Government plans to give politicians radically beefed up powers of investigation have been defeated, dealing a huge blow to the coalition.
While a referendum to cut judges’ pay was unanimously supported, a second vote on whether to allow the Oireachtas hold major inquiries into matters of public importance was rejected.
It had been opposed by eight former attorneys general.
Alan Shatter, the Justice Minister who championed the defeated reform, denied he had been arrogant in dismissing the advice of the leading lawyers.
“When something goes wrong no-one is ever criticised, everything comes down to systemic failure,” he said.
The public voted the planned reform down 53% against.
Amid concerns that the proposed inquiries had the power to infringe individual reputations, Mr Shatter had argued adequate protections would be in place, including court appeals.
Some groups claimed it would lead to a shift in power from the courts to the Oireachtas as an institution, and politicians.
There were also many reports nationwide of voter confusion on polling day on Thursday and a lack of clarity over the potential impact.
Government TDs also conceded that the focus on the presidential campaign over the last month affected communication and debate on the plans.
Mr Shatter said: “The message is put out very clearly but it depends on how much media coverage it gets. People get their politics and information from current affairs programmes and the broadcast media.”
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties opposed the reform.
The referendum on judges pay was passed by more than one million votes, 79% in favour.
The Government will now be given the power to cut judges’ salaries proportionately if and when public servants’ pay is reduced in the public interest.
They will also be subject to the public pensions levy.
The second ballot on the Oireachtas inquiries narrowly failed – 928,175 votes against and 812,008 in favour
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Judges pay referendum passed, Oireachtas inquiry amendment in danger
It is now all but certain that voters have rejected the referendum to give more powers of inquiry to the Oireachtas.
In the past hour it has been announced people voted for judges pay to be cut by a margin of four to one.
The final result on the judges pay referendum was 1,393,877 for it and 354,134 against the 29th Amendment to the Constitution.
However, as counting continues of ballots on the 30th Amendment the result looks set to be very different.
The Government's bid to give more powers of investigation to the Oireachtas looks set to be rejected.
With more than half of all 43 constituencies in, it looks increasinly likely it will be rejected by 54% to 46
%
In the past hour it has been announced people voted for judges pay to be cut by a margin of four to one.
The final result on the judges pay referendum was 1,393,877 for it and 354,134 against the 29th Amendment to the Constitution.
However, as counting continues of ballots on the 30th Amendment the result looks set to be very different.
The Government's bid to give more powers of investigation to the Oireachtas looks set to be rejected.
With more than half of all 43 constituencies in, it looks increasinly likely it will be rejected by 54% to 46
%
Referendum on judicial pay expected to be passed
The first result of the referendum on judicial pay is due and is expected to be accepted.
Voters are expected to have backed Government plans to cut judicial pay, but the second one to give powers of investigation to the Oireachtas looks increasingly likely to be rejected.
A result of the judicial pay referendum is expected to be overwhelmingly accepted by a margin of four to one.
However, so far 54% are rejecting the 30th Amendment to give more powers of investigation to the Oireachtas, with 46% in favour.
Wexford bucked the trend and is the only constituency so far to vote in favour.
Already the blame game has started, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said his Cabinet colleage Brendan Howlin was in charge of the 30th Amendement, and he in turn has blamed the chair of the Referendum Commission.
Voters are expected to have backed Government plans to cut judicial pay, but the second one to give powers of investigation to the Oireachtas looks increasingly likely to be rejected.
A result of the judicial pay referendum is expected to be overwhelmingly accepted by a margin of four to one.
However, so far 54% are rejecting the 30th Amendment to give more powers of investigation to the Oireachtas, with 46% in favour.
Wexford bucked the trend and is the only constituency so far to vote in favour.
Already the blame game has started, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said his Cabinet colleage Brendan Howlin was in charge of the 30th Amendement, and he in turn has blamed the chair of the Referendum Commission.
Higgins vows to change Irish values
Ireland’s President-elect Michael D Higgins has vowed to lead the country in a necessary transformation away from values based on wealth.
After securing more than 1 million votes, the Labour veteran said he will be a President for all.
Mr Higgins said his seven year term as head of state will be defined by efforts to turn inclusion into reality.
The 70-year-old’s resounding victory was formally announced in Dublin Castle marking one of the most remarkable swings in support in an election.
In an impassioned and powerful speech, he set the tone for his presidency with a pledge to lead a sea change in the values of society.
“I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people,” he said.
“As we leave behind a narrow revisionism that valued a person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation. That is what we all leave behind now for which a million people have given me a mandate.
Mr Higgins success, secured after transfers from four counts, is the largest total in an Irish presidential election.
“Now we must respond collectively and co-operatively for what we all must recognise as our shared problems – be it unemployment, mortgage distress or any form of exclusion,” he said.
“We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad. Not only co-operatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all our of our present generations and those to come.
“The necessary transformation of which I speak and of which my presidency will be a part is built on turning creative possibilities into living realities for all our people.”
Mr Higgins, a poet, professor and campaigner, will be inaugurated on November 11.
He said that he felt the campaign had been ageist at times.
The victory came after one of the most remarkable political comebacks ever. He seized an unprecedented 15% swing in support following the spectacular implosion of his biggest rival, independent Sean Gallagher, on live television in the final days of the campaign.
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, who finished third in the poll, said: “It’s been a real privilege and honour for me to stand for the presidency of my country.
“He is (Mr Higgins) is a man of great intellectual capacity and man of huge heart and I’ve every confidence that he will be one of Ireland’s finest presidents.”
One of his first aims is to hold presidential seminars with the first focusing on youth issues of social inclusion, employment, emigration and suicide.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny also attended the declaration and said Mr Higgins will be an outstanding President.
Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore (deputy prime minister) and Labour leader described Mr Higgins as the life, and the soul, of the party.
Mr Higgins said he has no intention of serving a second term.
He said that one of the toughest things in the campaign was questions over his physical fitness while he was deeply moved by young people’s desire for a new Republic and elder people’s wish to create a new society for the young.
Mr Higgins also said he would continue efforts of outgoing President Mary McAleese to cement the work of the peace process in Northern Ireland.
He said he would engage with people and bring sophistication to what he called a “politics of memory” as plans are made to commemorate major historical events such as the 1916 Easter Rising and World War One.
President McAleese said: “His success in the Presidential election marks the start of an exciting chapter for our country, our global Irish family and for the Higgins family.”
Two candidates who polled poorly, Gay Mitchell of the ruling coalition party Fine Gael and independent Mary Davis, broke with protocol and did not attend the formal declaration.
Mr Higgins said: “The reconnection of society, economy and ethics is a project we cannot postpone.
“I have encountered in this long campaign an enthusiasm for an Irishness that will be built on recognising again those sources from which spring the best of our reason and curiosity.
“But even more important the powerful instinct for decency which must be at the heart of a real Republic.
“The celebration of the power of the collective in pursuit of the best of ourselves and built too on the power of culture, science and technology delivered through the contemporary genius of our people.
“Ireland has made its choice for the future and it has chosen the version of Irishness it will build.
“I know, and I will work with head and heart to be part of it with all of you in creating that future one in which all of us can be part of and part of us too.”
After securing more than 1 million votes, the Labour veteran said he will be a President for all.
Mr Higgins said his seven year term as head of state will be defined by efforts to turn inclusion into reality.
The 70-year-old’s resounding victory was formally announced in Dublin Castle marking one of the most remarkable swings in support in an election.
In an impassioned and powerful speech, he set the tone for his presidency with a pledge to lead a sea change in the values of society.
“I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people,” he said.
“As we leave behind a narrow revisionism that valued a person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation. That is what we all leave behind now for which a million people have given me a mandate.
Mr Higgins success, secured after transfers from four counts, is the largest total in an Irish presidential election.
“Now we must respond collectively and co-operatively for what we all must recognise as our shared problems – be it unemployment, mortgage distress or any form of exclusion,” he said.
“We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad. Not only co-operatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all our of our present generations and those to come.
“The necessary transformation of which I speak and of which my presidency will be a part is built on turning creative possibilities into living realities for all our people.”
Mr Higgins, a poet, professor and campaigner, will be inaugurated on November 11.
He said that he felt the campaign had been ageist at times.
The victory came after one of the most remarkable political comebacks ever. He seized an unprecedented 15% swing in support following the spectacular implosion of his biggest rival, independent Sean Gallagher, on live television in the final days of the campaign.
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, who finished third in the poll, said: “It’s been a real privilege and honour for me to stand for the presidency of my country.
“He is (Mr Higgins) is a man of great intellectual capacity and man of huge heart and I’ve every confidence that he will be one of Ireland’s finest presidents.”
One of his first aims is to hold presidential seminars with the first focusing on youth issues of social inclusion, employment, emigration and suicide.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny also attended the declaration and said Mr Higgins will be an outstanding President.
Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore (deputy prime minister) and Labour leader described Mr Higgins as the life, and the soul, of the party.
Mr Higgins said he has no intention of serving a second term.
He said that one of the toughest things in the campaign was questions over his physical fitness while he was deeply moved by young people’s desire for a new Republic and elder people’s wish to create a new society for the young.
Mr Higgins also said he would continue efforts of outgoing President Mary McAleese to cement the work of the peace process in Northern Ireland.
He said he would engage with people and bring sophistication to what he called a “politics of memory” as plans are made to commemorate major historical events such as the 1916 Easter Rising and World War One.
President McAleese said: “His success in the Presidential election marks the start of an exciting chapter for our country, our global Irish family and for the Higgins family.”
Two candidates who polled poorly, Gay Mitchell of the ruling coalition party Fine Gael and independent Mary Davis, broke with protocol and did not attend the formal declaration.
Mr Higgins said: “The reconnection of society, economy and ethics is a project we cannot postpone.
“I have encountered in this long campaign an enthusiasm for an Irishness that will be built on recognising again those sources from which spring the best of our reason and curiosity.
“But even more important the powerful instinct for decency which must be at the heart of a real Republic.
“The celebration of the power of the collective in pursuit of the best of ourselves and built too on the power of culture, science and technology delivered through the contemporary genius of our people.
“Ireland has made its choice for the future and it has chosen the version of Irishness it will build.
“I know, and I will work with head and heart to be part of it with all of you in creating that future one in which all of us can be part of and part of us too.”
Higgins' victory speech
Here is an edited version of President-elect Michael D Higgins’ victory speech from the National Count Centre in Dublin Castle after securing 1,007,104 votes.
“I will be a President for all the people and from this moment I will cease to be a member and president of the Labour Party, a party which has informed my thinking and the ethos of my life, a party whose centenary, founded by James Connolly and James Larkin, will be celebrated next year.
“For the presidency is an independent office and the Irish people, of which I appreciate so much, and, I think with this responsibility, have given a very clear mandate on a very clear set of ideas to me as the ninth President of Ireland.
“I would like to thank sincerely those who voted for me but I also acknowledge those who voted for other candidates who, during a long and difficult campaign, offered many valuable suggestions which I hope to include and encompass over the next seven years.
“And I want to be a President too for those who did not vote, whose trust in public institutions I will encourage and work to recover. And always in my mind too will be those who have gone away and I will be their President.
“The oath that I will take when I am inaugurated ’I dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland’ is a great responsibility.
“The mandate I have received and for which I will speak with heart and head to implement over the next seven years had its four pillars – an inclusive citizenship, equality and participation and respect in a creative society creating an excellence in everything we Irish do.
“Making an Irishness to be proud of in a real Republic.
“It is the vision of a real Republic where life and language, where ideals and experience have the ring of authenticity which we need now as we go forward.
“And during a long campaign, which for me as I have said was almost 14 months since I first sought a nomination for the Labour Party, I saw and felt and feel the pain of the Irish people.
“I recognise the need for a reflection on those values and assumptions often carelessly taken, that they brought us to a sorry path in social and economic terms for which such a high price has been paid and is being paid.
“I recognise the right to anger but I also saw the need for healing and to move past recrimination.
“I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people.
“As we leave behind a narrow revisionism that valued a person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation. That is what we all leave behind now for which a million people have given me a mandate.
“Now we must respond collectively and co-operatively for what we all must recognise as our shared problems – be it unemployment, mortgage distress or any form of exclusion.
“We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad. Not only co-operatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all our of our present generations and those to come.
“The necessary transformation of which I speak and of which my presidency will be a part is built on turning creative possibilities into living realities for all our people.
“And I believe, and this was the wonderful things about going around the country, I believe that transformation has already begun.
“During the long campaign I felt it in one community after another being those who are creating strategies with or for the unemployed, those working in care, those working in pre-school and after school clubs, those great citizens.
