Prison Service or indeed the Department of Justice. Such undermining of Kathleen Mc Mahon’s position is nothing less than scandalous.
Kathleen Mc Mahon will leave her post as Governor on the 21st May 2010 after ten years of dedicated service in that position. Kathleen Mc Mahon has not met with glass ceilings but rather with brick walls. Kathleen Mc Mahon’s concerns about over crowding and lack of focus on rehabilitation have not been treated in the manner they should have been by those in authority.
Kathleen Mc Mahon has been one of the few to confront the Department of Justice about the chronic overcrowding and lack of facilities in the Irish Prison system. However the lack of vision for the Irish Prison system has been institutionalised over many years as Government Ministers such as John O Donoghue and senior civil servants were more concerned with their own career paths, inflated salaries and expenses than they were about public safety. Wheatfield Prison, Cork, Limerick are all over crowded and lacking any rehabilitative vision.
Many people continue to fill our prisons simply because they cannot meet repayments on small loans or cannot afford to pay over inflated fines. What is the logic of fining a woman 400 Euro for stealing a pair of 10 Euro runners from Dunnes, this is the type of ridiculous situation that is on going in our courts while corrupt bankers and property speculators continue to live in multi-million euro houses as the Government bails them out with Billions of Euro of our money.
Senior staff within the Department of Justice seems more concerned with pleasing the ghoulish appetite of tabloid editors and readers than they are with community safety and crime prevention.
However, the irishobserver.blogspot.com can reveal by way of a FOI request that both Sean Aylward and Frank Mc Dermot done a secret deal with a convicted sex offender (see, document above). So it appears that these senior members of the Justice Department are more concerned with civil proceedings by a prisoner than they are about the concerns of a senior professional within their own ranks.
Friday, April 23, 2010
'Dissidents'
Why ‘Dissident’ Republicans have no legitimacy
In 1986 when Ruiri O Bradaigh lead a splinter group of republicans away from the main body of Provisional Sinn Fein/IRA, he done so not because of policy shift in relation to abstentionism but rather in relation to power shift. Adams and Mc Guinness made no secret of their intention to take the power base of the republican movement to the north and shift the old guard lead by O Bradaigh out of power. O Bradaigh set up Republican Sinn Fein which is nothing more than a talking shop for old men who have lived in relative comfort far from the northern conflict for decades. O Bradaigh also masterminded the creation of Continuity IRA, however, it is only in recent times that Continuity have begun to cut their paramilitary teeth as their ranks have been swelled by former members of the Provisional IRA. In 1996 the CIRA exploded a 1,200lb bomb at a hotel in Fermanagh however this was the work of a small team based in rural Monaghan. O Bradiagh’s bluff about walking away from the main stream Sinn Fein/IRA organisation over abstentionism is easily exposed as Republican Sinn Fein have taken seats in the Republic when they can get someone elected to an urban or county council.
In November 1997 both Kevin Mc Kenna and Michael Mc Kevitt resigned their positions on the Provisional IRA Army Council. Kevin Mc Kenna who said in 1994, “As long as the lads with the balaclavas are there to keep an eye on things I am happy to go along with it”, Mc Kenna was talking about the talks between Mc Guinness/Adams and the British Government. However, in 1997 Mc Kenna decided he could no longer be part of the Sinn Fein/IRA organisation. There is no evidence to suggest that Mc Kenna went with the dissidents but that he has simply settled into retirement in County Monaghan. Michael Mc Kevitt on the other hand who had been the Provisional IRA’s Quarter Master General would form the Real IRA. Mc Kevitt was in a position to take personnel, weapons and explosives with him. While the Provisional IRA has a long standing policy of executing anyone who misuses their personnel or weapons Mc Kevitt was given a free hand. The political mouth-piece for the Real IRA would be the, 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
From a republican perspective neither the Continuity IRA nor the Real IRA has any legitimacy. O Bradaigh for his part was happy to engage with the British Government when it suited his egotistical journey; he further split the republican movement over personal rather than long term political motivations. Michael Mc Kevitt was on the IRA Army Council while Martin Mc Guinness was having secret meetings with M16, Mc Kevitt was party to the surrender of militant republicanism and he was further party to the mass executions of Irish Republicans in the border counties due to the IRA leadership’s duplicity (http://theirishobserver.blogspot.com/2010/04/loughgall-murdered-by-republicans.html).
The journey of the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership is no different; however, Provisional Sinn Fein/IRA has now openly accepted their role as constitutional politicians in both the partitionist Assembly at Stormont and Dail Eireann in the Republic. The many failures of the Mc Guinness/Adams leadership, including their dishonesty and duplicity leave them with some burden in relation to the creation of the modern day ‘dissidents’. There is a very clear school of thought within Irish republicanism which suggests that Michael Mc Kevitt was given a free hand by the Provisonal IRA leadership as that leadership believed that low key dissident shootings and bombings would help focus the minds of the Unionists, The British Government and the Irish Government.
The Omagh bomb in August 1998 left the Provisional IRA leadership red faced as they realised the futility and recklessness of allowing Mc Kevitt to walk away with their semtex. However, it was too late, already Slab Murphy and others who may have had influence at one time, had lost that influence on the ‘dissident’ groupings. Even Martin Mc Guinness was given short shift when he went to south Armagh to try and gain some influence. However, while Omagh was a spectacular own goal for both the ‘dissidents’ and the PIRA leadership who had let them walk away with their semtex, the dissidents simply regrouped and lived to fight another day. Recent dissident attacks on the home of Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy and other Sinn Fein/IRA members shows that the dissidents have taken on a new life form.
The Real IRA (now split but focused), Continuity IRA, INLA and many former members of the PIRA now make up the ranks of the ‘dissident’ threat. The recent killings of two soldiers at Massereene army base in 2009, the killing of PSNI officer Stephen Carroll in March 2009 shows clearly that the ‘dissident’ threat what ever its origins is prepared to continue with a futile, flawed and mainly egotistically driven campaign of cowardly attacks. The ‘dissident’ threat is driven in most instances by self serving and criminal enterprise. The recent emergence of the Irish Republican Liberation Army is described by the International Monitoring Committee as, “essentially a group of criminals taking a republican banner in order give supposed status to their activities”. Many dissidents have been imprisoned on the Island of Ireland for criminal activities ranging from extortion from lap dancing clubs to drug dealing. However, like the Provisional IRA/Sinn Fein before them these criminal dissidents will use the smoke of attacking anti-social elements to hide their own criminal intent.
There is no doubt that the dissident threat is presently higher than it has been for many years, all of the various parts making up the whole of the dissident threat are now working closely together. In the working/underclass areas where these bandits operate little or nothing has changed for the ordinary people as a result of the ‘peace dividend’ and so the waters in which sectarian/criminality swims have never gone away. The security services lead by M15 have disrupted many dissident operations in recent months, however, they only have to get lucky once. The recent car bomb attack on Palace Barracks, in Hollywood which is also the HQ of M15 on the 12th of April to coincide with the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont show that the dissident threat is one that is coordinated and determined, what ever its motivation. This bomb made up of approximately 100/20 lbs of homemade explosives was brought to Belfast and then placed in a hi-jacked taxi.
The dissidents have not strayed far from the path of their PIRA counterparts, the bomb makers are based in small rural locations mainly in counties, Louth, Armagh and Fermanagh. The personnel may have a different name tag now but they were mainly born out of the PIRA, some new blood has and is being recruited and this accounts for a number of botched operations. Today as the smoke clears after a car bomb exploded outside Newtownhamilton Police station and injuring two people, it is clear that the present intention is to focus the dissident threat on causing discomfort for Sinn Fein during the election campaign in the north.
The ‘dissidents’ have also recently killed 31 year old Kieran Doherty who was a member of their organisation in Derry, Doherty had been found operating a major drug dealing operation in County Donegal. It is not clear if Doherty was killed because he was operating an enterprise outside of the control of the Real IRA in Derry or because he was an actual drug dealer. Doherty had been running a drug dealing operation from a house belonging to another senior dissident Seamus Mc Greevy, who was based in Meath. Seamus Mc Creevy hanged himself on January 31st 2010. In October 2009 another senior dissident John Brady took his own life while being held at Strand Road PSNI station.
So it is that there is much confusion and uncertainty within the dissident family. Their present tactic of causing discomfort to Sinn Fein and uncertainty for the Assembly at Stormont appears short sighted and counter productive. However, short sightedness is something the republican movement have never been short off. It is most lightly that when as expected a Unionist MP is returned to Fermanagh/South Tyrone following the present election campaign the dissidents will want to mark this event with a spectacular in Tyrone or Fermanagh.
In 1986 when Ruiri O Bradaigh lead a splinter group of republicans away from the main body of Provisional Sinn Fein/IRA, he done so not because of policy shift in relation to abstentionism but rather in relation to power shift. Adams and Mc Guinness made no secret of their intention to take the power base of the republican movement to the north and shift the old guard lead by O Bradaigh out of power. O Bradaigh set up Republican Sinn Fein which is nothing more than a talking shop for old men who have lived in relative comfort far from the northern conflict for decades. O Bradaigh also masterminded the creation of Continuity IRA, however, it is only in recent times that Continuity have begun to cut their paramilitary teeth as their ranks have been swelled by former members of the Provisional IRA. In 1996 the CIRA exploded a 1,200lb bomb at a hotel in Fermanagh however this was the work of a small team based in rural Monaghan. O Bradiagh’s bluff about walking away from the main stream Sinn Fein/IRA organisation over abstentionism is easily exposed as Republican Sinn Fein have taken seats in the Republic when they can get someone elected to an urban or county council.