“Everywhere good people have commenced a journey to a version of Irishness of which we can be proud.
“And this campaign, we must never forget, involved a choice as to which version we would choose for the next seven years and one we wanted ourselves at home and abroad.
“This necessary transformation, which has now begun, will I hope result in making the values of equality, respect and participation in an active citizenship the characteristic of the next seven years.
“The reconnection of society, economy and ethics is a project we cannot postpone.
“I have encountered in this long campaign an enthusiasm for an Irishness that will be built on recognising again those sources from which spring the best of our reason and curiosity.
“But even more important the powerful instinct for decency which must be at the heart of a real Republic.
“The celebration of the power of the collective in pursuit of the best of ourselves and built too on the power of culture, science and technology delivered through the contemporary genius of our people.
“Ireland has made its choice for the future and it has chosen the version of Irishness it will build.
“I know, and I will work with head and heart to be part of it with all of you in creating that future one in which all of us can be part of and part of us too.”
“I will be a President for all the people and from this moment I will cease to be a member and president of the Labour Party, a party which has informed my thinking and the ethos of my life, a party whose centenary, founded by James Connolly and James Larkin, will be celebrated next year.
“For the presidency is an independent office and the Irish people, of which I appreciate so much, and, I think with this responsibility, have given a very clear mandate on a very clear set of ideas to me as the ninth President of Ireland.
“I would like to thank sincerely those who voted for me but I also acknowledge those who voted for other candidates who, during a long and difficult campaign, offered many valuable suggestions which I hope to include and encompass over the next seven years.
“And I want to be a President too for those who did not vote, whose trust in public institutions I will encourage and work to recover. And always in my mind too will be those who have gone away and I will be their President.
“The oath that I will take when I am inaugurated ’I dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland’ is a great responsibility.
“The mandate I have received and for which I will speak with heart and head to implement over the next seven years had its four pillars – an inclusive citizenship, equality and participation and respect in a creative society creating an excellence in everything we Irish do.
“Making an Irishness to be proud of in a real Republic.
“It is the vision of a real Republic where life and language, where ideals and experience have the ring of authenticity which we need now as we go forward.
“And during a long campaign, which for me as I have said was almost 14 months since I first sought a nomination for the Labour Party, I saw and felt and feel the pain of the Irish people.
“I recognise the need for a reflection on those values and assumptions often carelessly taken, that they brought us to a sorry path in social and economic terms for which such a high price has been paid and is being paid.
“I recognise the right to anger but I also saw the need for healing and to move past recrimination.
“I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people.
“As we leave behind a narrow revisionism that valued a person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation. That is what we all leave behind now for which a million people have given me a mandate.
“Now we must respond collectively and co-operatively for what we all must recognise as our shared problems – be it unemployment, mortgage distress or any form of exclusion.
“We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad. Not only co-operatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all our of our present generations and those to come.
“The necessary transformation of which I speak and of which my presidency will be a part is built on turning creative possibilities into living realities for all our people.
“And I believe, and this was the wonderful things about going around the country, I believe that transformation has already begun.
“During the long campaign I felt it in one community after another being those who are creating strategies with or for the unemployed, those working in care, those working in pre-school and after school clubs, those great citizens.
“Everywhere good people have commenced a journey to a version of Irishness of which we can be proud.
“And this campaign, we must never forget, involved a choice as to which version we would choose for the next seven years and one we wanted ourselves at home and abroad.
“This necessary transformation, which has now begun, will I hope result in making the values of equality, respect and participation in an active citizenship the characteristic of the next seven years.
“The reconnection of society, economy and ethics is a project we cannot postpone.
“I have encountered in this long campaign an enthusiasm for an Irishness that will be built on recognising again those sources from which spring the best of our reason and curiosity.
“But even more important the powerful instinct for decency which must be at the heart of a real Republic.
“The celebration of the power of the collective in pursuit of the best of ourselves and built too on the power of culture, science and technology delivered through the contemporary genius of our people.
“Ireland has made its choice for the future and it has chosen the version of Irishness it will build.
“I know, and I will work with head and heart to be part of it with all of you in creating that future one in which all of us can be part of and part of us too.”
Referendum on Oireachtas powers in danger of being rejected
Early indications are that the constitutional ammendment on judicial pay looks likely to be passed, but the proposal to allow TDs and Senators carry out inquiries is far from certain.
The first results coming in from the referendums are spelling trouble for the Government.
On the referendum to give more powers of inquiry to the Oireachtas, results from 10 constituencies shows 54% of people voting it down.
So far only Wexford has voted for the 30th Amendment.
The cutting of judicial pay referendum so far appears to have the backing of up to 80% of the population.
It is understood that the ballots have been counted and verifed in many of the 43 constituencies around the country.
However, even senior Government Ministers are admitting that the amendment on giving the Oireachtas powers to conduct inquiries may not be passed.
Minister Brendan Howlin has said he has concerned, but isn't conceding defeat ye
t
The first results coming in from the referendums are spelling trouble for the Government.
On the referendum to give more powers of inquiry to the Oireachtas, results from 10 constituencies shows 54% of people voting it down.
So far only Wexford has voted for the 30th Amendment.
The cutting of judicial pay referendum so far appears to have the backing of up to 80% of the population.
It is understood that the ballots have been counted and verifed in many of the 43 constituencies around the country.
However, even senior Government Ministers are admitting that the amendment on giving the Oireachtas powers to conduct inquiries may not be passed.
Minister Brendan Howlin has said he has concerned, but isn't conceding defeat ye
t
Higgins a 'President for everyone'
The Presidential returning officer Ríona Ni Fhlanghaile has announced that Michael D Higgins is the President-Elect of Ireland.
The 70-year-old Galway man secured more than a million votes to become President designate.
He has been given a scroll, verified by the Chief Justice, ahead of his inauguration in Dublin Castle on November 11.
In his victory speech Michael D Higgins said he wants to be "a President for everyone, those who didn't vote and those who have left our shores"
The 70-year-old Galway man secured more than a million votes to become President designate.
He has been given a scroll, verified by the Chief Justice, ahead of his inauguration in Dublin Castle on November 11.
In his victory speech Michael D Higgins said he wants to be "a President for everyone, those who didn't vote and those who have left our shores"
Higgins a 'President for everyone'
The Presidential returning officer Ríona Ni Fhlanghaile has announced that Michael D Higgins is the President-Elect of Ireland.
The 70-year-old Galway man secured more than a million votes to become President designate.
He has been given a scroll, verified by the Chief Justice, ahead of his inauguration in Dublin Castle on November 11.
In his victory speech Michael D Higgins said he wants to be "a President for everyone, those who didn't vote and those who have left our shores"
The 70-year-old Galway man secured more than a million votes to become President designate.
He has been given a scroll, verified by the Chief Justice, ahead of his inauguration in Dublin Castle on November 11.
In his victory speech Michael D Higgins said he wants to be "a President for everyone, those who didn't vote and those who have left our shores"
Higgins a 'President for everyone'
The Presidential returning officer Ríona Ni Fhlanghaile has announced that Michael D Higgins is the President-Elect of Ireland.
The 70-year-old Galway man secured more than a million votes to become President designate.
He has been given a scroll, verified by the Chief Justice, ahead of his inauguration in Dublin Castle on November 11.
In his victory speech Michael D Higgins said he wants to be "a President for everyone, those who didn't vote and those who have left our shores"
The 70-year-old Galway man secured more than a million votes to become President designate.
He has been given a scroll, verified by the Chief Justice, ahead of his inauguration in Dublin Castle on November 11.
In his victory speech Michael D Higgins said he wants to be "a President for everyone, those who didn't vote and those who have left our shores"
Count complete as Higgins set to be confirmed as President
With the fourth count now complete in all constituencies, Michael D Higgins is about to be declared the ninth President of Ireland at around 4.15pm today.
The Labour candidate has secured more than a million votes to succeed Mary McAleese at the Áras.
It was just after 2.30pm this afternoon when Michael D Higgins surpassed the quota of 885,000 votes.
A formal declaration that he is the President-elect is expected soon.
As the 42nd constituency reported, he exceeded one million votes.
Mr Higgins will make a victory speech here shortly and hold a short press conference.
He will also receive a scroll from the Defence Forces, verified by the Chief Justice, confirming that he is the President-elect
The Labour candidate has secured more than a million votes to succeed Mary McAleese at the Áras.
It was just after 2.30pm this afternoon when Michael D Higgins surpassed the quota of 885,000 votes.
A formal declaration that he is the President-elect is expected soon.
As the 42nd constituency reported, he exceeded one million votes.
Mr Higgins will make a victory speech here shortly and hold a short press conference.
He will also receive a scroll from the Defence Forces, verified by the Chief Justice, confirming that he is the President-elect
Count complete as Higgins set to be confirmed as President
With the fourth count now complete in all constituencies, Michael D Higgins is about to be declared the ninth President of Ireland at around 4.15pm today.
The Labour candidate has secured more than a million votes to succeed Mary McAleese at the Áras.
It was just after 2.30pm this afternoon when Michael D Higgins surpassed the quota of 885,000 votes.
A formal declaration that he is the President-elect is expected soon.
As the 42nd constituency reported, he exceeded one million votes.
Mr Higgins will make a victory speech here shortly and hold a short press conference.
He will also receive a scroll from the Defence Forces, verified by the Chief Justice, confirming that he is the President-elect
The Labour candidate has secured more than a million votes to succeed Mary McAleese at the Áras.
It was just after 2.30pm this afternoon when Michael D Higgins surpassed the quota of 885,000 votes.
A formal declaration that he is the President-elect is expected soon.
As the 42nd constituency reported, he exceeded one million votes.
Mr Higgins will make a victory speech here shortly and hold a short press conference.
He will also receive a scroll from the Defence Forces, verified by the Chief Justice, confirming that he is the President-elect
Dublin Bus to accept rail tickets as flood clean-up continues
Dublin Bus says it will accept all rail tickets for customers affect by disruption to a number of lines due to repair works which are ongoing today and tomorrow.
Disruption is expected to the southside DART services and the Rosslare to Gorey line which is closed between Grand Canal Dock and Sydney Parade due to flood damage.
Track works are also being carried out north of Connolly at Ossory Road and on both the Dublin to Cork and Limerick to Galway lines
Disruption is expected to the southside DART services and the Rosslare to Gorey line which is closed between Grand Canal Dock and Sydney Parade due to flood damage.
Track works are also being carried out north of Connolly at Ossory Road and on both the Dublin to Cork and Limerick to Galway lines
Higgins exceeds quota to be elected President
Michael D Higgins has now exceeded the quota and will be elected the ninth President of Ireland.
A formal declaration however will not be made in Dublin Castle until all 43 constituencies have reported.
The 70-year-old Galway man will be inaugurated on November 11th.
As the fourth count proceeded - the distribution of 400,000 votes from Gay Mitchell and Martin McGuinness, it soon became clear Michael D Higgins would reach the quota.
As 19 of the 43 constituencies declared, he exceed the 885,000 vote quota.
But a formal declaration that he is the President elect will not be made until all 43 of the constituencies have reported.
Michael D Higgins will then make a victory speech and hold a short press conference.
Busloads of supporters have arrived from Galway for major celebrations in the capital this evenin
g
A formal declaration however will not be made in Dublin Castle until all 43 constituencies have reported.
The 70-year-old Galway man will be inaugurated on November 11th.
As the fourth count proceeded - the distribution of 400,000 votes from Gay Mitchell and Martin McGuinness, it soon became clear Michael D Higgins would reach the quota.
As 19 of the 43 constituencies declared, he exceed the 885,000 vote quota.
But a formal declaration that he is the President elect will not be made until all 43 of the constituencies have reported.
Michael D Higgins will then make a victory speech and hold a short press conference.
Busloads of supporters have arrived from Galway for major celebrations in the capital this evenin
g
Woman arrested in connection with Dublin abduction
Gardaí investigating the abduction of Ciaran Noonan on Russell Avenue in Dublin more than one week ago have arrested a woman in her early 20s.
The arrest was made this morning. The woman is currently being detained at Store Street garda station.
Twenty-nine-year-old Noonan has not been seen since being bundled into a Black VW Golf after he was assaulted by his kidnappers in broad daylight.
The car was subsequently found at an underground car park at an apartment complex in Ashbourne Co Meath
The arrest was made this morning. The woman is currently being detained at Store Street garda station.
Twenty-nine-year-old Noonan has not been seen since being bundled into a Black VW Golf after he was assaulted by his kidnappers in broad daylight.