In November 1997 both Kevin Mc Kenna and Michael Mc Kevitt resigned their positions on the Provisional IRA Army Council. Kevin Mc Kenna who said in 1994, “As long as the lads with the balaclavas are there to keep an eye on things I am happy to go along with it”, Mc Kenna was talking about the talks between Mc Guinness/Adams and the British Government. However, in 1997 Mc Kenna decided he could no longer be part of the Sinn Fein/IRA organisation. There is no evidence to suggest that Mc Kenna went with the dissidents but that he has simply settled into retirement in County Monaghan. Michael Mc Kevitt on the other hand who had been the Provisional IRA’s Quarter Master General would form the Real IRA. Mc Kevitt was in a position to take personnel, weapons and explosives with him. While the Provisional IRA has a long standing policy of executing anyone who misuses their personnel or weapons Mc Kevitt was given a free hand. The political mouth-piece for the Real IRA would be the, 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
From a republican perspective neither the Continuity IRA nor the Real IRA has any legitimacy. O Bradaigh for his part was happy to engage with the British Government when it suited his egotistical journey; he further split the republican movement over personal rather than long term political motivations. Michael Mc Kevitt was on the IRA Army Council while Martin Mc Guinness was having secret meetings with M16, Mc Kevitt was party to the surrender of militant republicanism and he was further party to the mass executions of Irish Republicans in the border counties due to the IRA leadership’s duplicity (http://theirishobserver.blogspot.com/2010/04/loughgall-murdered-by-republicans.html).
The journey of the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership is no different; however, Provisional Sinn Fein/IRA has now openly accepted their role as constitutional politicians in both the partitionist Assembly at Stormont and Dail Eireann in the Republic. The many failures of the Mc Guinness/Adams leadership, including their dishonesty and duplicity leave them with some burden in relation to the creation of the modern day ‘dissidents’. There is a very clear school of thought within Irish republicanism which suggests that Michael Mc Kevitt was given a free hand by the Provisonal IRA leadership as that leadership believed that low key dissident shootings and bombings would help focus the minds of the Unionists, The British Government and the Irish Government.
The Omagh bomb in August 1998 left the Provisional IRA leadership red faced as they realised the futility and recklessness of allowing Mc Kevitt to walk away with their semtex. However, it was too late, already Slab Murphy and others who may have had influence at one time, had lost that influence on the ‘dissident’ groupings. Even Martin Mc Guinness was given short shift when he went to south Armagh to try and gain some influence. However, while Omagh was a spectacular own goal for both the ‘dissidents’ and the PIRA leadership who had let them walk away with their semtex, the dissidents simply regrouped and lived to fight another day. Recent dissident attacks on the home of Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy and other Sinn Fein/IRA members shows that the dissidents have taken on a new life form.
The Real IRA (now split but focused), Continuity IRA, INLA and many former members of the PIRA now make up the ranks of the ‘dissident’ threat. The recent killings of two soldiers at Massereene army base in 2009, the killing of PSNI officer Stephen Carroll in March 2009 shows clearly that the ‘dissident’ threat what ever its origins is prepared to continue with a futile, flawed and mainly egotistically driven campaign of cowardly attacks. The ‘dissident’ threat is driven in most instances by self serving and criminal enterprise. The recent emergence of the Irish Republican Liberation Army is described by the International Monitoring Committee as, “essentially a group of criminals taking a republican banner in order give supposed status to their activities”. Many dissidents have been imprisoned on the Island of Ireland for criminal activities ranging from extortion from lap dancing clubs to drug dealing. However, like the Provisional IRA/Sinn Fein before them these criminal dissidents will use the smoke of attacking anti-social elements to hide their own criminal intent.
There is no doubt that the dissident threat is presently higher than it has been for many years, all of the various parts making up the whole of the dissident threat are now working closely together. In the working/underclass areas where these bandits operate little or nothing has changed for the ordinary people as a result of the ‘peace dividend’ and so the waters in which sectarian/criminality swims have never gone away. The security services lead by M15 have disrupted many dissident operations in recent months, however, they only have to get lucky once. The recent car bomb attack on Palace Barracks, in Hollywood which is also the HQ of M15 on the 12th of April to coincide with the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont show that the dissident threat is one that is coordinated and determined, what ever its motivation. This bomb made up of approximately 100/20 lbs of homemade explosives was brought to Belfast and then placed in a hi-jacked taxi.
The dissidents have not strayed far from the path of their PIRA counterparts, the bomb makers are based in small rural locations mainly in counties, Louth, Armagh and Fermanagh. The personnel may have a different name tag now but they were mainly born out of the PIRA, some new blood has and is being recruited and this accounts for a number of botched operations. Today as the smoke clears after a car bomb exploded outside Newtownhamilton Police station and injuring two people, it is clear that the present intention is to focus the dissident threat on causing discomfort for Sinn Fein during the election campaign in the north.
The ‘dissidents’ have also recently killed 31 year old Kieran Doherty who was a member of their organisation in Derry, Doherty had been found operating a major drug dealing operation in County Donegal. It is not clear if Doherty was killed because he was operating an enterprise outside of the control of the Real IRA in Derry or because he was an actual drug dealer. Doherty had been running a drug dealing operation from a house belonging to another senior dissident Seamus Mc Greevy, who was based in Meath. Seamus Mc Creevy hanged himself on January 31st 2010. In October 2009 another senior dissident John Brady took his own life while being held at Strand Road PSNI station.
So it is that there is much confusion and uncertainty within the dissident family. Their present tactic of causing discomfort to Sinn Fein and uncertainty for the Assembly at Stormont appears short sighted and counter productive. However, short sightedness is something the republican movement have never been short off. It is most lightly that when as expected a Unionist MP is returned to Fermanagh/South Tyrone following the present election campaign the dissidents will want to mark this event with a spectacular in Tyrone or Fermanagh.
Child Rape in Ireland
IRELAND
The Only Country in the Modern World where child rapists and their conspirators dictate Child Protection Legislation
For decades successive Irish Governments have failed to introduce the mandatory reporting of Child Rape in The Irish Republic. This decision not to introduce mandatory reporting of Child Rape has been dictated by the very people who are the very worse offenders of child sexual crime in Ireland.
The Ferns Report, The Ryan Report and the Murphy Report have all shown conclusively that the Catholic Church and those in civil society who have committed and concealed the rape of children are the very people who have insured that the mandatory reporting of child rape is not put on the statute books.
Papers of record such as the Irish Times have for many years given detailed and objective insights into the lack of progress or movement by successive Governments in relation to Child Protection. In 2002 Patsy Mc Garry of the Irish Times wrote an article based on empirical evidence and fact, “Clerical abuse a problem in many nations”, yet with all of this fore warming the Irish Government continued to give sway to the Catholic Church and those in civil society who do not want the introduction of mandatory reporting of Child Rape.
Fianna Fail has been the worst offender in this criminal failure to introduce mandatory reporting of Child Rape. While the Fianna Fail Party (senior Coalition government partners 1997-2010) made mandatory reporting of Child Rape an election promise in 1997, there is no legislation in operation for the mandatory reporting of child rape in the Irish Republic.
Prior to the introduction of the 1997 Criminal Justice Act there existed in common law the crime of ‘Misprision of Felony’. Misprision of Felony simply meant that if a person had knowledge of a serious crime having been committed by another person or persons but had concealed or failed to report such a crime to the Garda Siochana they could be prosecuted. The 1997 Criminal Justice Act created two new offences but neither had the scope of the charge of Misprision of Felony. The first, under section 7(2) of the 1997 Act, occurs where a person knows that someone has committed an arrestable offence (punishable by five years or more of imprisonment), and does without reasonable excuse any act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of that person. This new offence under the 1997 Act requires the doing of a positive act with intent to impede prosecution, so a mere failure to report a crime may not be sufficient for prosecution.
The other new offence created under the 1997 Act, section 8, which replaces a different common law offence of ‘compounding a felony’, applies only where a person knows that an arrestable offence has been committed but agrees for some consideration (for example, money) not to disclose that information. It is also worth noting and with particular regard to the revelations about the Catholic Church hierarchy that section 15 of the 1997 Act applies the abolition of the crime of ‘Misprision of Felony’ retrospectively insuring that such people as Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Christian Brothers, Social workers, and so forth will never be prosecuted for their crimes and the crimes of those they sought to protect from prosecution.
It is further worth noting that as this Government continues to protect those who conceal/ed and therefore facilitate/d Child Rape it is nothing less than criminal, as far back as 1990 The Law Reform Commission said that failing without good cause to report child rape should be made a specific offence for particular categories of persons such as doctors, health board staff and so forth. This recommendation must be fully implemented and must include every citizen of this State. It is time that the selective prosecution of the few to feed the ghoulish appetite of the tabloids banner headlines, was replaced with full, open and transparent child protection legislation including mandatory reporting of child rape.
Today in the Irish Republic a person can admit to HSE staff that they have raped a child/ren and that person can simply be sent off to the Granada Institute for a few psychotherapy sessions without ever having to fear prosecution. That HSE staff member concealing that information from the Gardai or those staff in the Granada Institute concealing that information cannot be prosecuted for such concealment. Children continue on a daily basis to be put at risk of rape or sexual assault because this government has failed to introduce mandatory reporting of child rape.