The car was subsequently found at an underground car park at an apartment complex in Ashbourne Co Meath
Friday, 28 October 2011
Gallagher not playing blame game
Presidential runner-up Seán Gallagher would not blame rival candidate Martin McGuinness after he derailed his seemingly unassailable campaign on live television.
The Independent candidate said tonight was not the night to point the finger at the Sinn Féin contender, who is largely responsible for his fall from the top of the opinion polls last week.
“Tonight is not a night at all for blame,” said Mr Gallagher, who lost out to Michael D Higgins.
“Tonight is a night for celebration for Michael D and I congratulate all of the other six candidates for stepping forward.”
The Louth businessman, with wife Trish by his side, admitted that it had been an enduring campaign.
He had been 15 points ahead in the race in last weekend’s opinion polls before he was hit with an unprecedented collapse in support.
A former fundraiser for Fianna Fáil, Mr Gallagher was hit by a storm of controversy on Monday night on RTÉ’s Frontline programme amid allegations he was a “bag man” soliciting and collecting donations.
A bogus tweet also suggested the man he collected money from, Hugh Morgan, the Armagh-based owner of Morgan Fuels, was preparing to go public with information on a €5,000 donation.
Mr McGuinness dropped the bombshell in a live debate that Mr Gallagher had requested and personally received the cheque from Mr Morgan, who has a conviction for tax fraud and fuel smuggling.
Mr Gallagher said he was not surprised by the tactics used by his opponents during the race.
“These are campaigns and this is the nature of a campaign,” he said.
Mr Gallagher went on to pay tribute to Ireland’s ninth president and the lifetime of service he has given the country.
“I said at the beginning that Ireland was full of heroes,” he said.
“Over the last six months I travelled to every community and county, and I witnessed more and more thousands of heroes, and I have the full faith in being inspired by everyone I have met that this is a great country and will be great again.
”
The Independent candidate said tonight was not the night to point the finger at the Sinn Féin contender, who is largely responsible for his fall from the top of the opinion polls last week.
“Tonight is not a night at all for blame,” said Mr Gallagher, who lost out to Michael D Higgins.
“Tonight is a night for celebration for Michael D and I congratulate all of the other six candidates for stepping forward.”
The Louth businessman, with wife Trish by his side, admitted that it had been an enduring campaign.
He had been 15 points ahead in the race in last weekend’s opinion polls before he was hit with an unprecedented collapse in support.
A former fundraiser for Fianna Fáil, Mr Gallagher was hit by a storm of controversy on Monday night on RTÉ’s Frontline programme amid allegations he was a “bag man” soliciting and collecting donations.
A bogus tweet also suggested the man he collected money from, Hugh Morgan, the Armagh-based owner of Morgan Fuels, was preparing to go public with information on a €5,000 donation.
Mr McGuinness dropped the bombshell in a live debate that Mr Gallagher had requested and personally received the cheque from Mr Morgan, who has a conviction for tax fraud and fuel smuggling.
Mr Gallagher said he was not surprised by the tactics used by his opponents during the race.
“These are campaigns and this is the nature of a campaign,” he said.
Mr Gallagher went on to pay tribute to Ireland’s ninth president and the lifetime of service he has given the country.
“I said at the beginning that Ireland was full of heroes,” he said.
“Over the last six months I travelled to every community and county, and I witnessed more and more thousands of heroes, and I have the full faith in being inspired by everyone I have met that this is a great country and will be great again.
”
Higgins tops first count, Dana and Davis eliminated
Michael D Higgins was tonight celebrating his imminent election as the ninth President of Ireland after the first official nationwide count gave him 40% of first preferences, well ahead of Seán Gallagher on 28.5%.
A number of further counts will be required to bring Mr Higgins past the 50% +1 barrier necessary to be officially elected, but at this stage he can’t be caught.
His six presidential rivals had admitted as much earlier in the day, each conceding defeat in turn and offering their congratulations to the septuagenarian.
With the quota at 885,882, the cumulative results of the first count were:
- Michael D Higgins 701,101 (40%)
- Seán Gallagher 504,964 (28.5%)
- Martin McGuinness 243,030 (13.7%)
- Gay Mitchell 113,321 (6.4%)
- David Norris 109,469 (6.2%)
- Dana Rosemary Scallon 51,202 (2.9%)
- Mary Davis 48,657 (2.7%)
Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated.
“I feel a little overwhelmed,” Mr Higgins said.
“I’m very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while.
“I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of.”
Mr Higgins secured the victory for Labour – the second in a day as the party edged towards a by-election win – after the other six candidates conceded defeat.
Mr Gallagher, the opinion poll topper with a 15-point margin as recent as Sunday, saw his support vanish to 28% in a stunning defeat blamed on his ties to Fianna Fáil.
But the businessman refused to criticise.
“These are campaigns and this is the nature of a campaign,” the former political fund raiser said.
Mr Higgins will be inaugurated on November 11, the day after current president Mary McAleese leaves office.
Amid hectic scenes at the National Count Centre in Dublin Castle, and in statesmanlike fashion, Mr Higgins said the ideas of his presidential rivals would be incorporated into his term at Áras an Úachtaráin.
While his campaign was born out of an ethos of the left, he said he would serve as a president for all of the people whether they voted for him or not.
With wife Sabina and children Daniel, John, Alice Mary and Michael Junior, at his side he described the prospect as exciting and wonderful.
The official result is not expected to be declared until the early hours or tomorrow at the latest.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Labour party leader, said it had been an honour to nominate Mr Higgins for the job.
“This is a good day for the Labour Party. ”I’m really happy for him. I’m really delighted that he succeeded,“ Mr Gilmore said.
Runner-up Mr Gallagher would not blame the man who derailed his seemingly unassailable campaign on live TV last Monday.
The businessman ran into a storm of controversy amid allegations he was a “bag man” soliciting and collecting donations for Fianna Fáil.
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, who was ran third in the poll securing a tactical victory, dropped the bombshell that Mr Gallagher had requested and personally received a €5,000 (£4,390) cheque from a businessman with a conviction for tax fraud and fuel smuggling.
With his wife Trish by his side, Mr Gallagher admitted it had been an enduring campaign before he paid tribute to Mr Higgins.
Mr McGuinness, who is to return to his role as the North’s Deputy First Minister, later dismissed suggestions that he was in the race for tactical, party political reasons.
“I was in the contest to win,” he said.
“At the same time I knew I was up against the big battalions, and you all know who I’m speaking about. But I think it’s been a tremendous experience and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
“But my political career isn’t over.”
Labour were, celebrating double whammy at the polls with the certain prospect that councillor Patrick Nulty will win the seat in Dublin West left empty following the death of former finance minister Brian Lenihan last year.
It will be the first time since 1982 a governing party has won a by-election.
But Gay Mitchell was on course for the worst performance in history by a candidate from Fine Gael.
His failure to register left him vying with Senator David Norris for the fourth and fifth spots. The Senator was first candidate to declare Mr Higgins’ win in the morning.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter was again forced to deny allegations that Fine Gael failed to offer its full support to presidential flop Mr Mitchell.
He said he did not think Mr Mitchell’s defeat had anything to do with the party, saying the presidential election is more about personality than politics.
“It’s a very different election. It’s a personality election,” he said
.
A number of further counts will be required to bring Mr Higgins past the 50% +1 barrier necessary to be officially elected, but at this stage he can’t be caught.
His six presidential rivals had admitted as much earlier in the day, each conceding defeat in turn and offering their congratulations to the septuagenarian.
With the quota at 885,882, the cumulative results of the first count were:
- Michael D Higgins 701,101 (40%)
- Seán Gallagher 504,964 (28.5%)
- Martin McGuinness 243,030 (13.7%)
- Gay Mitchell 113,321 (6.4%)
- David Norris 109,469 (6.2%)
- Dana Rosemary Scallon 51,202 (2.9%)
- Mary Davis 48,657 (2.7%)
Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated.
“I feel a little overwhelmed,” Mr Higgins said.
“I’m very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while.
“I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of.”
Mr Higgins secured the victory for Labour – the second in a day as the party edged towards a by-election win – after the other six candidates conceded defeat.
Mr Gallagher, the opinion poll topper with a 15-point margin as recent as Sunday, saw his support vanish to 28% in a stunning defeat blamed on his ties to Fianna Fáil.
But the businessman refused to criticise.
“These are campaigns and this is the nature of a campaign,” the former political fund raiser said.
Mr Higgins will be inaugurated on November 11, the day after current president Mary McAleese leaves office.
Amid hectic scenes at the National Count Centre in Dublin Castle, and in statesmanlike fashion, Mr Higgins said the ideas of his presidential rivals would be incorporated into his term at Áras an Úachtaráin.
While his campaign was born out of an ethos of the left, he said he would serve as a president for all of the people whether they voted for him or not.
With wife Sabina and children Daniel, John, Alice Mary and Michael Junior, at his side he described the prospect as exciting and wonderful.
The official result is not expected to be declared until the early hours or tomorrow at the latest.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Labour party leader, said it had been an honour to nominate Mr Higgins for the job.
“This is a good day for the Labour Party. ”I’m really happy for him. I’m really delighted that he succeeded,“ Mr Gilmore said.
Runner-up Mr Gallagher would not blame the man who derailed his seemingly unassailable campaign on live TV last Monday.
The businessman ran into a storm of controversy amid allegations he was a “bag man” soliciting and collecting donations for Fianna Fáil.
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, who was ran third in the poll securing a tactical victory, dropped the bombshell that Mr Gallagher had requested and personally received a €5,000 (£4,390) cheque from a businessman with a conviction for tax fraud and fuel smuggling.
With his wife Trish by his side, Mr Gallagher admitted it had been an enduring campaign before he paid tribute to Mr Higgins.
Mr McGuinness, who is to return to his role as the North’s Deputy First Minister, later dismissed suggestions that he was in the race for tactical, party political reasons.
“I was in the contest to win,” he said.
“At the same time I knew I was up against the big battalions, and you all know who I’m speaking about. But I think it’s been a tremendous experience and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
“But my political career isn’t over.”
Labour were, celebrating double whammy at the polls with the certain prospect that councillor Patrick Nulty will win the seat in Dublin West left empty following the death of former finance minister Brian Lenihan last year.
It will be the first time since 1982 a governing party has won a by-election.
But Gay Mitchell was on course for the worst performance in history by a candidate from Fine Gael.
His failure to register left him vying with Senator David Norris for the fourth and fifth spots. The Senator was first candidate to declare Mr Higgins’ win in the morning.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter was again forced to deny allegations that Fine Gael failed to offer its full support to presidential flop Mr Mitchell.
He said he did not think Mr Mitchell’s defeat had anything to do with the party, saying the presidential election is more about personality than politics.
“It’s a very different election. It’s a personality election,” he said
.
Cunningham officially on board as new Galway boss
As widely predicted, Anthony Cunningham was officially unveiled as the new Galway senior hurling manager tonight at a specially convened meeting of the county's Hurling Board.
Cunningham, who guided Galway to All-Ireland U-21 SHC glory in August, succeeds John McIntyre, who stepped down last month after a forgettable Championship campaign.
The 46-year-old's appointment was approved and ratified by Galway hurling club delegates at the Athenry meeting, following the recommendation of the committee set up to find McIntyre's replacement.
Cunningham, who hails from the St Thomas' club, has been given a three-year term.
His management team includes selectors Tom Helebert (Gort) and Mattie Kenny (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry), who assisted him with the Galway U-21 hurlers.
Both Helebert and Kenny are highly-respected coaches. Helebert is a former hurling All-Star who was part of the management team that oversaw Clarinbridge's All-Ireland club success last season.
Kenny's management CV includes coaching Galway's All-Ireland U-21 winning side of 2005 as well as guiding his own club from intermediate level through to the senior ranks.
Cunningham was part of Galway's 'golden age' of hurling in the 1980s, winning All-Ireland minor and U-21 medals in 1983 and 1986 respectively before claiming All-Ireland senior honours in 1987 and 1988, as well as a National League title.
He managed Garrycastle to their third straight Westmeath SFC title last weekend and is set to continue in charge of the club until their involvement in the Leinster Club SFC campaign ends - they are due to play Longford Slashers in the first round in two weeks' time
.
Cunningham, who guided Galway to All-Ireland U-21 SHC glory in August, succeeds John McIntyre, who stepped down last month after a forgettable Championship campaign.
The 46-year-old's appointment was approved and ratified by Galway hurling club delegates at the Athenry meeting, following the recommendation of the committee set up to find McIntyre's replacement.
Cunningham, who hails from the St Thomas' club, has been given a three-year term.
His management team includes selectors Tom Helebert (Gort) and Mattie Kenny (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry), who assisted him with the Galway U-21 hurlers.
Both Helebert and Kenny are highly-respected coaches. Helebert is a former hurling All-Star who was part of the management team that oversaw Clarinbridge's All-Ireland club success last season.
Kenny's management CV includes coaching Galway's All-Ireland U-21 winning side of 2005 as well as guiding his own club from intermediate level through to the senior ranks.
Cunningham was part of Galway's 'golden age' of hurling in the 1980s, winning All-Ireland minor and U-21 medals in 1983 and 1986 respectively before claiming All-Ireland senior honours in 1987 and 1988, as well as a National League title.
He managed Garrycastle to their third straight Westmeath SFC title last weekend and is set to continue in charge of the club until their involvement in the Leinster Club SFC campaign ends - they are due to play Longford Slashers in the first round in two weeks' time
.
Ireland embarrass the Aussies in first test
Australia 36 (1-8-6) Ireland 80 (4-17-5)
The most embarrassingly one-sided Test in International Rules history saw Anthony Tohill’s Ireland hammer an ill-prepared Australian team by 44 points.
This Melbourne mauling will only add to the speculation that the hybrid game is past its sell by date, with Rodney Eade’s home side shockingly poor in all departments.
The Australians could not even use their physical advantage to quell the strong-running visitors who were clinical, clever and hard working throughout the 72 minutes.
With former AFL Premiership winner Tadhg Kennelly in superb form, Ireland opened up a 22-4 first quarter lead and it looked ominous for the Australians.
Goals from Michael Murphy and Eamonn Callaghan stretched the gap to 44-20 by half-time, and the disappointingly small Etihad Stadium crowd (22,921) was fast losing interest.
Australian captain Brad Green capitalised on a rare Stephen Cluxton error to score his side’s only goal, but two more six-pointers from Leighton Glynn and Steven McDonnell completed the Irish onslaught.
Armagh sharpshooter McDonnell finished as the game’s two scorer with 18 points, comprised of a goal and four overs, while the only setback for Tohill was the sight of Emmet Bolton being stretchered off following a heavy challenge in the third quarter.
The 44-point winning margin passed the previous best from Australia in 2005 (36 points) and also marked the first time Ireland have amassed 80 points in a Test match since the 1984 Series.
The runaway victory has effectively sewn up the Series for Ireland and means they will be travelling home with the Cormac McAnallen Cup unless Eade’s charges miraculously recover at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium next Friday.
Key to Ireland’s dominance was the performance of their players with Aussie Rules experience.
Kennelly and Tommy Walsh were prominent right from the start, while Pearce Hanley, Zach Tuohy and Colm Begley all made significant contributions as the game wore on.
Cluxton and Ciarán McKeever marshalled a defence that gave very little away and Ireland’s superior ball-handling and footballing skills were evident early on.
Kennelly and McDonnell, two International Rules veterans, teed up Tommy Walsh for the opening over. Ireland doubled their lead to 6-0 thanks to Glynn’s neatly-taken score from the right.
Eade made a late change when he slotted Matthew Suckling in at goalkeeper rather than Zac Smith, who had taken the position in training.
But the move backfired as Suckling struggled to find his team-mates with kick-outs, and weak early shots from Ben McGlynn and Smith suggested that the Australians needed more practice time with the round ball.
A lovely piece of improvisation from Kennelly near the end-line led to an over from Donegal captain Michael Murphy, before Mark Nicoski got the hosts off the mark with a behind.
Distributing accurately and at pace, Ireland kicked well and used the hand pass to good effect. Walsh marked and his quick delivery sent Kennelly surging down the right wing for a curled effort which split the posts for three points.
Hanley added a behind and then a pinpoint pass from Callaghan put Murphy breaking clear into acres of space and he needed no second invitation, drilling a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Stephen Milne responded with Australia’s first over, but a sublime three-pointer from McDonnell just inches in from the right sideline ended the first quarter’s scoring.
Ireland maintained a high work-rate and continued to pick off their scores in the second quarter, a succession of which from Kevin McKernan, Tuohy, Kieran Donaghy and Bolton pushed the lead out to 29-4.
A behind from Richard Douglas drew ironic cheers from the crowd and just moments later, Suckling was caught off his line, failed to gather possession and Callaghan effortlessly clipped the loose ball into an empty net.
McDonnell followed up with two overs and he also provided the assist for a three-pointer from Tommy Walsh, but some loose play from the Irish allowed Australia gain some momentum before the interval.
Robin Nahas and Douglas kicked overs and a slick turn and shot from Mitch Robinson and then Cluxton, who had hardly put a foot wrong, was caught out for a soft Australian goal.
The Dublin goalkeeper was closed down on one of his sorties away from goal and his loose pass gave Green an opportunity he could not miss.
But the influential McDonnell made sure Ireland answered back on the cusp of half-time, kicking another over after a foul on the busy Hanley.
44-20 adrift, Australia needed a big third quarter but the push never came and Tohill’s men, who comfortably outplayed and out-tackled the home side, were never in trouble.
In fact, a number of the Australian scores were as a result of Ireland being caught in possession rather than Eade’s side being able to open up the defence.
The intensity dropped given the sizeable difference on the scoreboard. Murphy and Walsh added six more points to Ireland’s tally, Walsh’s over the product of some deft passing from Kennelly and McDonnell.
Australia stayed competitive with behinds from Robinson and Green (2), before the strongly-built Robinson rolled over Bolton as the pair competed for possession in the Irish defence.
There was no malice in the challenge but the Kildare ace had to be taken off. Tempers briefly flared in midfield as the Australians clashed with Kevin Reilly and Brendan Murphy.
When play resumed, Ireland were very much back in the ascendancy. Donaghy claimed a very good mark and an over, Glynn did likewise and McKernan’s intelligent running off the ball was rewarded with his second three-pointer.
A mistake from McKeever allowed Robbie Gray kick a final over which reduced the arrears to 59-26 by the hooter.
The deficit was down to 30 points when Milne broke forward and turned onto his right for a well-taken over. In previous years Australia’s professional status had seen them finish strongly in the fourth quarter, but Ireland were in no mood to bow to the hosts.
Murphy’s direct ball through the middle picked out an unmarked Glynn and the Wicklow star’s rising shot gave Suckling no chance.
The men in green kicked on with a Donaghy over and the Kerry target man then had a goal ruled out for an earlier infringement.
But that fourth and final goal came when the Australian defence was split open again and McDonnell beat the ‘keeper with a crisp shot from an acute angle.
McDonnell soon launched over a free to take his haul to 18 points and although Trent McKenzie and Angus Monfries got on the scoresheet late on, an accomplished final mark and over from Brendan Murphy was a satisfying finish for the dominant Irish.
Scorers - Australia 36 (1-8-6): Brad Green 11 (1-1-2), Stephen Milne 6 (0-2-0), Richard Douglas 4 (0-1-1), Mitch Robinson 4 (0-1-1), Robin Nahas 3 (0-1-0), Robbie Gray 3 (0-1-0), Angus Monfries 3 (0-1-0), Mark Nicoski 1 (0-0-1), Trent McKenzie 1 (0-0-1)
Ireland 80 (4-17-5): Steven McDonnell 18 (1-4-0), Michael Murphy 12 (1-2-0), Leighton Glynn 12 (1-2-0), Tommy Walsh 9 (0-3-0), Kieran Donaghy 7 (0-2-1), Kevin McKernan 7 (0-2-1), Eamonn Callaghan 6 (1-0-0), Tadhg Kennelly 3 (0-1-0), Brendan Murphy 3 (0-1-0), Pearse Hanley 1 (0-0-1), Zach Tuohy 1 (0-0-1), Emmet Bolton 1 (0-0-1)
AUSTRALIA: Matthew Suckling (Hawthorn), Richard Douglas (Adelaide Crows), James Frawley (Melbourne), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Brad Green (Melbourne), Shaun Grigg (Richmond), James Kelly (Geelong Cats), Jake King (Richmond), Ben McGlynn (Sydney Swans), Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast Suns), Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Angus Monfries (Essendon), Robin Nahas (Richmond), Mark Nicoski (West Coast), Mitch Robinson (Carlton), Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Zac Smith (Gold Coast Suns), Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne), Jack Trengove (Melbourne), Bernie Vince (Adelaide Crows), Callan Ward (GWS Giants), David Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs).
IRELAND: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Brendan Murphy (Carlow), Colm Begley (Laois), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Neil McGee (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Ciarán McKeever (Armagh), Kevin McKernan (Down), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Darren Hughes (Monaghan), Finian Hanley (Galway), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Aidan Walsh (Cork), Paddy Kelly (Cork), Eamonn Callaghan (Kildare), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Tommy Walsh (Kerry/St Kilda), Zach Touhy (Laois/Carlton), Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans), Pearce Hanley (Mayo/Brisbane Lions), Emmet Bolton (Kildare
)
The most embarrassingly one-sided Test in International Rules history saw Anthony Tohill’s Ireland hammer an ill-prepared Australian team by 44 points.
This Melbourne mauling will only add to the speculation that the hybrid game is past its sell by date, with Rodney Eade’s home side shockingly poor in all departments.
The Australians could not even use their physical advantage to quell the strong-running visitors who were clinical, clever and hard working throughout the 72 minutes.
With former AFL Premiership winner Tadhg Kennelly in superb form, Ireland opened up a 22-4 first quarter lead and it looked ominous for the Australians.
Goals from Michael Murphy and Eamonn Callaghan stretched the gap to 44-20 by half-time, and the disappointingly small Etihad Stadium crowd (22,921) was fast losing interest.
Australian captain Brad Green capitalised on a rare Stephen Cluxton error to score his side’s only goal, but two more six-pointers from Leighton Glynn and Steven McDonnell completed the Irish onslaught.
Armagh sharpshooter McDonnell finished as the game’s two scorer with 18 points, comprised of a goal and four overs, while the only setback for Tohill was the sight of Emmet Bolton being stretchered off following a heavy challenge in the third quarter.
The 44-point winning margin passed the previous best from Australia in 2005 (36 points) and also marked the first time Ireland have amassed 80 points in a Test match since the 1984 Series.
The runaway victory has effectively sewn up the Series for Ireland and means they will be travelling home with the Cormac McAnallen Cup unless Eade’s charges miraculously recover at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium next Friday.
Key to Ireland’s dominance was the performance of their players with Aussie Rules experience.
Kennelly and Tommy Walsh were prominent right from the start, while Pearce Hanley, Zach Tuohy and Colm Begley all made significant contributions as the game wore on.
Cluxton and Ciarán McKeever marshalled a defence that gave very little away and Ireland’s superior ball-handling and footballing skills were evident early on.
Kennelly and McDonnell, two International Rules veterans, teed up Tommy Walsh for the opening over. Ireland doubled their lead to 6-0 thanks to Glynn’s neatly-taken score from the right.
Eade made a late change when he slotted Matthew Suckling in at goalkeeper rather than Zac Smith, who had taken the position in training.
But the move backfired as Suckling struggled to find his team-mates with kick-outs, and weak early shots from Ben McGlynn and Smith suggested that the Australians needed more practice time with the round ball.
A lovely piece of improvisation from Kennelly near the end-line led to an over from Donegal captain Michael Murphy, before Mark Nicoski got the hosts off the mark with a behind.
Distributing accurately and at pace, Ireland kicked well and used the hand pass to good effect. Walsh marked and his quick delivery sent Kennelly surging down the right wing for a curled effort which split the posts for three points.
Hanley added a behind and then a pinpoint pass from Callaghan put Murphy breaking clear into acres of space and he needed no second invitation, drilling a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Stephen Milne responded with Australia’s first over, but a sublime three-pointer from McDonnell just inches in from the right sideline ended the first quarter’s scoring.
Ireland maintained a high work-rate and continued to pick off their scores in the second quarter, a succession of which from Kevin McKernan, Tuohy, Kieran Donaghy and Bolton pushed the lead out to 29-4.
A behind from Richard Douglas drew ironic cheers from the crowd and just moments later, Suckling was caught off his line, failed to gather possession and Callaghan effortlessly clipped the loose ball into an empty net.
McDonnell followed up with two overs and he also provided the assist for a three-pointer from Tommy Walsh, but some loose play from the Irish allowed Australia gain some momentum before the interval.
Robin Nahas and Douglas kicked overs and a slick turn and shot from Mitch Robinson and then Cluxton, who had hardly put a foot wrong, was caught out for a soft Australian goal.
The Dublin goalkeeper was closed down on one of his sorties away from goal and his loose pass gave Green an opportunity he could not miss.
But the influential McDonnell made sure Ireland answered back on the cusp of half-time, kicking another over after a foul on the busy Hanley.