This Government has failed a new generation of children who are being abused, as this Government continues to be dictated to by the very criminals both in the Church and Civil society who do not want mandatory reporting of child rape introduced. It is no accident that Fianna Fail was the Government who removed the crime of Misprision of Felony; it is Fianna Fail’s unsavoury links with the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church since the foundation of the Irish Republic that has allowed religious child rapists to avoid prosecution and detection. The Ferns, Murphy and Ryan Reports are an indictment of Fianna Fail’s collusion with their masters in the Catholic Church hierarchy, a hierarchy that continues to be wined and dined when they should be persona none gratis.
By - http://theirishobserver.blogspot.com/
The Only Country in the Modern World where child rapists and their conspirators dictate Child Protection Legislation
For decades successive Irish Governments have failed to introduce the mandatory reporting of Child Rape in The Irish Republic. This decision not to introduce mandatory reporting of Child Rape has been dictated by the very people who are the very worse offenders of child sexual crime in Ireland.
The Ferns Report, The Ryan Report and the Murphy Report have all shown conclusively that the Catholic Church and those in civil society who have committed and concealed the rape of children are the very people who have insured that the mandatory reporting of child rape is not put on the statute books.
Papers of record such as the Irish Times have for many years given detailed and objective insights into the lack of progress or movement by successive Governments in relation to Child Protection. In 2002 Patsy Mc Garry of the Irish Times wrote an article based on empirical evidence and fact, “Clerical abuse a problem in many nations”, yet with all of this fore warming the Irish Government continued to give sway to the Catholic Church and those in civil society who do not want the introduction of mandatory reporting of Child Rape.
Fianna Fail has been the worst offender in this criminal failure to introduce mandatory reporting of Child Rape. While the Fianna Fail Party (senior Coalition government partners 1997-2010) made mandatory reporting of Child Rape an election promise in 1997, there is no legislation in operation for the mandatory reporting of child rape in the Irish Republic.
Prior to the introduction of the 1997 Criminal Justice Act there existed in common law the crime of ‘Misprision of Felony’. Misprision of Felony simply meant that if a person had knowledge of a serious crime having been committed by another person or persons but had concealed or failed to report such a crime to the Garda Siochana they could be prosecuted. The 1997 Criminal Justice Act created two new offences but neither had the scope of the charge of Misprision of Felony. The first, under section 7(2) of the 1997 Act, occurs where a person knows that someone has committed an arrestable offence (punishable by five years or more of imprisonment), and does without reasonable excuse any act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of that person. This new offence under the 1997 Act requires the doing of a positive act with intent to impede prosecution, so a mere failure to report a crime may not be sufficient for prosecution.
The other new offence created under the 1997 Act, section 8, which replaces a different common law offence of ‘compounding a felony’, applies only where a person knows that an arrestable offence has been committed but agrees for some consideration (for example, money) not to disclose that information. It is also worth noting and with particular regard to the revelations about the Catholic Church hierarchy that section 15 of the 1997 Act applies the abolition of the crime of ‘Misprision of Felony’ retrospectively insuring that such people as Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Christian Brothers, Social workers, and so forth will never be prosecuted for their crimes and the crimes of those they sought to protect from prosecution.
It is further worth noting that as this Government continues to protect those who conceal/ed and therefore facilitate/d Child Rape it is nothing less than criminal, as far back as 1990 The Law Reform Commission said that failing without good cause to report child rape should be made a specific offence for particular categories of persons such as doctors, health board staff and so forth. This recommendation must be fully implemented and must include every citizen of this State. It is time that the selective prosecution of the few to feed the ghoulish appetite of the tabloids banner headlines, was replaced with full, open and transparent child protection legislation including mandatory reporting of child rape.
Today in the Irish Republic a person can admit to HSE staff that they have raped a child/ren and that person can simply be sent off to the Granada Institute for a few psychotherapy sessions without ever having to fear prosecution. That HSE staff member concealing that information from the Gardai or those staff in the Granada Institute concealing that information cannot be prosecuted for such concealment. Children continue on a daily basis to be put at risk of rape or sexual assault because this government has failed to introduce mandatory reporting of child rape.
This Government has failed a new generation of children who are being abused, as this Government continues to be dictated to by the very criminals both in the Church and Civil society who do not want mandatory reporting of child rape introduced. It is no accident that Fianna Fail was the Government who removed the crime of Misprision of Felony; it is Fianna Fail’s unsavoury links with the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church since the foundation of the Irish Republic that has allowed religious child rapists to avoid prosecution and detection. The Ferns, Murphy and Ryan Reports are an indictment of Fianna Fail’s collusion with their masters in the Catholic Church hierarchy, a hierarchy that continues to be wined and dined when they should be persona none gratis.
By - http://theirishobserver.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 22, 2010
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0422/breaking18.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0422/breaking18.html
Loughgall - Murdered by 'Republicans' executed by the SAS
Loughgall And Why the Truth Will Never be Told
In the aftermath of the restructuring of the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional IRA by leading PIRA volunteer Kevin Mc Kenna. The East Tyrone Brigade of the provisional IRA became one of the most active and feared instruments of the republican movement. The East Tyrone Brigade drew its membership from several counties and had a fearless leader in Kevin Mc Kenna. Mc Kenna who lived and lives in County Monaghan had originated from Augnacloy in County Tyrone. Mc Kenna was well known to the security services both in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Militant Republicanism in East Tyrone has a long history dating back to Tom Clarke and beyond. In modern day militant republican folklore East Tyrone is at the core of most conversations. IRA Hunger striker Martin Hurson was from East Tyrone and the many tens of thousands of people who attended his funeral paid testament to the high regard in which militant republicanism was held in the County of Tyrone. Yet it would be East Tyrone and the ‘border’ counties in general that would become the murderous focus of the British security services once they noted the weakness of the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership in the mid-1980s.
The East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional IRA would pay a heavy price for the wheeling and dealing that Adams and Mc Guinness were engaged in with M16. We now know with certainty that even while Gerry Adams was speaking his weasel words at the grave side of IRA volunteer Jim Lynagh, Mc Guinness was already engaged in clandestine meetings with M16 agent Michael Oakley. Yet Adams told the mourners at Jim Lynagh’s grave side that, “Anyone who does business with the British, the SDLP or the Freestate establishment are fools as they have all sold out on the Irish people”. Yet that is exactly what Adams and Mc Guinness were already doing, they were engaging with the British in a secret and under hand manner.
On the 8th of May 1987 the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional IRA sent their 'A Team' to blow up an unmanned RUC station in Loughgall. However, on this occasion the 'A Team' would not return. On the 8th of May 1987 the East Tyrone Brigade lost eight IRA volunteers when they were ambushed by the British Army’s SAS. Any objective observer may ask, why attack an unmanned RUC station? This I will now explain.
The 1980s seen a sea change within Sinn Fein and the IRA. The IRA had become a well oiled paramilitary organisation. New weapons, explosives and methodology had been acquired and developed by the Provisional IRA. The IRA and in particular the East Tyrone Brigade were relentless in their militant campaign against the British establishment. IRA Commander Jim Lynagh and other senior members of the Provisional IRA while housed in Portloaise Prison had read and adopted a Maoist Military Strategy/tactic for their campaign. Lynagh explained to those capable of understanding that the intention was to create Green or Liberated zones in the North of Ireland that remained under British rule. This tactic meant not only killing members of the British security services but also killing anyone who assisted or helped maintain the British presence in Ireland.
It is fair to say that Protestants would bare the brunt of this new and intentional tactic. Lynagh made no apology for this aspect of the campaign. It happened that Lynagh’s new strategy would be partnered with a new British Government policy of Ulsterisation or normalisation. This new British policy meant that the British Army would be less visible on the streets and the local RUC and UDR would be in the front line against the IRA campaign. This new British policy simply placed more soft Protestant targets in the IRA shooting gallery. The British Government wanted the Northern Ireland conflict to be viewed as something criminal that could be dealt with by ordinary policing methods. However, behind the scenes M15 would direct the war against the IRA.
The Maoist strategy would be viewed as having been at its most successful for the IRA in areas such as South Armagh. However, large urban areas in Belfast and Derry were also viewed as being success stories. Lynagh intended liberating large geographical areas of Tyrone, Fermanagh and County Derry. He intended blowing up British military infrastructure and then attacking anyone who attempted to rebuild that infrastructure. Hence Loughgall was one such target, the idea was to simply blow up the unmanned RUC station and send a clear message to the loyalist people in that area. This type of attack would be viewed by Lynagh and his fellow commander Patrick Kelly as a spectacular, they had carried out similar attacks and so Loughgall was expected to be a soft yet important target.
However, unknown to Lynagh and his comrades their plan was already known to the British security services. I can exclusively reveal that three weeks before the IRA attacked Loughgall, SAS members had used the firing range at the RUC forensic lab in Belfast to test fire weapons similar to those that would be used by the IRA unit at Loughgall. The reason the SAS test fired such weapons was so that they could identify and distinguish friendly fire from hostile fire on the night. These weapons that were test fired at the firing range in Belfast were signed in and out in a normal fashion, so records do exist. There has been much speculation about who set the IRA unit up for execution however; much of that speculation has come from those who wish to conceal the truth, I will deal with this aspect in a moment. Jim Lynagh had travelled from Monaghan the evening before the Loughgall attack and he had went to a safe house in Coalisland in County Tyrone.