44-20 adrift, Australia needed a big third quarter but the push never came and Tohill’s men, who comfortably outplayed and out-tackled the home side, were never in trouble.
In fact, a number of the Australian scores were as a result of Ireland being caught in possession rather than Eade’s side being able to open up the defence.
The intensity dropped given the sizeable difference on the scoreboard. Murphy and Walsh added six more points to Ireland’s tally, Walsh’s over the product of some deft passing from Kennelly and McDonnell.
Australia stayed competitive with behinds from Robinson and Green (2), before the strongly-built Robinson rolled over Bolton as the pair competed for possession in the Irish defence.
There was no malice in the challenge but the Kildare ace had to be taken off. Tempers briefly flared in midfield as the Australians clashed with Kevin Reilly and Brendan Murphy.
When play resumed, Ireland were very much back in the ascendancy. Donaghy claimed a very good mark and an over, Glynn did likewise and McKernan’s intelligent running off the ball was rewarded with his second three-pointer.
A mistake from McKeever allowed Robbie Gray kick a final over which reduced the arrears to 59-26 by the hooter.
The deficit was down to 30 points when Milne broke forward and turned onto his right for a well-taken over. In previous years Australia’s professional status had seen them finish strongly in the fourth quarter, but Ireland were in no mood to bow to the hosts.
Murphy’s direct ball through the middle picked out an unmarked Glynn and the Wicklow star’s rising shot gave Suckling no chance.
The men in green kicked on with a Donaghy over and the Kerry target man then had a goal ruled out for an earlier infringement.
But that fourth and final goal came when the Australian defence was split open again and McDonnell beat the ‘keeper with a crisp shot from an acute angle.
McDonnell soon launched over a free to take his haul to 18 points and although Trent McKenzie and Angus Monfries got on the scoresheet late on, an accomplished final mark and over from Brendan Murphy was a satisfying finish for the dominant Irish.
Scorers - Australia 36 (1-8-6): Brad Green 11 (1-1-2), Stephen Milne 6 (0-2-0), Richard Douglas 4 (0-1-1), Mitch Robinson 4 (0-1-1), Robin Nahas 3 (0-1-0), Robbie Gray 3 (0-1-0), Angus Monfries 3 (0-1-0), Mark Nicoski 1 (0-0-1), Trent McKenzie 1 (0-0-1)
Ireland 80 (4-17-5): Steven McDonnell 18 (1-4-0), Michael Murphy 12 (1-2-0), Leighton Glynn 12 (1-2-0), Tommy Walsh 9 (0-3-0), Kieran Donaghy 7 (0-2-1), Kevin McKernan 7 (0-2-1), Eamonn Callaghan 6 (1-0-0), Tadhg Kennelly 3 (0-1-0), Brendan Murphy 3 (0-1-0), Pearse Hanley 1 (0-0-1), Zach Tuohy 1 (0-0-1), Emmet Bolton 1 (0-0-1)
AUSTRALIA: Matthew Suckling (Hawthorn), Richard Douglas (Adelaide Crows), James Frawley (Melbourne), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Brad Green (Melbourne), Shaun Grigg (Richmond), James Kelly (Geelong Cats), Jake King (Richmond), Ben McGlynn (Sydney Swans), Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast Suns), Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Angus Monfries (Essendon), Robin Nahas (Richmond), Mark Nicoski (West Coast), Mitch Robinson (Carlton), Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Zac Smith (Gold Coast Suns), Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne), Jack Trengove (Melbourne), Bernie Vince (Adelaide Crows), Callan Ward (GWS Giants), David Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs).
IRELAND: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Brendan Murphy (Carlow), Colm Begley (Laois), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Neil McGee (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Ciarán McKeever (Armagh), Kevin McKernan (Down), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Darren Hughes (Monaghan), Finian Hanley (Galway), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Aidan Walsh (Cork), Paddy Kelly (Cork), Eamonn Callaghan (Kildare), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Tommy Walsh (Kerry/St Kilda), Zach Touhy (Laois/Carlton), Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans), Pearce Hanley (Mayo/Brisbane Lions), Emmet Bolton (Kildare
)
Trapattoni names Long in squad to face Estonia
Giovanni Trapattoni has named Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and Robbie Keane in his squad for Ireland’s European Championship qualification play-offs against Estonia next month.
Newcastle United’s Leon Best must be bitterly disappointed as his hope for a recall have been dashed.
A key player in Newcastle’s unexpectedly flying to start to the season, the striker hasn't featured in an Irish squad since he was an unused substitute against Paraguay 17 months ago.
A few weeks ago, Trapattoni explained Best’s absence by suggesting that he needed to up his workrate.
Trapattoni’s main concern for now is the well-being of his strikers, with Kevin Doyle suspended for the first leg, Shane Long all but ruled out by his club West Brom, and Robbie Keane still on the road to recovery.
The Italian, who also selected Wigan midfielder James McCarthy and Stoke striker Jon Walters, said of the tie: “There is no room for complacency as we prepare for our two games next month.
He added on www.fai.ie: “We will remember that Estonia have as much right to be in the play-off as ourselves.
“They have had some very good results in their group beating Serbia and Slovenia. They also caused Italy a lot of problems.
“These games will be a huge challenge for us, and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.”
But while Roy Hodgson this week insisted that Long would definitely miss the play-offs with a knee injury, the FAI have not yet officially ruled him out.
Ireland (v Estonia): Given, Westwood, Forde, O'Shea, Kelly, Ward, Dunne, St. Ledger, O'Dea, McShane, Whelan, McCarthy, Coleman, Andrews, Fahey, Gibson, Keogh, Duff, McGeady, Hunt, Lawrence, Keane, Doyle, Long, Walters, Cox.
Newcastle United’s Leon Best must be bitterly disappointed as his hope for a recall have been dashed.
A key player in Newcastle’s unexpectedly flying to start to the season, the striker hasn't featured in an Irish squad since he was an unused substitute against Paraguay 17 months ago.
A few weeks ago, Trapattoni explained Best’s absence by suggesting that he needed to up his workrate.
Trapattoni’s main concern for now is the well-being of his strikers, with Kevin Doyle suspended for the first leg, Shane Long all but ruled out by his club West Brom, and Robbie Keane still on the road to recovery.
The Italian, who also selected Wigan midfielder James McCarthy and Stoke striker Jon Walters, said of the tie: “There is no room for complacency as we prepare for our two games next month.
He added on www.fai.ie: “We will remember that Estonia have as much right to be in the play-off as ourselves.
“They have had some very good results in their group beating Serbia and Slovenia. They also caused Italy a lot of problems.
“These games will be a huge challenge for us, and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.”
But while Roy Hodgson this week insisted that Long would definitely miss the play-offs with a knee injury, the FAI have not yet officially ruled him out.
Ireland (v Estonia): Given, Westwood, Forde, O'Shea, Kelly, Ward, Dunne, St. Ledger, O'Dea, McShane, Whelan, McCarthy, Coleman, Andrews, Fahey, Gibson, Keogh, Duff, McGeady, Hunt, Lawrence, Keane, Doyle, Long, Walters, Cox.
Man jailed for assault that left clamper profoundly disabled
A Clondalkin man who left a clamper with severe neurological damage after he struck his head with a lump hammer has been sentenced to 10 years with the final three suspended.
Gheorghe Pista was clamping Gerard Sweeney’s girlfriend’s car when Sweeney approached him shouting and swearing that he was not going to pay the fine.
He then went to the boot of the car, took out a lump hammer, came back to the front of the vehicle where Mr Pista and his colleague were, and struck him on the left side of his head knocking the man to the ground.
Mr Pista’s sustained a fractured skull and later had to have a metal plate inserted. He was in a coma for seven weeks and a medical report before the court stated that he is now profoundly disabled.
He can only verbalise a few words and needs assistance to walk. He requires 24 hour care which is provided by his sister and her partner.
Mr Pista’s elderly parents and 10-year-old daughter live in his native country of Romania and he has seen very little of them since the attack.
Mr Pista’s cousin, Dana, read a victim impact statement on behalf of the family, which had been prepared by Gheorghe’s sister.
She said that her cousin has gone from “being a strong man to being a fragile child”.
“He can’t eat alone, shower alone, dress alone, he can barely walk. Today he is not even able to hug his little girl,” Ms Pista said.
“Why did this happen to someone who is just doing their job?” she asked. “We hope that justice will be done today in this horrible case.”
She said that Mr Pista will always be dependant on someone else for 24-hour care.
“He is upset and cries a lot. He is embarrassed to do all the things he has to do with his sister. He is frustrated and angry and misses his daughter who lives in Romania. His parents are in their seventies and can’t come over to visit him,” Ms Pista said.
Sweeney (aged 25) with addresses at St Mark’s Avenue and High Grove, Mount Talbot, both in Clondalkin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Pista (aged 38) in Werburgh Street, Dublin 8 on October 14, 2009.
He has 30 previous convictions and Sergeant Paul Costelloe told the court that Sweeney is known to the local gardaí in Clondalkin.
Judge Martin Nolan said the facts of the case were “simple and tragic”.
“In a fit of temper he took out a lump hammer and struck the victim on the head,” he said.
He said the “profound injuries” the “unfortunate” Mr Pista suffered were inevitable. “The use of such a savage weapon, when you think of the fragility of the skull”.
“I have used such a tool in the past and today I weighed it in my hand, (when it was presented as an exhibit in the hearing) to reacquaint myself with it. It is an incredibly heavy hammer used in the building industry for crushing stones and splitting bricks. Apply that to any part of the body and it seems inevitable serious injuries would be expected,” Judge Nolan said.
He accepted that Sweeney had his difficulties in the past but added: “like a lot of people”.
“He has a bad temper, like a lot of people, but everyone has to control their temper and he failed miserably on the day in question,” the judge said.
Sgt Costelloe told Mr Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, that Mr Pista is a Romanian national, but is now an Irish citizen. He had been working as a clamper for a number of years.
On the night in question he was working with a colleague and noticed that five vehicles were parked illegally in a carpark on Werburgh Street.
Sgt Costelloe said Mr Pista has no recollection of the attack but his colleague told gardai that they were taking details and photos of the vehicles in question when Sweeney approached them.
After the attack, Sweeney ran away but his girlfriend remained at the scene. She later told gardai; “Ger is a hot head but I never saw him react like that”.
Sgt Costelloe said the lump hammer was recovered 100 meters away from the assault and presented the weapon to Judge Nolan in court.
He said Sweeney called him the following day and later came voluntarily to the garda station where he was arrested. His subsequent interviews were “not of evidential value”.
Sgt Costelloe agreed with Mr Remy Farrell SC, defending, that Sweeney struck one blow.
He agreed that when he first phoned him, Sweeney told the sergeant he wanted to come in and tell him everything, “to get it off my chest” but that he later got legal advice and replied “no comment” during questioning.
Sgt Costelloe further agreed that there was a civil case pending.
Mr Farrell said his client and his family want to offer their sincere apologies to Mr Pista and his family.
He said Sweeney had €19,000 in court as a token of his remorse but the court was later informed that the Pista family did not want to accept the money.
He said Sweeney has since held a number of fundraising boxing events and donated the resulting proceeds to the Central Remedial Clinic.
Mr Farrell told Judge Nolan that his client has since attended counselling for anger management.
Gheorghe Pista was clamping Gerard Sweeney’s girlfriend’s car when Sweeney approached him shouting and swearing that he was not going to pay the fine.
He then went to the boot of the car, took out a lump hammer, came back to the front of the vehicle where Mr Pista and his colleague were, and struck him on the left side of his head knocking the man to the ground.
Mr Pista’s sustained a fractured skull and later had to have a metal plate inserted. He was in a coma for seven weeks and a medical report before the court stated that he is now profoundly disabled.
He can only verbalise a few words and needs assistance to walk. He requires 24 hour care which is provided by his sister and her partner.
Mr Pista’s elderly parents and 10-year-old daughter live in his native country of Romania and he has seen very little of them since the attack.
Mr Pista’s cousin, Dana, read a victim impact statement on behalf of the family, which had been prepared by Gheorghe’s sister.
She said that her cousin has gone from “being a strong man to being a fragile child”.
“He can’t eat alone, shower alone, dress alone, he can barely walk. Today he is not even able to hug his little girl,” Ms Pista said.
“Why did this happen to someone who is just doing their job?” she asked. “We hope that justice will be done today in this horrible case.”
She said that Mr Pista will always be dependant on someone else for 24-hour care.
“He is upset and cries a lot. He is embarrassed to do all the things he has to do with his sister. He is frustrated and angry and misses his daughter who lives in Romania. His parents are in their seventies and can’t come over to visit him,” Ms Pista said.
Sweeney (aged 25) with addresses at St Mark’s Avenue and High Grove, Mount Talbot, both in Clondalkin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Pista (aged 38) in Werburgh Street, Dublin 8 on October 14, 2009.
He has 30 previous convictions and Sergeant Paul Costelloe told the court that Sweeney is known to the local gardaí in Clondalkin.
Judge Martin Nolan said the facts of the case were “simple and tragic”.
“In a fit of temper he took out a lump hammer and struck the victim on the head,” he said.
He said the “profound injuries” the “unfortunate” Mr Pista suffered were inevitable. “The use of such a savage weapon, when you think of the fragility of the skull”.
“I have used such a tool in the past and today I weighed it in my hand, (when it was presented as an exhibit in the hearing) to reacquaint myself with it. It is an incredibly heavy hammer used in the building industry for crushing stones and splitting bricks. Apply that to any part of the body and it seems inevitable serious injuries would be expected,” Judge Nolan said.
He accepted that Sweeney had his difficulties in the past but added: “like a lot of people”.
“He has a bad temper, like a lot of people, but everyone has to control their temper and he failed miserably on the day in question,” the judge said.
Sgt Costelloe told Mr Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, that Mr Pista is a Romanian national, but is now an Irish citizen. He had been working as a clamper for a number of years.
On the night in question he was working with a colleague and noticed that five vehicles were parked illegally in a carpark on Werburgh Street.
Sgt Costelloe said Mr Pista has no recollection of the attack but his colleague told gardai that they were taking details and photos of the vehicles in question when Sweeney approached them.
After the attack, Sweeney ran away but his girlfriend remained at the scene. She later told gardai; “Ger is a hot head but I never saw him react like that”.
Sgt Costelloe said the lump hammer was recovered 100 meters away from the assault and presented the weapon to Judge Nolan in court.
He said Sweeney called him the following day and later came voluntarily to the garda station where he was arrested. His subsequent interviews were “not of evidential value”.
Sgt Costelloe agreed with Mr Remy Farrell SC, defending, that Sweeney struck one blow.
He agreed that when he first phoned him, Sweeney told the sergeant he wanted to come in and tell him everything, “to get it off my chest” but that he later got legal advice and replied “no comment” during questioning.
Sgt Costelloe further agreed that there was a civil case pending.
Mr Farrell said his client and his family want to offer their sincere apologies to Mr Pista and his family.
He said Sweeney had €19,000 in court as a token of his remorse but the court was later informed that the Pista family did not want to accept the money.
He said Sweeney has since held a number of fundraising boxing events and donated the resulting proceeds to the Central Remedial Clinic.
Mr Farrell told Judge Nolan that his client has since attended counselling for anger management.
Wexford man convicted of explosives and firearms possession
A Wexford man, arrested after a garda investigation in to the activity of dissident republicans, has pleaded guilty to explosives and firearms charges.
Nicholas Kendall (aged 21) of Row Street, in Wexford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Barntown, Co Wexford on October 8, 2010.
He also pleaded guilty to the possession semi-automatic pistol at Dunleer, Co Louth on October 8, 2008.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Kendall in custody for sentencing on November 23 next
Nicholas Kendall (aged 21) of Row Street, in Wexford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Barntown, Co Wexford on October 8, 2010.
He also pleaded guilty to the possession semi-automatic pistol at Dunleer, Co Louth on October 8, 2008.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Kendall in custody for sentencing on November 23 next
Drug addict sentenced to eight years for post office robbery
A man has today been sentenced to eight years for a post office robbery during which a customer had a knife held to her neck while the raiders demanded cash.
Ian Quinn’s accomplice held the blade to the throat of a woman collecting her social welfare and threatened to ‘slit’ her if the postmaster didn’t hand over all the money.
Both men then fled but were caught nearby after a chase involving the garda helicopter.
Quinn (aged 30) was given a 10-year sentence in 2002 for his role in an attempted bank robbery in Abbeyleix during which Garda Sergeant Sean Eiffe was fatally shot by other gardaí. Quinn robbed the post office several months after his release.
Quinn took the stand and told the court he has spent most of his teens and 20s in prison and has become institutionalised. He said he was unable to cope outside prison and had become addicted to heroin, crack cocaine and crystal meth.
“I’ve never been given any help, I’ve never been given a chance,” he told Judge Patrica Ryan. “I need treatment.”
His mother, Ms Rosemary Quinn, told the court her son had to beg for drug treatment and had been released onto the street from prison with no treatment or training.
“He’s destroyed,” she told the judge. “I’m asking your lordship, as his mother, for a court order to help him get treatment.”
Judge Ryan said she had to impose a significant sentence because of Quinn’s serious previous convictions. She sentenced him to eight years with the final three suspended for three years.
Quinn of New Seskin, Tallaght pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Firhouse Post Office, Firhouse Shopping Centre on January 22, 2010. His accomplice was not before the court.
He has 32 previous convictions for offences such as car theft, larceny and drug possession and is currently serving a six-month term due to expire in October.
Garda Christopher O’Leary told prosecuting counsel, Mr James Dwyer BL, that Quinn and his co-accused, who was not before the court, entered the post office with their faces covered.
A woman who was collecting her social welfare cheque was grabbed from behind by Quinn’s accomplice who held a knife to her throat. He told the postmaster to “hand over the fucking money or I’ll slit her”.
He demanded the €50 notes first then the €20 notes. The postmaster handed over all the cash as he was ‘terrified’ they would cut her throat. The raiders took another €150, which someone had put on the counter to pay for a TV license, before the fled. They stole €2,810 in total.
Several witnesses followed the men as they fled the area and saw them escape in a blue Mercedes. The garda helicopter followed the car and saw it pull up outside a house where two males and a female get out.
The men entered the house and escaped out the back, climbing over a wall into a lane. The air unit spotted them discarding objects along the lane before gardaí on the ground caught up with them.
Gda O’Leary caught Quinn after he climbed another wall into a back garden. He was arrested and interviewed five times but denied having any part in the raid.
He said he had been in the laneway looking for his dog and was arrested while he was in his mother’s garden. He later entered an early guilty plea.
A victim impact report on behalf of the postmaster said he has been robbed 12 times over twenty years. It stated he was very nervous in the weeks after the raid.
The woman who was held hostage stated she does not leave the house anymore and is very nervous when she’s home alone.
Defence counsel, Mr Padraig Dwyer SC, said Quinn was addressing his drug problems and has been trying to get into a treatment programme.
Ian Quinn’s accomplice held the blade to the throat of a woman collecting her social welfare and threatened to ‘slit’ her if the postmaster didn’t hand over all the money.
Both men then fled but were caught nearby after a chase involving the garda helicopter.
Quinn (aged 30) was given a 10-year sentence in 2002 for his role in an attempted bank robbery in Abbeyleix during which Garda Sergeant Sean Eiffe was fatally shot by other gardaí. Quinn robbed the post office several months after his release.
Quinn took the stand and told the court he has spent most of his teens and 20s in prison and has become institutionalised. He said he was unable to cope outside prison and had become addicted to heroin, crack cocaine and crystal meth.
“I’ve never been given any help, I’ve never been given a chance,” he told Judge Patrica Ryan. “I need treatment.”
His mother, Ms Rosemary Quinn, told the court her son had to beg for drug treatment and had been released onto the street from prison with no treatment or training.
“He’s destroyed,” she told the judge. “I’m asking your lordship, as his mother, for a court order to help him get treatment.”
Judge Ryan said she had to impose a significant sentence because of Quinn’s serious previous convictions. She sentenced him to eight years with the final three suspended for three years.
Quinn of New Seskin, Tallaght pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Firhouse Post Office, Firhouse Shopping Centre on January 22, 2010. His accomplice was not before the court.
He has 32 previous convictions for offences such as car theft, larceny and drug possession and is currently serving a six-month term due to expire in October.
Garda Christopher O’Leary told prosecuting counsel, Mr James Dwyer BL, that Quinn and his co-accused, who was not before the court, entered the post office with their faces covered.
A woman who was collecting her social welfare cheque was grabbed from behind by Quinn’s accomplice who held a knife to her throat. He told the postmaster to “hand over the fucking money or I’ll slit her”.
He demanded the €50 notes first then the €20 notes. The postmaster handed over all the cash as he was ‘terrified’ they would cut her throat. The raiders took another €150, which someone had put on the counter to pay for a TV license, before the fled. They stole €2,810 in total.
Several witnesses followed the men as they fled the area and saw them escape in a blue Mercedes. The garda helicopter followed the car and saw it pull up outside a house where two males and a female get out.
The men entered the house and escaped out the back, climbing over a wall into a lane. The air unit spotted them discarding objects along the lane before gardaí on the ground caught up with them.
Gda O’Leary caught Quinn after he climbed another wall into a back garden. He was arrested and interviewed five times but denied having any part in the raid.
He said he had been in the laneway looking for his dog and was arrested while he was in his mother’s garden. He later entered an early guilty plea.
A victim impact report on behalf of the postmaster said he has been robbed 12 times over twenty years. It stated he was very nervous in the weeks after the raid.
The woman who was held hostage stated she does not leave the house anymore and is very nervous when she’s home alone.
Defence counsel, Mr Padraig Dwyer SC, said Quinn was addressing his drug problems and has been trying to get into a treatment programme.
Someone yelled 'floor it', witness tells court
A witness has today described to a jury how he saw his late friend dragged under a limousine and been pinned against the back wheel.
The trial heard from another witness, who was inside the car, that someone yelled “floor it” when the deceased and his friend approached the car and climbed up on it.
Dara O’Sullivan (aged 21) has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Liam Stafford (aged 28) at Clonard Lawns, Sandyford in the early hours of November 8, 2009.
He also pleaded not guilty to two charges of not having a valid license and one charge of no insurance.
The court heard Garda Ciaran Jones, who was killed this week assisting motorists during the flooding, was one of the first on the scene.
Mr Eanna Mulloy SC, defending, extended his sympathies to the other investigating gardaí in the case.
Mr Stafford was coming back from a night out with his friends, Andrew Nolan and James Clarke, when the incident happened.
Mr Nolan told prosecuting counsel, Mr Garnet Orange BL, that the deceased and Mr Clarke were skipping along ahead of him, arm in arm, when Mr Clarke broke away and climbed up on the parked limousine.
He said Mr Clarke then climbed on the roof and Mr Stafford followed him. He said Mr Stafford had his knee on the bonnet when the car “tore off”. He said he was holding onto the bonnet until “he couldn’t hold on any longer” and was dragged under.
The witness said his friend went all the way from the front of the car to the back where his head was “pinned against the wheel”. He said the car doors opened and four people got out.
When asked how fast the car accelerated, Mr Nolan replied: “Foot to the floor, straight up the road, like a rocket.”
Mr Nolan told Mr Mulloy that he had seen the car several times before, “speeding around” but that he did not know the people in it. He agreed that he failed to mention this to gardaí when making a statement.
Sean Murphy was in the car at the time of the incident. He told Mr Orange that when they saw someone approaching the car someone ordered that they lock the doors.
He said someone else in the car said “floor it” before Mr O’Sullivan accelerated forward. He said he only remembers one person being on the bonnet.
He said Mr O’Sullivan was in a panic afterwards and kept saying “Oh f**k, oh f**k”.
Mr Murphy told Mr Mulloy that he did not get out of the car before this because he didn’t know the car would be moving.
The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury of six men and six women
The trial heard from another witness, who was inside the car, that someone yelled “floor it” when the deceased and his friend approached the car and climbed up on it.
Dara O’Sullivan (aged 21) has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Liam Stafford (aged 28) at Clonard Lawns, Sandyford in the early hours of November 8, 2009.
He also pleaded not guilty to two charges of not having a valid license and one charge of no insurance.
The court heard Garda Ciaran Jones, who was killed this week assisting motorists during the flooding, was one of the first on the scene.
Mr Eanna Mulloy SC, defending, extended his sympathies to the other investigating gardaí in the case.
Mr Stafford was coming back from a night out with his friends, Andrew Nolan and James Clarke, when the incident happened.
Mr Nolan told prosecuting counsel, Mr Garnet Orange BL, that the deceased and Mr Clarke were skipping along ahead of him, arm in arm, when Mr Clarke broke away and climbed up on the parked limousine.
He said Mr Clarke then climbed on the roof and Mr Stafford followed him. He said Mr Stafford had his knee on the bonnet when the car “tore off”. He said he was holding onto the bonnet until “he couldn’t hold on any longer” and was dragged under.
The witness said his friend went all the way from the front of the car to the back where his head was “pinned against the wheel”. He said the car doors opened and four people got out.