Extra members of the SAS had been specially drafted into the North in preparation for the Loughgall executions. This SAS team and its back up units from the RUC and other British Army Regiments had very clear orders; nobody was to get out of the kill zone that had been set. The SAS armed with good information and state of the art machine guns just had to sit and wait for their quarry. At approximately 7pm on the 8th of May 1987 the IRA unit drove their digger loaded with explosives through the front gates of what was supposed to be an unmanned RUC station. However, in order for the SAS to stay within their Yellow Card rules, they had placed some of their men at the back of the RUC station so that they could later claim that lives were in danger and that is why they had to open fire.
The van containing Jim Lynagh and the other members of the Unit was rained upon with SAS gun fire. All eight IRA volunteers were executed. However, the SAS could not stop the bomb from exploding and much of the RUC station was demolished by the blast. What I can reveal exclusively is that when the bomb exploded a large piece of the steel digger bucket ripped open the side of the van in which the IRA volunteers lay dead. Indeed had the operation went ahead as planned it is certain that at least some of the IRA volunteers may well have been injured or killed by the shrapnel from the digger bucket. However, no accident was needed, the eight IRA volunteers were executed. In keeping with their orders to execute everyone in the kill zone the SAS further executed an innocent passer-by Anthony Hughes and left his innocent brother for dead.
The morning following the executions at Loughgall I was amazed that some republicans were already offering explanations as to how the eight IRA men had ended up dead. One active member of the East Tyrone IRA said, “The SAS were lying in wait around several RUC stations in Tyrone, it was just bad luck”. This was said only hours after the executions at Loughgall, surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that this was nonsense. The SAS did not have the man power in the north at that time or at any other time to lie about for weeks on end around remote RUC stations. I think that these words spoken by an active member of the East Tyrone Brigade of the PIRA only hours after the Loughgall executions are telling. While I have absolutely no suspicions in relation to the IRA volunteer who spoke these words, I do have suspicions about the more intellectually able person who put those words and ideas into his head.
Following the Loughgall executions the SAS gathered up all of the IRA weapons used in the attack. The weapons included three Heckler and Kock rifles, one FN rifle, two FNC rifles, a Ruger revolver and a Spas-12 Shot gun. Forensic examination of the weapons later revealed that they had been used to kill 7 people and used in the attempted killing of 12 others. One of the guns recovered had actually been taken two years earlier from an RUC man. These weapons were familiar to the SAS soldiers who recovered them as they had test fired similar weapons only three weeks before the executions.
It is fair to say that any one thinking out side of the box on the Loughgall executions knew well that this was a well planned British attack that was only possible with good forward intelligence. Some time after the Loughgall executions a young Loughgall woman was kidnapped by the IRA and it was being whispered that she was the Loughgall informer; however, for this writer such a suggestion is at best perverse. Setting aside specific intelligence that brought about the executions at Loughgall, the Key to the slaughter at Loughgall and the border counties in general during this period is two fold. The British viewed the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership as being in a state of weakness due to the fact that the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership had approached the Brits with a view to making a deal. The clandestine meetings between Mc Guinness and M16 agent Michael Oakley had simply strengthened the British view that the IRA could be brought to heel.
The British then adopted a twin track approach to the IRA. The British would engage in clandestine dialogue with the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership, while at the same time directing large security resource at those aspects of the IRA that would not be so easily tamed. This twin track approach by the British meant that M15 and the SAS would focus on the men under the control of Kevin Mc Kenna (East Tyrone) (IRA Chief of Staff) and Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy in south Armagh. This campaign against the Hawks in the IRA continued into the 1990s, while Mc Guinness and Adams were engaged in talks with, “the British, Freestate establishment and the SDLP”. In 2001 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the eight IRA members who were executed at Loughgall had their Human Rights violated by the failure of the British Government to conduct a proper investigation into the circumstances of their deaths. However, these trivial declarations do little or nothing by way of establishing the truth into what happened in Loughgall on the night of the 8th May 1987. New information disclosed here show why the truth about Loughgall will never be told.
The Loughgall informer did not die in Loughgall on the night of the 8th of May 1987 as suggested by some who have vested interests. The Loughgall informer like so many before him continues to live a life full of lies and deceit, just as did Dennis Donaldson and so many others. The Loughgall informer may well not have realised what the end result of his clandestine meeting would be, however, he should come for ward now and tell the truth in the knowledge that we now live in a new political dispensation. The families of the eight men executed in Loughgall deserve to know the truth, so look deep within and find the strength to come forward. This writer is certain that the first indicator the British got in relation to Loughgall was three weeks before the Loughgall executions when Patrick ‘Paddy’ Kelly went to Monaghan Town to meet Jim Lynagh. However, Lynagh was not about when Kelly went to look for him and Kelly made the fatal mistake of making inquiries about Lynagh’s where abouts with another Monaghan ‘republican’.
What is for certain is that Patrick Kelly, Jim Lynagh, Padraig Mc Kearney, Declan Arthurs, Seamus Donnelly, Eugene Kelly, Gerry O Callaghan and Tony Gormley were clinically executed. However, these men would have sought no apology from the Brits in relation to the way they were killed; they died as they would have expected to die, fighting the Brits. What they would want however, is for the truth to be established in relation to the Loughgall informer. Why that has not happened, holds little mystery. There is only so many Dennis Donaldsons that the republican leadership can handle, and particularly if dealing with the Loughgall informer would mean up setting some solid republican voting trends in any particular area. In the period 1987-1992 the East Tyrone Brigade had 28 members executed by the British security forces, compare this to the number of IRA volunteers killed in areas such as Belfast and Derry where the leadership were in clandestine talks with the British.
The age old British trick of using smoke and mirrors to protect their informers has been truly put to work in relation to Loughgall. One former 'SAS' member wrote that on the night of the Loughgall executions one of the IRA volunteers was supposed to be wearing a red hat or scarf so that he would not be killed. Only someone of the lowest mental capacity would believe such nonsense, particularly when all the IRA volunteers on the night of the 8th May 1987 were not visable to the soldiers when they opened fire. Furthermore, seasoned writers such as Henry Mc Donald who writes for the British Observer newspaper makes child like mistakes when writing about Loughgall. In an article written by Henry Mc Donald for the British Observer 29/Sept/2002, Mc Donald says that Jim Lynagh was a Sinn Fein councillor at the time of his death at Loughgall, this is nonsense. Mc Donald also says that Lynagh was opposed to Sinn Fein dropping abstentianism as a tactic, this is also untrue, Lynagh took to the stage at a Sinn Fein function in Clontibret in Monaghan in 1986 and gave the IRA's backing to the Sinn Fein move. However, Lynagh had made it very clear that there could never be a six county settlement and he was certain that the Brits could be forced from the north in what he seen as the final phase of the war for independence.
This writer is also bemused at the comments made by some ‘republican’ commentators who appear on internet video clips relating to Jim Lynagh and the Loughgall executions. These commentators barely able to write their own names dare to speculate that Jim Lynagh would have supported Sinn Fein’s participation in the British partitionist Stormont Assembly. One only has to look at how little sacrifice these commentators made to realise that their words are nothing more than the utterances of Sinn Fein glove puppets.
In the aftermath of the restructuring of the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional IRA by leading PIRA volunteer Kevin Mc Kenna. The East Tyrone Brigade of the provisional IRA became one of the most active and feared instruments of the republican movement. The East Tyrone Brigade drew its membership from several counties and had a fearless leader in Kevin Mc Kenna. Mc Kenna who lived and lives in County Monaghan had originated from Augnacloy in County Tyrone. Mc Kenna was well known to the security services both in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Militant Republicanism in East Tyrone has a long history dating back to Tom Clarke and beyond. In modern day militant republican folklore East Tyrone is at the core of most conversations. IRA Hunger striker Martin Hurson was from East Tyrone and the many tens of thousands of people who attended his funeral paid testament to the high regard in which militant republicanism was held in the County of Tyrone. Yet it would be East Tyrone and the ‘border’ counties in general that would become the murderous focus of the British security services once they noted the weakness of the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership in the mid-1980s.
The East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional IRA would pay a heavy price for the wheeling and dealing that Adams and Mc Guinness were engaged in with M16. We now know with certainty that even while Gerry Adams was speaking his weasel words at the grave side of IRA volunteer Jim Lynagh, Mc Guinness was already engaged in clandestine meetings with M16 agent Michael Oakley. Yet Adams told the mourners at Jim Lynagh’s grave side that, “Anyone who does business with the British, the SDLP or the Freestate establishment are fools as they have all sold out on the Irish people”. Yet that is exactly what Adams and Mc Guinness were already doing, they were engaging with the British in a secret and under hand manner.
On the 8th of May 1987 the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional IRA sent their 'A Team' to blow up an unmanned RUC station in Loughgall. However, on this occasion the 'A Team' would not return. On the 8th of May 1987 the East Tyrone Brigade lost eight IRA volunteers when they were ambushed by the British Army’s SAS. Any objective observer may ask, why attack an unmanned RUC station? This I will now explain.
The 1980s seen a sea change within Sinn Fein and the IRA. The IRA had become a well oiled paramilitary organisation. New weapons, explosives and methodology had been acquired and developed by the Provisional IRA. The IRA and in particular the East Tyrone Brigade were relentless in their militant campaign against the British establishment. IRA Commander Jim Lynagh and other senior members of the Provisional IRA while housed in Portloaise Prison had read and adopted a Maoist Military Strategy/tactic for their campaign. Lynagh explained to those capable of understanding that the intention was to create Green or Liberated zones in the North of Ireland that remained under British rule. This tactic meant not only killing members of the British security services but also killing anyone who assisted or helped maintain the British presence in Ireland.
It is fair to say that Protestants would bare the brunt of this new and intentional tactic. Lynagh made no apology for this aspect of the campaign. It happened that Lynagh’s new strategy would be partnered with a new British Government policy of Ulsterisation or normalisation. This new British policy meant that the British Army would be less visible on the streets and the local RUC and UDR would be in the front line against the IRA campaign. This new British policy simply placed more soft Protestant targets in the IRA shooting gallery. The British Government wanted the Northern Ireland conflict to be viewed as something criminal that could be dealt with by ordinary policing methods. However, behind the scenes M15 would direct the war against the IRA.
The Maoist strategy would be viewed as having been at its most successful for the IRA in areas such as South Armagh. However, large urban areas in Belfast and Derry were also viewed as being success stories. Lynagh intended liberating large geographical areas of Tyrone, Fermanagh and County Derry. He intended blowing up British military infrastructure and then attacking anyone who attempted to rebuild that infrastructure. Hence Loughgall was one such target, the idea was to simply blow up the unmanned RUC station and send a clear message to the loyalist people in that area. This type of attack would be viewed by Lynagh and his fellow commander Patrick Kelly as a spectacular, they had carried out similar attacks and so Loughgall was expected to be a soft yet important target.
However, unknown to Lynagh and his comrades their plan was already known to the British security services. I can exclusively reveal that three weeks before the IRA attacked Loughgall, SAS members had used the firing range at the RUC forensic lab in Belfast to test fire weapons similar to those that would be used by the IRA unit at Loughgall. The reason the SAS test fired such weapons was so that they could identify and distinguish friendly fire from hostile fire on the night. These weapons that were test fired at the firing range in Belfast were signed in and out in a normal fashion, so records do exist. There has been much speculation about who set the IRA unit up for execution however; much of that speculation has come from those who wish to conceal the truth, I will deal with this aspect in a moment. Jim Lynagh had travelled from Monaghan the evening before the Loughgall attack and he had went to a safe house in Coalisland in County Tyrone.
Extra members of the SAS had been specially drafted into the North in preparation for the Loughgall executions. This SAS team and its back up units from the RUC and other British Army Regiments had very clear orders; nobody was to get out of the kill zone that had been set. The SAS armed with good information and state of the art machine guns just had to sit and wait for their quarry. At approximately 7pm on the 8th of May 1987 the IRA unit drove their digger loaded with explosives through the front gates of what was supposed to be an unmanned RUC station. However, in order for the SAS to stay within their Yellow Card rules, they had placed some of their men at the back of the RUC station so that they could later claim that lives were in danger and that is why they had to open fire.
The van containing Jim Lynagh and the other members of the Unit was rained upon with SAS gun fire. All eight IRA volunteers were executed. However, the SAS could not stop the bomb from exploding and much of the RUC station was demolished by the blast. What I can reveal exclusively is that when the bomb exploded a large piece of the steel digger bucket ripped open the side of the van in which the IRA volunteers lay dead. Indeed had the operation went ahead as planned it is certain that at least some of the IRA volunteers may well have been injured or killed by the shrapnel from the digger bucket. However, no accident was needed, the eight IRA volunteers were executed. In keeping with their orders to execute everyone in the kill zone the SAS further executed an innocent passer-by Anthony Hughes and left his innocent brother for dead.
The morning following the executions at Loughgall I was amazed that some republicans were already offering explanations as to how the eight IRA men had ended up dead. One active member of the East Tyrone IRA said, “The SAS were lying in wait around several RUC stations in Tyrone, it was just bad luck”. This was said only hours after the executions at Loughgall, surely anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that this was nonsense. The SAS did not have the man power in the north at that time or at any other time to lie about for weeks on end around remote RUC stations. I think that these words spoken by an active member of the East Tyrone Brigade of the PIRA only hours after the Loughgall executions are telling. While I have absolutely no suspicions in relation to the IRA volunteer who spoke these words, I do have suspicions about the more intellectually able person who put those words and ideas into his head.
Following the Loughgall executions the SAS gathered up all of the IRA weapons used in the attack. The weapons included three Heckler and Kock rifles, one FN rifle, two FNC rifles, a Ruger revolver and a Spas-12 Shot gun. Forensic examination of the weapons later revealed that they had been used to kill 7 people and used in the attempted killing of 12 others. One of the guns recovered had actually been taken two years earlier from an RUC man. These weapons were familiar to the SAS soldiers who recovered them as they had test fired similar weapons only three weeks before the executions.
It is fair to say that any one thinking out side of the box on the Loughgall executions knew well that this was a well planned British attack that was only possible with good forward intelligence. Some time after the Loughgall executions a young Loughgall woman was kidnapped by the IRA and it was being whispered that she was the Loughgall informer; however, for this writer such a suggestion is at best perverse. Setting aside specific intelligence that brought about the executions at Loughgall, the Key to the slaughter at Loughgall and the border counties in general during this period is two fold. The British viewed the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership as being in a state of weakness due to the fact that the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership had approached the Brits with a view to making a deal. The clandestine meetings between Mc Guinness and M16 agent Michael Oakley had simply strengthened the British view that the IRA could be brought to heel.
The British then adopted a twin track approach to the IRA. The British would engage in clandestine dialogue with the Adams/Mc Guinness leadership, while at the same time directing large security resource at those aspects of the IRA that would not be so easily tamed. This twin track approach by the British meant that M15 and the SAS would focus on the men under the control of Kevin Mc Kenna (East Tyrone) (IRA Chief of Staff) and Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy in south Armagh. This campaign against the Hawks in the IRA continued into the 1990s, while Mc Guinness and Adams were engaged in talks with, “the British, Freestate establishment and the SDLP”. In 2001 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the eight IRA members who were executed at Loughgall had their Human Rights violated by the failure of the British Government to conduct a proper investigation into the circumstances of their deaths. However, these trivial declarations do little or nothing by way of establishing the truth into what happened in Loughgall on the night of the 8th May 1987. New information disclosed here show why the truth about Loughgall will never be told.
The Loughgall informer did not die in Loughgall on the night of the 8th of May 1987 as suggested by some who have vested interests. The Loughgall informer like so many before him continues to live a life full of lies and deceit, just as did Dennis Donaldson and so many others. The Loughgall informer may well not have realised what the end result of his clandestine meeting would be, however, he should come for ward now and tell the truth in the knowledge that we now live in a new political dispensation. The families of the eight men executed in Loughgall deserve to know the truth, so look deep within and find the strength to come forward. This writer is certain that the first indicator the British got in relation to Loughgall was three weeks before the Loughgall executions when Patrick ‘Paddy’ Kelly went to Monaghan Town to meet Jim Lynagh. However, Lynagh was not about when Kelly went to look for him and Kelly made the fatal mistake of making inquiries about Lynagh’s where abouts with another Monaghan ‘republican’.
What is for certain is that Patrick Kelly, Jim Lynagh, Padraig Mc Kearney, Declan Arthurs, Seamus Donnelly, Eugene Kelly, Gerry O Callaghan and Tony Gormley were clinically executed. However, these men would have sought no apology from the Brits in relation to the way they were killed; they died as they would have expected to die, fighting the Brits. What they would want however, is for the truth to be established in relation to the Loughgall informer. Why that has not happened, holds little mystery. There is only so many Dennis Donaldsons that the republican leadership can handle, and particularly if dealing with the Loughgall informer would mean up setting some solid republican voting trends in any particular area. In the period 1987-1992 the East Tyrone Brigade had 28 members executed by the British security forces, compare this to the number of IRA volunteers killed in areas such as Belfast and Derry where the leadership were in clandestine talks with the British.
The age old British trick of using smoke and mirrors to protect their informers has been truly put to work in relation to Loughgall. One former 'SAS' member wrote that on the night of the Loughgall executions one of the IRA volunteers was supposed to be wearing a red hat or scarf so that he would not be killed. Only someone of the lowest mental capacity would believe such nonsense, particularly when all the IRA volunteers on the night of the 8th May 1987 were not visable to the soldiers when they opened fire. Furthermore, seasoned writers such as Henry Mc Donald who writes for the British Observer newspaper makes child like mistakes when writing about Loughgall. In an article written by Henry Mc Donald for the British Observer 29/Sept/2002, Mc Donald says that Jim Lynagh was a Sinn Fein councillor at the time of his death at Loughgall, this is nonsense. Mc Donald also says that Lynagh was opposed to Sinn Fein dropping abstentianism as a tactic, this is also untrue, Lynagh took to the stage at a Sinn Fein function in Clontibret in Monaghan in 1986 and gave the IRA's backing to the Sinn Fein move. However, Lynagh had made it very clear that there could never be a six county settlement and he was certain that the Brits could be forced from the north in what he seen as the final phase of the war for independence.
This writer is also bemused at the comments made by some ‘republican’ commentators who appear on internet video clips relating to Jim Lynagh and the Loughgall executions. These commentators barely able to write their own names dare to speculate that Jim Lynagh would have supported Sinn Fein’s participation in the British partitionist Stormont Assembly. One only has to look at how little sacrifice these commentators made to realise that their words are nothing more than the utterances of Sinn Fein glove puppets.