When asked how fast the car accelerated, Mr Nolan replied: “Foot to the floor, straight up the road, like a rocket.”
Mr Nolan told Mr Mulloy that he had seen the car several times before, “speeding around” but that he did not know the people in it. He agreed that he failed to mention this to gardaí when making a statement.
Sean Murphy was in the car at the time of the incident. He told Mr Orange that when they saw someone approaching the car someone ordered that they lock the doors.
He said someone else in the car said “floor it” before Mr O’Sullivan accelerated forward. He said he only remembers one person being on the bonnet.
He said Mr O’Sullivan was in a panic afterwards and kept saying “Oh f**k, oh f**k”.
Mr Murphy told Mr Mulloy that he did not get out of the car before this because he didn’t know the car would be moving.
The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury of six men and six women
First national count result expected after 7pm
First count results in the Presidential election are expected to start coming in from around the country in the next hour or so.
A national first count result - which will show Michael D Higgins on course to be the ninth President of Ireland - is expected to be declared between 7pm and 8pm tonight.
The first count in the Dublin West by-election is also due with Labour's Patrick Nulty expected to win out, but only after a fight with Fianna Fáil and the Socialist Party.
Counting of the two referendums will not happen until tomorrow with some suggestions the plan to give the Oireachtas more powers of investigation could be in trouble.
As tallies continue to pour in from around the country the clearest picture has emerged in the capital, where Mr Higgins is on track to be victorious in every one of Dublin's 12 constituencies.
He has a margin of two to one in places like Dublin North, Dublin North East and North West, and it's 51% to Seán Gallagher's 18% in Dun Laoghaire.
Dublin South Central - home to Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell - he's only managed 1 in 8 votes there - Michael D Higgins getting about 40% there.
And the Labour candidate will be victorious in the Cork City constituencies, though the county will be a bit more of a battle.
Limerick City will see him get almost half of all votes, while on his home patch of Galway West he has secured two out of every three votes.
Mr Gallagher should win out in a few constituencies - his native Cavan being one, while other midlands ones could also see him ahead - though not enough to make up the difference.
Martin McGuinness is expected to be the poll topper in Donegal North East.
A full national first count declaration - once all 43 constituencies have reported - will be delivered here later this evening, sometime between 7pm and 8pm.
A national first count result - which will show Michael D Higgins on course to be the ninth President of Ireland - is expected to be declared between 7pm and 8pm tonight.
The first count in the Dublin West by-election is also due with Labour's Patrick Nulty expected to win out, but only after a fight with Fianna Fáil and the Socialist Party.
Counting of the two referendums will not happen until tomorrow with some suggestions the plan to give the Oireachtas more powers of investigation could be in trouble.
As tallies continue to pour in from around the country the clearest picture has emerged in the capital, where Mr Higgins is on track to be victorious in every one of Dublin's 12 constituencies.
He has a margin of two to one in places like Dublin North, Dublin North East and North West, and it's 51% to Seán Gallagher's 18% in Dun Laoghaire.
Dublin South Central - home to Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell - he's only managed 1 in 8 votes there - Michael D Higgins getting about 40% there.
And the Labour candidate will be victorious in the Cork City constituencies, though the county will be a bit more of a battle.
Limerick City will see him get almost half of all votes, while on his home patch of Galway West he has secured two out of every three votes.
Mr Gallagher should win out in a few constituencies - his native Cavan being one, while other midlands ones could also see him ahead - though not enough to make up the difference.
Martin McGuinness is expected to be the poll topper in Donegal North East.
A full national first count declaration - once all 43 constituencies have reported - will be delivered here later this evening, sometime between 7pm and 8pm.
Higgins 'quietly confident' of winning on first count
Michael D. Higgins is accepting that he may win the presidential election on the first count.
The result will come some time this evening and the Labour candidate is expected to have a comfortable lead over Independent Sean Gallagher.
Mr Higgins said he is "quietly confident" of finishing in first place.
Mr Higgins said: "It has been a long campaign, it has been a campaign that has brought me two or three times into literally every village and town in Ireland and it went on right up to the very end.
"It is very close between two candidates, but it looks now, with the reports coming in from across the constituencies, I could probably win on the first count."
The result will come some time this evening and the Labour candidate is expected to have a comfortable lead over Independent Sean Gallagher.
Mr Higgins said he is "quietly confident" of finishing in first place.
Mr Higgins said: "It has been a long campaign, it has been a campaign that has brought me two or three times into literally every village and town in Ireland and it went on right up to the very end.
"It is very close between two candidates, but it looks now, with the reports coming in from across the constituencies, I could probably win on the first count."
Man dies in car accident in Galway
A 52-year-old man has been killed in a single-vehicle crash in Co. Galway.
It happened on the N17 at Ballybrit at about 9.30am this morning.
The road has now re-opened following forensic investigations
.
It happened on the N17 at Ballybrit at about 9.30am this morning.
The road has now re-opened following forensic investigations
.
Higgins in poll position as Mitchell sees campaign crash
Labour's Michael D Higgins is on course to be the ninth President of Ireland according to tallies so far.
Mr Higgins is now expected to have a commanding lead over Seán Gallagher when a first count result is declared later this evening.
From the minute the boxes opened this morning it started to become clear that Mr Higgins was on course for victory.
In Dublin, he has outpolled Seán Gallagher by at least two to one, but in some parts of the capital it has even been three to one.
It is disastrous news for Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell, this is his base, and even in his Dublin South Central Constituency he is only attracting about one in eight votes.
It is a similar story in other urban areas, with a third of Cork City boxes tallied, Michael D Higgins is on around 44% of the vote, and in Limerick City Michael D Higgins may have secured half of all votes.
There are exceptions, in his native Cavan, Seán Gallagher has about half the votes, compared to just 20% for Michael D Higgins.
But in Seán Gallagher's now home county of Louth, it appears Michael D Higgins will outpoll him with about 35% of the vote.
Martin McGuinness looks set to top the poll in Donegal North East, which is beside his native Derry.
First count results from around the country are expected throughout the afternoon, with a full national first count declaration from here later this evening, around teatime.
And if it looks that a result can be secured at a reasonable hour tonight, counting will continue rather than being suspended to resume tomorro
Mr Higgins is now expected to have a commanding lead over Seán Gallagher when a first count result is declared later this evening.
From the minute the boxes opened this morning it started to become clear that Mr Higgins was on course for victory.
In Dublin, he has outpolled Seán Gallagher by at least two to one, but in some parts of the capital it has even been three to one.
It is disastrous news for Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell, this is his base, and even in his Dublin South Central Constituency he is only attracting about one in eight votes.
It is a similar story in other urban areas, with a third of Cork City boxes tallied, Michael D Higgins is on around 44% of the vote, and in Limerick City Michael D Higgins may have secured half of all votes.
There are exceptions, in his native Cavan, Seán Gallagher has about half the votes, compared to just 20% for Michael D Higgins.
But in Seán Gallagher's now home county of Louth, it appears Michael D Higgins will outpoll him with about 35% of the vote.
Martin McGuinness looks set to top the poll in Donegal North East, which is beside his native Derry.
First count results from around the country are expected throughout the afternoon, with a full national first count declaration from here later this evening, around teatime.
And if it looks that a result can be secured at a reasonable hour tonight, counting will continue rather than being suspended to resume tomorro
Nulty holds lead after first by-election count
The final tally of the first count in the Dublin West by-election shows that Labour's Patrick Nulty has 24.3% of the votes with Fianna Fáil's David McGuinness close by on 21.7%.
Socialist Ruth Coppinger is third on 21%, while Fine Gael's Eithne Loftus is lagging on 14.8%, Sinn Féin is on 9% and the Greens are on 5%.
McGuinness was only able to bag 623 first preference votes at the General Election when the late Brian Lenihan took the fourth and final seat here to become the only Fianna Fáil TD in Dublin
Socialist Ruth Coppinger is third on 21%, while Fine Gael's Eithne Loftus is lagging on 14.8%, Sinn Féin is on 9% and the Greens are on 5%.
McGuinness was only able to bag 623 first preference votes at the General Election when the late Brian Lenihan took the fourth and final seat here to become the only Fianna Fáil TD in Dublin
Gardaí arrest two after Leitrim drug seizure
Two men have been arrested in connection with a drug seizure in Co. Leitrim.
Cannabis plants worth €400,000 were found during a house raid in Kinlough this morning.
The pair are being held at Manorhamilton Garda Station, under Section two of the Criminal Justice Act.
Cannabis plants worth €400,000 were found during a house raid in Kinlough this morning.
The pair are being held at Manorhamilton Garda Station, under Section two of the Criminal Justice Act.
FG concede defeat to Labour in by-election
Fine Gael Minister Brian Hayes has conceded defeat for the party in the Dublin West by-election.
Labour's Patrick Nulty is leading, according to the final tally, in what is now a three-horse race with Fianna Fáil and the Socialist Party.
Minister Brian Hayes admits the party's hopes of taking a Dail seat are over.
Mr Hayes said: "I think ultimately the seat will go to the Labour Party, if you look at the process of elimination.
"But I do think Fianna Fáil have had a very good result with a very good, young candidat
e
Labour's Patrick Nulty is leading, according to the final tally, in what is now a three-horse race with Fianna Fáil and the Socialist Party.
Minister Brian Hayes admits the party's hopes of taking a Dail seat are over.
Mr Hayes said: "I think ultimately the seat will go to the Labour Party, if you look at the process of elimination.
"But I do think Fianna Fáil have had a very good result with a very good, young candidat
e
Woman jailed in NI for crucifix murder
A pharmacist who murdered her next-door neighbour using a crucifix on Christmas Day was jailed today for a minimum of 20 years.
Karen Walsh, 45, showed no emotion as Mr Justice Hart sentenced her at Belfast Crown Court for what he described as a sustained and brutal attack on an elderly, defenceless and frail woman.
Walsh, a mother of one and originally from Galway, had been drinking from a bottle of vodka at the time of the murder in the early hours of Christmas Day 2008 at her next-door neighbour Marie Rankin’s Newry, County Down, home.
Walsh, who had called round to visit her 81-year-old neighbour, lashed out at her with a crucifix which had been given to Mrs Rankin as a wedding present.
The judge said Walsh did not intend to kill Mrs Rankin but to cause her grievous bodily harm.
But she used the crucifix to attack Mrs Rankin, a devout Catholic, who was using a nebuliser when she was struck on the face.
The attack happened in Dublin Road.
Walsh, her blonde hair swept back into a ponytail and wearing a dark trouser suit, sat in the dock with her hands clasped as the judge set the minimum term of imprisonment.
Walsh left the court today still protesting her innocence but the judge said she had shown no remorse and posed a significant risk to the public.
Mrs Rankin also suffered eight broken ribs.
The judge said: “She inflicted a further degradation upon Mrs Rankin by removing her clothing and then sexually molesting her in order to make it look as if an intruder had broken in and attacked Mrs Rankin after the defendant had left.
“This additional degradation represents a very serious aggravating factor in an already grave case.”
Karen Walsh, 45, showed no emotion as Mr Justice Hart sentenced her at Belfast Crown Court for what he described as a sustained and brutal attack on an elderly, defenceless and frail woman.
Walsh, a mother of one and originally from Galway, had been drinking from a bottle of vodka at the time of the murder in the early hours of Christmas Day 2008 at her next-door neighbour Marie Rankin’s Newry, County Down, home.
Walsh, who had called round to visit her 81-year-old neighbour, lashed out at her with a crucifix which had been given to Mrs Rankin as a wedding present.
The judge said Walsh did not intend to kill Mrs Rankin but to cause her grievous bodily harm.
But she used the crucifix to attack Mrs Rankin, a devout Catholic, who was using a nebuliser when she was struck on the face.
The attack happened in Dublin Road.
Walsh, her blonde hair swept back into a ponytail and wearing a dark trouser suit, sat in the dock with her hands clasped as the judge set the minimum term of imprisonment.
Walsh left the court today still protesting her innocence but the judge said she had shown no remorse and posed a significant risk to the public.
Mrs Rankin also suffered eight broken ribs.
The judge said: “She inflicted a further degradation upon Mrs Rankin by removing her clothing and then sexually molesting her in order to make it look as if an intruder had broken in and attacked Mrs Rankin after the defendant had left.
“This additional degradation represents a very serious aggravating factor in an already grave case.”
Higgins leads as Norris congratulates Labour candidate
Veteran Labour Party politician Michael D Higgins is on course to be named Ireland’s ninth president, early reports suggest.
Tallies from the first couple of hours of the count indicate that the 70-year-old secured a huge bounce in support nationwide in the final days of the campaign.