Head Shops
“Ingenuity” Required to Enable State to Close Head Shops Justice Dept Sec Gen Tells Oireachtas Committee
20 h April 2010
The Department of Justice is resolved to do everything it can to introduce legislation which will put head shops out of business, the Secretary General of the Department, told the Oireachtas European Scrutiny Committee today.
Mr Se n Aylward told Committee members that framing such legislation would be a challenge and has so far proven very difficult. He said that the only countries he had seen that had been completely successful in eliminating these products were countries with totalitarian regimes. However, he said that the Minister and the Department were resolved to try but that it would require “both ingenuity of language and philosophy” to tackle this matter.
He outlined that a wide-ranging strategy was needed and the Department’s approach was to “hit every button on the set to in trying to tackle head shops.”
Mr Aylward was attending the Committee to enable members to consider his Department’s report on justice developments in the EU. Members questioned him regarding the possibility of an EU wide justice approach to address the issue of head shops.
Mr Aylward informed the Committee that while the Department of Health was following certain EU protocols and procedures to ban some substances, the Department of Justice was also pursuing a criminal justice response. This process involved ongoing consultation with the Attorney General with a view to bring legislation to Government.
Committee Chairman, John Perry TD said;
“We are very pleased to hear the comprehensive approach being taken by the Department of Justice to this problem. The issue of head shops is causing serious concern all over the country. By all accounts the products they peddle can cause unquantifiable damage and the sooner they can be banned the better."
Mr Aylward also told the Committee that the Department of Foreign Affairs have already conducted a review of how other countries had dealt with this issue.
20 h April 2010
The Department of Justice is resolved to do everything it can to introduce legislation which will put head shops out of business, the Secretary General of the Department, told the Oireachtas European Scrutiny Committee today.
Mr Se n Aylward told Committee members that framing such legislation would be a challenge and has so far proven very difficult. He said that the only countries he had seen that had been completely successful in eliminating these products were countries with totalitarian regimes. However, he said that the Minister and the Department were resolved to try but that it would require “both ingenuity of language and philosophy” to tackle this matter.
He outlined that a wide-ranging strategy was needed and the Department’s approach was to “hit every button on the set to in trying to tackle head shops.”
Mr Aylward was attending the Committee to enable members to consider his Department’s report on justice developments in the EU. Members questioned him regarding the possibility of an EU wide justice approach to address the issue of head shops.
Mr Aylward informed the Committee that while the Department of Health was following certain EU protocols and procedures to ban some substances, the Department of Justice was also pursuing a criminal justice response. This process involved ongoing consultation with the Attorney General with a view to bring legislation to Government.
Committee Chairman, John Perry TD said;
“We are very pleased to hear the comprehensive approach being taken by the Department of Justice to this problem. The issue of head shops is causing serious concern all over the country. By all accounts the products they peddle can cause unquantifiable damage and the sooner they can be banned the better."
Mr Aylward also told the Committee that the Department of Foreign Affairs have already conducted a review of how other countries had dealt with this issue.
Mental Health Plan
Update on Progress Made on Mental Health Plan “Vision for Change” to be Reviewed with Minister at Oireachtas Health Committee
19th April 2010
Progress made on the implementation of the recommendations of “A Vision for Change,” the strategy for developing mental health services in Ireland, will be considered with the Minister with responsibility for Mental Health Services, John Moloney TD at tomorrow’s (20th) meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
The meeting will take place at 3pm in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House.
A Vision for Change was launched in January 2006 and proposes a framework for action to develop modern, high quality mental health services over a seven to ten year period.
One of the central principles of the programme was the sale and closure of older psychiatric facilities in order to move patients into more appropriate accommodation. The proceeds from these sales are scheduled to be ringfenced to fund mental health. It has been indicated that €50 million will be made available in 2010 for this purpose.
Committee Chairman, Sean O’Fearghail TD said;
“A Vision for Change is the most significant initiative to be instigated in the area of mental health in recent decades.
At a time when reports indicate that rising unemployment and the economic downturn have placed additional strain on our mental health facilities we need to be confident that the services in this area are equipped to deal with demand and are progressing to a satisfactory standard.
One of the key aspects of this strategy is the proposal to sell off lands from psychiatric facilities in order to finance the new strategy. We will be interested to learn the latest on these transactions.
The purpose of tomorrow’s meeting is to provide the Minister with an opportunity to explain the current status of A Vision for Change and to allow Committee members to put any concerns or issues they may have to him.”
The Committee can be viewed on line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
19th April 2010
Progress made on the implementation of the recommendations of “A Vision for Change,” the strategy for developing mental health services in Ireland, will be considered with the Minister with responsibility for Mental Health Services, John Moloney TD at tomorrow’s (20th) meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
The meeting will take place at 3pm in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House.
A Vision for Change was launched in January 2006 and proposes a framework for action to develop modern, high quality mental health services over a seven to ten year period.
One of the central principles of the programme was the sale and closure of older psychiatric facilities in order to move patients into more appropriate accommodation. The proceeds from these sales are scheduled to be ringfenced to fund mental health. It has been indicated that €50 million will be made available in 2010 for this purpose.
Committee Chairman, Sean O’Fearghail TD said;
“A Vision for Change is the most significant initiative to be instigated in the area of mental health in recent decades.
At a time when reports indicate that rising unemployment and the economic downturn have placed additional strain on our mental health facilities we need to be confident that the services in this area are equipped to deal with demand and are progressing to a satisfactory standard.
One of the key aspects of this strategy is the proposal to sell off lands from psychiatric facilities in order to finance the new strategy. We will be interested to learn the latest on these transactions.
The purpose of tomorrow’s meeting is to provide the Minister with an opportunity to explain the current status of A Vision for Change and to allow Committee members to put any concerns or issues they may have to him.”
The Committee can be viewed on line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
Ombudsman
The Ombudsman, Ms Emily O’Reilly will attend a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, tomorrow, (21 st ) at 11 am in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House.
The purpose of the meeting is to allow Committee members to consider the Ombudsman’s Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme.
In the report, the Ombudsman examined a scheme to grant aid replacement capacity for vessels lost at sea. The report concluded that a family excluded from the scheme should be awarded 250,000 in compensation. However, these findings were not accepted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Bobby Alyward TD, who will chair the meeting said;
“The purpose of the meeting is to allow the Ombudsman to air her concerns regarding the response to her report.
Tomorrow’s meeting will also allow Committee members to ask the Ombudsman questions about her recommendations and how she arrived at them.”
Deputy Alyward will chair the meeting, as Committee Chairman, Johnny Brady TD is unavailable.
The Committee can be viewed on line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
The purpose of the meeting is to allow Committee members to consider the Ombudsman’s Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme.
In the report, the Ombudsman examined a scheme to grant aid replacement capacity for vessels lost at sea. The report concluded that a family excluded from the scheme should be awarded 250,000 in compensation. However, these findings were not accepted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Bobby Alyward TD, who will chair the meeting said;
“The purpose of the meeting is to allow the Ombudsman to air her concerns regarding the response to her report.
Tomorrow’s meeting will also allow Committee members to ask the Ombudsman questions about her recommendations and how she arrived at them.”
Deputy Alyward will chair the meeting, as Committee Chairman, Johnny Brady TD is unavailable.
The Committee can be viewed on line at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
Dail Eireann
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miche l Martin TD and the newly appointed Minister for Defence Tony Kileen TD will be appearing at tomorrow’s (22nd) meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs. The meeting will take place at 11:30 am in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House.
The Minister’s presence at the meeting will allow committee members to question him regarding government policy concerning a number of significant issues before he attends the upcoming meeting of the General and Foreign Affairs Councils in Luxembourg next week.
The Foreign Affairs Council will also discuss the Common Defence and Security Policy, therefore the Minister for Defence will also attend the meeting.
Some of the other items due for consideration include:
The establishment of the new European External Action Service
The Citizen’s Initiative
The situation in Burma
Afghanistan
Iran, including the nuclear issue and the human rights situation
The Minister’s presence at the meeting will allow committee members to question him regarding government policy concerning a number of significant issues before he attends the upcoming meeting of the General and Foreign Affairs Councils in Luxembourg next week.
The Foreign Affairs Council will also discuss the Common Defence and Security Policy, therefore the Minister for Defence will also attend the meeting.
Some of the other items due for consideration include:
The establishment of the new European External Action Service
The Citizen’s Initiative
The situation in Burma
Afghanistan
Iran, including the nuclear issue and the human rights situation
Northern Ireland Assembly
COMMISSIONER TO VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development is set to host the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. While the date has not yet been set, the Committee will use the visit to show Maria Damanaki the problems facing Northern Ireland’s fishing fleet. Speaking about the forthcoming visit, the Committee Chairman, Ian Paisley Jnr said: “We are very pleased that the Commissioner has agreed to come to Northern Ireland. We have written to her previously, stressing the hardship that the fishing industry will face after the quota cuts agreed in the December Fisheries Council decision. These cuts will reduce the catch of whitefish by 18% and the prawn catch by 10%. “This visit is a positive move by Commissioner Damanaki, and the Committee will use the Commissioner’s visit to emphasise the devastating effects that these cuts in quota and days at sea are having on the livelihoods of local people and on our proud fishing heritage. “I am happy to welcome her to Northern Ireland and will ensure that she sees the major impact the cuts have on our industry first hand.†The Committee has underlined its willingness to work with the Commissioner’s office and the industry to develop a strategy to secure the future of fishing livelihoods in Northern Ireland. The Committee is hopeful that the Commissioner will visit fishing villages in Northern Ireland which have been hit by the reduction in quotas. There are also plans for a meeting with the affected industry and local community in order to strengthen the case for Northern Ireland at future Fisheries Council meetings. ENDS Notes to Editors The Chairperson of the Committee is Mr. Ian Paisley Jnr The deputy Chairperson of the Committee is Mr. Tom Elliott The Committee has a further nine members: Mr. Jim Shannon Mr. William McCrea Mr. William Irwin Mr. Willie Clarke Mr. Francie Molloy Mr. Pat Doherty Mr. PJ Bradley Mr. Kieran McCarthy Mr. George Savage Media enquiries to: Debra Savage Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Tel. 028 90521405/90521137 Mobile: 07920 864221 Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk Info.office@niassembly.gov.uk Website: www.niassembly.gov.uk
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Murder Exclusive
Exclusive:
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Northern Ireland Assembly
Environment Committee says Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill must have greater impact The Assembly Committee for the Environment, led by its new Chair Cathal Boylan, MLA, today finalised its report to the Department of Environment on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. The Committee report recommends that the wording of the Bill be much stronger and require public bodies to ‘maintain and protect’ the environment rather than just conserve it. Last month the Committee announced its decision to recommend a total ban on use of all snares as part of its report. Cathal Boylan MLA, said today: “The Committee has received many briefings and taken evidence from a wide range of stakeholders. This has led us to form the view that some of the measures in the Department’s draft Bill do not go far enough. “In our report we have identified areas where the Committee believes the Department needs to take greater responsibility. For example producing guidance to local authorities on their responsibilities to protect biodiversity; and that it should report on its implementation of the biodiversity strategy at least every five years, rather than ‘from time to time’ as proposed. “ We urge the Department to accept these recommendations and amend the Bill accordingly. It is the Committee’s view that by further strengthening the Bill we will be better placed to protect our wildlife and environment for generations to come.†The Committee’s report will now be submitted to the Department and the Committee will lodge any amendments it wants included in the Bill when the Department brings it back to the Assembly for consideration by all MLAs. The Committee’s report will be available on the website, or on request from the Committee Clerk, from 20 April 2010. Ends Notes to Editors: Committee’s report on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill includes the following recommendations: the wording of the Bill is made stronger - requiring public bodies to ‘maintain and protect’ the environment rather than just conserve it the Department must produce guidance to local authorities on their new responsibilities to protect biodiversity the Department should be required to report on implementation of the biodiversity strategy at least every 5 years, rather than ‘from time to time’ the nest of the red kite, the osprey, the white-tailed eagle, the peregrine and the barn owl should be protected by law seals as well as basking sharks should be protected from disturbance shooting deer from a vehicle should not be allowed the close season for deer should be shortened (as proposed by the department), but by shortening it in spring rather than autumn the curlew and golden plover should be removed from the game bird species list added to the protected bird list there should be no new birds added to the list of wild bird allowed to be kept in captivity for competitive purposes the reed bunting, twite and yellowhammer should be removed from the existing list above special protection orders should include ‘possession’ as an offence Committee Membership: Mr. Cathal Boylan (Chairperson) Mr. Dominic Bradley (Deputy Chair) Mr. Roy Beggs Mr. Jonathan Bell Mr. John Dallat Mr. Danny Kinahan Mr. Ian McCrea Mr. Daithi McKay Mr. Alastair Ross Mr. Peter Weir Mr. Brian Wilson Media enquiries to: Jennifer Pleavin Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 1606 Mobile : 07502 379339 Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk Sinead Murphy Deputy Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 5938 Mobile : 07899 864368 Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk
Northern Ireland Assembly
Environment Committee says Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill must have greater impact The Assembly Committee for the Environment, led by its new Chair Cathal Boylan, MLA, today finalised its report to the Department of Environment on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. The Committee report recommends that the wording of the Bill be much stronger and require public bodies to ‘maintain and protect’ the environment rather than just conserve it. Last month the Committee announced its decision to recommend a total ban on use of all snares as part of its report. Cathal Boylan MLA, said today: “The Committee has received many briefings and taken evidence from a wide range of stakeholders. This has led us to form the view that some of the measures in the Department’s draft Bill do not go far enough. “In our report we have identified areas where the Committee believes the Department needs to take greater responsibility. For example producing guidance to local authorities on their responsibilities to protect biodiversity; and that it should report on its implementation of the biodiversity strategy at least every five years, rather than ‘from time to time’ as proposed. “ We urge the Department to accept these recommendations and amend the Bill accordingly. It is the Committee’s view that by further strengthening the Bill we will be better placed to protect our wildlife and environment for generations to come.†The Committee’s report will now be submitted to the Department and the Committee will lodge any amendments it wants included in the Bill when the Department brings it back to the Assembly for consideration by all MLAs. The Committee’s report will be available on the website, or on request from the Committee Clerk, from 20 April 2010. Ends Notes to Editors: Committee’s report on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill includes the following recommendations: the wording of the Bill is made stronger - requiring public bodies to ‘maintain and protect’ the environment rather than just conserve it the Department must produce guidance to local authorities on their new responsibilities to protect biodiversity the Department should be required to report on implementation of the biodiversity strategy at least every 5 years, rather than ‘from time to time’ the nest of the red kite, the osprey, the white-tailed eagle, the peregrine and the barn owl should be protected by law seals as well as basking sharks should be protected from disturbance shooting deer from a vehicle should not be allowed the close season for deer should be shortened (as proposed by the department), but by shortening it in spring rather than autumn the curlew and golden plover should be removed from the game bird species list added to the protected bird list there should be no new birds added to the list of wild bird allowed to be kept in captivity for competitive purposes the reed bunting, twite and yellowhammer should be removed from the existing list above special protection orders should include ‘possession’ as an offence Committee Membership: Mr. Cathal Boylan (Chairperson) Mr. Dominic Bradley (Deputy Chair) Mr. Roy Beggs Mr. Jonathan Bell Mr. John Dallat Mr. Danny Kinahan Mr. Ian McCrea Mr. Daithi McKay Mr. Alastair Ross Mr. Peter Weir Mr. Brian Wilson Media enquiries to: Jennifer Pleavin Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 1606 Mobile : 07502 379339 Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk Sinead Murphy Deputy Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 5938 Mobile : 07899 864368 Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk
Northern Ireland Assembly
Environment Committee says Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill must have greater impact The Assembly Committee for the Environment, led by its new Chair Cathal Boylan, MLA, today finalised its report to the Department of Environment on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. The Committee report recommends that the wording of the Bill be much stronger and require public bodies to ‘maintain and protect’ the environment rather than just conserve it. Last month the Committee announced its decision to recommend a total ban on use of all snares as part of its report. Cathal Boylan MLA, said today: “The Committee has received many briefings and taken evidence from a wide range of stakeholders. This has led us to form the view that some of the measures in the Department’s draft Bill do not go far enough. “In our report we have identified areas where the Committee believes the Department needs to take greater responsibility. For example producing guidance to local authorities on their responsibilities to protect biodiversity; and that it should report on its implementation of the biodiversity strategy at least every five years, rather than ‘from time to time’ as proposed. “ We urge the Department to accept these recommendations and amend the Bill accordingly. It is the Committee’s view that by further strengthening the Bill we will be better placed to protect our wildlife and environment for generations to come.†The Committee’s report will now be submitted to the Department and the Committee will lodge any amendments it wants included in the Bill when the Department brings it back to the Assembly for consideration by all MLAs. The Committee’s report will be available on the website, or on request from the Committee Clerk, from 20 April 2010. Ends Notes to Editors: Committee’s report on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill includes the following recommendations: the wording of the Bill is made stronger - requiring public bodies to ‘maintain and protect’ the environment rather than just conserve it the Department must produce guidance to local authorities on their new responsibilities to protect biodiversity the Department should be required to report on implementation of the biodiversity strategy at least every 5 years, rather than ‘from time to time’ the nest of the red kite, the osprey, the white-tailed eagle, the peregrine and the barn owl should be protected by law seals as well as basking sharks should be protected from disturbance shooting deer from a vehicle should not be allowed the close season for deer should be shortened (as proposed by the department), but by shortening it in spring rather than autumn the curlew and golden plover should be removed from the game bird species list added to the protected bird list there should be no new birds added to the list of wild bird allowed to be kept in captivity for competitive purposes the reed bunting, twite and yellowhammer should be removed from the existing list above special protection orders should include ‘possession’ as an offence Committee Membership: Mr. Cathal Boylan (Chairperson) Mr. Dominic Bradley (Deputy Chair) Mr. Roy Beggs Mr. Jonathan Bell Mr. John Dallat Mr. Danny Kinahan Mr. Ian McCrea Mr. Daithi McKay Mr. Alastair Ross Mr. Peter Weir Mr. Brian Wilson Media enquiries to: Jennifer Pleavin Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 1606 Mobile : 07502 379339 Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk Sinead Murphy Deputy Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 5938 Mobile : 07899 864368 Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Medical Cards must be processed within 15 Days
HSE Must Ensure all Medical Card Applications are Processed within 15 Days before Entire System is Centralised-Oireachtas Health Committee
15th April 2010
The HSE must make sure that all applications for medical cards are dealt with in no more than 15 days in advance of the proposed centralisation of the application system, the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has said.
The Committee has also called on the HSE to introduce a “fast track service” for urgent cases. The Committee is asking for the immediate introduction of these measures following meetings it had with the HSE, the Irish Medical Organisation and Age Action Ireland which examined the severe backlog in processing medical cards.
Widespread problems have been reported in accessing medical cards for over 70s since the application system was centralised to Finglas and the Committee is anxious that these problems are ironed out in advance of the planned centralisation of medical card applications for all groups.
Committee chairman, Se n O’Fearghail TD said;
“We have heard worrying reports from Committee members of constituents waiting several months to obtain their medical cards. This has resulted in worry, distress and patients taking an unnecessary financial hit. Applicants have also been unable to get through by phone and speak to someone in the centre in Finglas.
There is a real concern among the Committee that the system will fall into further chaos if the application procedure for all medical cards is moved to the one site.
This is why in advance of further centralisation, the Committee is calling on the HSE to:
Process all applications within 15 days, including applications for discretionary cards
Introduce a fast track service for urgent cases
Continue to provide a local service in each county/local health office to advise on and assist with applications and make decisions on cards where appropriate
Ensure that in cases of review of a medical card for a person over 70, their existing card will remain valid even if the expiry date has passed, until a decision has been taken
Provide adequate staffing of the service and effective communication to the public.
The Committee has resolved to review the operation of the provision of medical cards within six months to verify that the required improvements have been achieved.”
During its meetings on this issue, representatives from the Irish Medical Organisation said that in its survey of 60 GP practices, 645 patients who held medical cards or were entitled to one were not on a list held by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service.
Age Action Ireland said they had dealt with individuals waiting three months to have their cards renewed.
These recommendations have been sent to the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD for her consideration.
15th April 2010
The HSE must make sure that all applications for medical cards are dealt with in no more than 15 days in advance of the proposed centralisation of the application system, the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has said.
The Committee has also called on the HSE to introduce a “fast track service” for urgent cases. The Committee is asking for the immediate introduction of these measures following meetings it had with the HSE, the Irish Medical Organisation and Age Action Ireland which examined the severe backlog in processing medical cards.
Widespread problems have been reported in accessing medical cards for over 70s since the application system was centralised to Finglas and the Committee is anxious that these problems are ironed out in advance of the planned centralisation of medical card applications for all groups.
Committee chairman, Se n O’Fearghail TD said;
“We have heard worrying reports from Committee members of constituents waiting several months to obtain their medical cards. This has resulted in worry, distress and patients taking an unnecessary financial hit. Applicants have also been unable to get through by phone and speak to someone in the centre in Finglas.
There is a real concern among the Committee that the system will fall into further chaos if the application procedure for all medical cards is moved to the one site.
This is why in advance of further centralisation, the Committee is calling on the HSE to:
Process all applications within 15 days, including applications for discretionary cards
Introduce a fast track service for urgent cases
Continue to provide a local service in each county/local health office to advise on and assist with applications and make decisions on cards where appropriate
Ensure that in cases of review of a medical card for a person over 70, their existing card will remain valid even if the expiry date has passed, until a decision has been taken
Provide adequate staffing of the service and effective communication to the public.
The Committee has resolved to review the operation of the provision of medical cards within six months to verify that the required improvements have been achieved.”
During its meetings on this issue, representatives from the Irish Medical Organisation said that in its survey of 60 GP practices, 645 patients who held medical cards or were entitled to one were not on a list held by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service.
Age Action Ireland said they had dealt with individuals waiting three months to have their cards renewed.
These recommendations have been sent to the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD for her consideration.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Gaza
Claims Made at Oireachtas Committee that Markets in Gaza are Not Short of Basic Produce Lack Credibility
13 March 2010
Assertions made by the former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Mr Dore Gold, at today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, that the food stalls and shops in Gaza are full and plentiful are not based on reality, the Committee has said.
Mr Gold claimed that he is not aware of any major shortage of produce or foodstuffs in Gaza’s markets or shops and suggested that the level of deprivation in Gaza is overstated. Mr. Gold attended today’s meeting to give an updated picture on the Middle East and to outline an Israeli perspective on the conflict.
Committee Chairman, Dr Michael Woods TD said;
“Shipments into Gaza remain at no more than a subsistence level for basic necessities and make no provision for reconstruction of commercial life. Any suggestion that the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are not suffering intolerable humanitarian conditions is simply spurious.
Mr Gold claimed that food shortages don’t exist and that there is ample supply of goods in the shops. Unlike members of this Committee, Mr Dore has never been to Gaza and witnessed at first hand the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. A blatant misrepresentation of the situation on the ground is extremely unhelpful and Israel cannot ignore the obvious.
The Committee welcomes the suggestion that the Israeli government may allow a number of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects planned by the UN for many months to finally get underway. Gaza cannot recover without its ruined infrastructure being properly rebuilt.
We support the efforts being made by the Obama administration to freeze the extension of settlements and to encourage all sides to participate in proximity talks with a view to advancing the peace process.”
Mr. Dore is currently the President of the Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs. According to this agency, it “focuses on the main issues affecting Israel's security and international standing in order to wage the war of ideas in global opinion and has developed and implemented an array of cutting-edge programs to present Israel's case to the world".
13 March 2010
Assertions made by the former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Mr Dore Gold, at today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, that the food stalls and shops in Gaza are full and plentiful are not based on reality, the Committee has said.
Mr Gold claimed that he is not aware of any major shortage of produce or foodstuffs in Gaza’s markets or shops and suggested that the level of deprivation in Gaza is overstated. Mr. Gold attended today’s meeting to give an updated picture on the Middle East and to outline an Israeli perspective on the conflict.
Committee Chairman, Dr Michael Woods TD said;
“Shipments into Gaza remain at no more than a subsistence level for basic necessities and make no provision for reconstruction of commercial life. Any suggestion that the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are not suffering intolerable humanitarian conditions is simply spurious.
Mr Gold claimed that food shortages don’t exist and that there is ample supply of goods in the shops. Unlike members of this Committee, Mr Dore has never been to Gaza and witnessed at first hand the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. A blatant misrepresentation of the situation on the ground is extremely unhelpful and Israel cannot ignore the obvious.
The Committee welcomes the suggestion that the Israeli government may allow a number of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects planned by the UN for many months to finally get underway. Gaza cannot recover without its ruined infrastructure being properly rebuilt.
We support the efforts being made by the Obama administration to freeze the extension of settlements and to encourage all sides to participate in proximity talks with a view to advancing the peace process.”
Mr. Dore is currently the President of the Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs. According to this agency, it “focuses on the main issues affecting Israel's security and international standing in order to wage the war of ideas in global opinion and has developed and implemented an array of cutting-edge programs to present Israel's case to the world".
EU Role in Middle East
EU’s Role in Middle East to be Placed under the Spotlight at Oireachtas Committee
13th April 2010
The central role played by the European Union in the affairs of the Middle East will be scrutinised at todays meeting of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee.
Mr Dore Gold, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN will be the witness at the meeting which takes place at 3pm in Committee 3 of Leinster House.
The European Union attaches great importance to the finding of a just and final settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict and supports initiatives to further the peace process, especially through the quartet road map and the role of the Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process.
It has however been more critical of Israel of late. The EU has called on Israel to cease all settlement construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, including natural growth which the EU believes is an obstacle to peace and threatens to make a two-state solution impossible. Relations with the EU were also strained over Israel’s military action in Gaza and the ongoing blockade as well as the alleged use of forged EU passports by those accused of assassinating Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
Committee Chairman, Bernard Durkan TD;
“There has been disagreement between the EU and Israel of late on a number of issues ranging from the peace process and the fraudulent use of EU passports. Nevertheless, this relationship remains crucial if there is to be long term sustainable peace in the region.
Mr Dore has immense experience in Israel-EU relations and his insight into their current condition will be useful for Committee members to get a full appreciation of the present situation.”
Mr. Dore is currently the President of the Jerusalem Centre of Public Affairs. According to this agency it “focuses on the main issues affecting Israel's security and international standing in order to wage the war of ideas in global opinion and has developed and implemented an array of cutting-edge programs to present Israel's case to the world".
13th April 2010
The central role played by the European Union in the affairs of the Middle East will be scrutinised at todays meeting of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee.
Mr Dore Gold, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN will be the witness at the meeting which takes place at 3pm in Committee 3 of Leinster House.
The European Union attaches great importance to the finding of a just and final settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict and supports initiatives to further the peace process, especially through the quartet road map and the role of the Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process.
It has however been more critical of Israel of late. The EU has called on Israel to cease all settlement construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, including natural growth which the EU believes is an obstacle to peace and threatens to make a two-state solution impossible. Relations with the EU were also strained over Israel’s military action in Gaza and the ongoing blockade as well as the alleged use of forged EU passports by those accused of assassinating Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
Committee Chairman, Bernard Durkan TD;
“There has been disagreement between the EU and Israel of late on a number of issues ranging from the peace process and the fraudulent use of EU passports. Nevertheless, this relationship remains crucial if there is to be long term sustainable peace in the region.
Mr Dore has immense experience in Israel-EU relations and his insight into their current condition will be useful for Committee members to get a full appreciation of the present situation.”
Mr. Dore is currently the President of the Jerusalem Centre of Public Affairs. According to this agency it “focuses on the main issues affecting Israel's security and international standing in order to wage the war of ideas in global opinion and has developed and implemented an array of cutting-edge programs to present Israel's case to the world".
Monday, April 12, 2010
Murder of - Sophie Toscan du Plantier - Exclusive
Exclusive:
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
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