Mr Higgins, who had been trailing in second place in the opinion polls, looks to have made massive gains in the wake of huge controversy over his closest rival, independent Sean Gallagher.
Senator David Norris, another independent, was the first of the seven candidates to offer congratulations to the Labour man.
“I’m quite the certain the next president will be Michael D Higgins and I’d like to send my love and congratulations to Michael D, to Sabina and the rest of the family,” he said.
“It must be a very, very happy day for them and I also think it’s a good day for Ireland because, although he is a Labour Party member, Michael D, like myself, is a little bit of a maverick and when you have such a concentration of power in the hands of the coalition I think it’s good to have somebody who will be in a position morally and intellectually to speak out on behalf of the marginalised.
“I know that Michael D will do that.
“So I’ll be very happy to be an Irish man under the presidency of Michael D Higgins.”
Early tally reports from count centres around the country put Mr Higgins up around the 40% mark with Mr Gallagher closer to 30%.
Despite the concession from the Senator, Ruairi Quinn, former Labour leader and current Education Minister, said it was too early to call the result for his candidate.
“I don’t want to count any chickens,” Mr Quinn said.
The first official results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected at about 7pm.
However, voting patterns will be known much earlier and the final outcome is expected to be known late tonight, possibly by midnight.
The presidential field had been headed at the start of the week by Mr Gallagher, but he was dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
It had been expected that Mr Higgins would benefit most from questions over Mr Gallagher’s background in the Fianna Fáil party.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that the grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates’ debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher’s past to the fore and Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar.
The also-rans look likely to be Mary Davis, who headed Special Olympics Ireland, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February general election but above the 47% seen at the last presidential election
.
Tallies from the first couple of hours of the count indicate that the 70-year-old secured a huge bounce in support nationwide in the final days of the campaign.
Mr Higgins, who had been trailing in second place in the opinion polls, looks to have made massive gains in the wake of huge controversy over his closest rival, independent Sean Gallagher.
Senator David Norris, another independent, was the first of the seven candidates to offer congratulations to the Labour man.
“I’m quite the certain the next president will be Michael D Higgins and I’d like to send my love and congratulations to Michael D, to Sabina and the rest of the family,” he said.
“It must be a very, very happy day for them and I also think it’s a good day for Ireland because, although he is a Labour Party member, Michael D, like myself, is a little bit of a maverick and when you have such a concentration of power in the hands of the coalition I think it’s good to have somebody who will be in a position morally and intellectually to speak out on behalf of the marginalised.
“I know that Michael D will do that.
“So I’ll be very happy to be an Irish man under the presidency of Michael D Higgins.”
Early tally reports from count centres around the country put Mr Higgins up around the 40% mark with Mr Gallagher closer to 30%.
Despite the concession from the Senator, Ruairi Quinn, former Labour leader and current Education Minister, said it was too early to call the result for his candidate.
“I don’t want to count any chickens,” Mr Quinn said.
The first official results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected at about 7pm.
However, voting patterns will be known much earlier and the final outcome is expected to be known late tonight, possibly by midnight.
The presidential field had been headed at the start of the week by Mr Gallagher, but he was dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
It had been expected that Mr Higgins would benefit most from questions over Mr Gallagher’s background in the Fianna Fáil party.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that the grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates’ debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher’s past to the fore and Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar.
The also-rans look likely to be Mary Davis, who headed Special Olympics Ireland, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February general election but above the 47% seen at the last presidential election
.
CSO reports 8.5% rise in burglaries
There was an increase in the number of burglaries recorded between July and September.
New CSO figures show there were over 6,500 such incidents reported in the third quarter of this year, up 8.5% on the previous quarter.
However, crimes reported in other areas were down, including homicides and sexual offences.
New CSO figures show there were over 6,500 such incidents reported in the third quarter of this year, up 8.5% on the previous quarter.
However, crimes reported in other areas were down, including homicides and sexual offences.
Reports of voter confusion in referendums
There have been reports of voter confusion in some polling stations over the two referendums – one on judges’ pay and another on more powers for Oireachtas inquiries.
Some staff in polling stations have said some people simply handed back ballot papers for the referendum, while there has also been suggestions voting numbers will be higher on the judges’ pay issue.
Counting in the election for Ireland’s ninth president has begun with the first official results expected after 7pm.
Voter turnout nationwide was reported to be about 50% despite a record seven candidates standing for the role.
The first results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected through after 7pm.
While a formal declaration by the Presidential Returning Officer may not come through until Saturday, the voting pattern should be clear much earlier and the final outcome expected to be known late tonight, possibly by midnight.
The presidential field had been headed at the start of the week by opinion poll-topper Sean Gallagher, dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
Labour’s Michael D Higgins was running second with commentators suggesting he will benefit from questions over Mr Gallagher’s political background.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates’ debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher’s past to the fore.
The also-rans look likely to be Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar, Mary Davis, who headed the Irish division of Special Olympics, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February general election but above the 47% seen at the last presidential election.
About 3.1 million people were eligible to vote in the single transferable vote system, where the successful candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one.
The two referendums to make alterations to the Irish constitution include a proposal to beef up the powers of parliamentary committees in holding inquiries into matters of public interest, while the other would allow the Government to reduce the pay of judges.
Also, in west Dublin, voting took place to fill the seat of late former finance minister Brian Lenihan.
Ireland’s ninth president follows the respected two terms, totalling 14 years, of Mary McAleese. She leaves office on November 10 after a remarkable tenure marked by her “Building Bridges” theme and work on the peace process in the North.
The president’s residence, Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, was also opened to more guests and visitors than ever before.
Results in the presidential election will be relayed to a central database in Dublin Castle
Some staff in polling stations have said some people simply handed back ballot papers for the referendum, while there has also been suggestions voting numbers will be higher on the judges’ pay issue.
Counting in the election for Ireland’s ninth president has begun with the first official results expected after 7pm.
Voter turnout nationwide was reported to be about 50% despite a record seven candidates standing for the role.
The first results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected through after 7pm.
While a formal declaration by the Presidential Returning Officer may not come through until Saturday, the voting pattern should be clear much earlier and the final outcome expected to be known late tonight, possibly by midnight.
The presidential field had been headed at the start of the week by opinion poll-topper Sean Gallagher, dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
Labour’s Michael D Higgins was running second with commentators suggesting he will benefit from questions over Mr Gallagher’s political background.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates’ debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher’s past to the fore.
The also-rans look likely to be Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar, Mary Davis, who headed the Irish division of Special Olympics, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February general election but above the 47% seen at the last presidential election.
About 3.1 million people were eligible to vote in the single transferable vote system, where the successful candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one.
The two referendums to make alterations to the Irish constitution include a proposal to beef up the powers of parliamentary committees in holding inquiries into matters of public interest, while the other would allow the Government to reduce the pay of judges.
Also, in west Dublin, voting took place to fill the seat of late former finance minister Brian Lenihan.
Ireland’s ninth president follows the respected two terms, totalling 14 years, of Mary McAleese. She leaves office on November 10 after a remarkable tenure marked by her “Building Bridges” theme and work on the peace process in the North.
The president’s residence, Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, was also opened to more guests and visitors than ever before.
Results in the presidential election will be relayed to a central database in Dublin Castle
Counting underway in presidential election
Counting in the election for Ireland’s ninth president is underway.
Voter turnout nationwide was reported to be about 50% despite a record seven candidates standing for the role.
The first results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected early in the evening or, depending on the official turnout, later tonight.
First the ballots will be sorted so the referendums can be set aside for counting tomorrow, before actual counting of the Presidential votes gets underway.
Once each constituency has a first count result, not expected before this evening, it will be fed into the national count centre at Dublin Castle.
Once all 43 are in, the national returning officer will announce the ranking of the seven candidates and eliminate the lowest so the second count can begin.
While a formal declaration by the Presidential Returning Officer may not come through until Saturday, the voting pattern should be clear much earlier and the final outcome expected to be known late tonight.
The field was headed at the start of the week by opinion poll-topper Sean Gallagher, dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
Labour’s Michael D Higgins was running second with commentators suggesting he will benefit from questions over Mr Gallagher’s political background.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates’ debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher’s past to the fore.
The also-rans look likely to be Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar, Mary Davis, who headed Special Olympics Ireland, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February General Election.
About 3.1 million people were eligible to vote in the single transferable vote system, where the successful candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one.
The electorate was also being asked to vote on two referendums to make alterations to the Irish constitution.
One was on a proposal to beef up the powers of parliamentary committees in holding inquiries into matters of public interest, while the other would allow the Government to reduce the pay of judges.
Also, in west Dublin, voting took place to fill the seat of late former finance minister Brian Lenihan.
Ireland’s ninth president follows the respected two terms, totalling 14 years, of Mary McAleese. She leaves office on November 10 after a remarkable tenure marked by her “Building Bridges” theme and work on the peace process in the North.
The president’s residence, Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, was also opened to more guests and visitors than ever before.
Voter turnout nationwide was reported to be about 50% despite a record seven candidates standing for the role.
The first results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected early in the evening or, depending on the official turnout, later tonight.
First the ballots will be sorted so the referendums can be set aside for counting tomorrow, before actual counting of the Presidential votes gets underway.
Once each constituency has a first count result, not expected before this evening, it will be fed into the national count centre at Dublin Castle.
Once all 43 are in, the national returning officer will announce the ranking of the seven candidates and eliminate the lowest so the second count can begin.
While a formal declaration by the Presidential Returning Officer may not come through until Saturday, the voting pattern should be clear much earlier and the final outcome expected to be known late tonight.
The field was headed at the start of the week by opinion poll-topper Sean Gallagher, dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
Labour’s Michael D Higgins was running second with commentators suggesting he will benefit from questions over Mr Gallagher’s political background.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates’ debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher’s past to the fore.
The also-rans look likely to be Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar, Mary Davis, who headed Special Olympics Ireland, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February General Election.
About 3.1 million people were eligible to vote in the single transferable vote system, where the successful candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one.
The electorate was also being asked to vote on two referendums to make alterations to the Irish constitution.
One was on a proposal to beef up the powers of parliamentary committees in holding inquiries into matters of public interest, while the other would allow the Government to reduce the pay of judges.
Also, in west Dublin, voting took place to fill the seat of late former finance minister Brian Lenihan.
Ireland’s ninth president follows the respected two terms, totalling 14 years, of Mary McAleese. She leaves office on November 10 after a remarkable tenure marked by her “Building Bridges” theme and work on the peace process in the North.
The president’s residence, Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, was also opened to more guests and visitors than ever before.
Dublin Airport expecting 2% increase in Bank Holiday passengers
The Dublin Airport Authority is advising passengers to check which terminal their flight is departing from before leaving home and to give themselves plenty of time to get to the airport.
Almost 250,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin Airport this Bank Holiday Weekend, a 2% increase over the same bank holiday weekend last year.
More than 1,100 flights will arrive and depart over the next few days, including 35 charter flights.
Almost 250,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin Airport this Bank Holiday Weekend, a 2% increase over the same bank holiday weekend last year.
More than 1,100 flights will arrive and depart over the next few days, including 35 charter flights.
Labour candidate favourite to take by-election seat
Fianna Fáil will be desperately hoping to retain a foothold in the capital as the Dublin West by-election count gets underway later this morning.
The vote is to fill the seat left by the death of former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, who was the party's only Dublin TD.
Labour's Patrick Nulty is the favourite, having come fifth in this four-seat constituency at the General Election.
He will be hoping to put that right and to take a second seat for his party alongside Dublin West poll topper, Minister Joan Burton.
Competition in this rather left-leaning constituency comes from Socialist Party candidate Ruth Coppinger who has campaigned vocally against the Government's austerity programme.
Fine Gael believes it may pull off a surprise victory with candidate Eithne Loftus while Fianna Fáil's David McGuinness is very much an outsider, but one who has been keen to stress his links with the Lenihan dynast
y
The vote is to fill the seat left by the death of former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, who was the party's only Dublin TD.
Labour's Patrick Nulty is the favourite, having come fifth in this four-seat constituency at the General Election.
He will be hoping to put that right and to take a second seat for his party alongside Dublin West poll topper, Minister Joan Burton.
Competition in this rather left-leaning constituency comes from Socialist Party candidate Ruth Coppinger who has campaigned vocally against the Government's austerity programme.
Fine Gael believes it may pull off a surprise victory with candidate Eithne Loftus while Fianna Fáil's David McGuinness is very much an outsider, but one who has been keen to stress his links with the Lenihan dynast
y
Gardaí question man and woman after Limerick stabbing
A man and a woman are still being questioned by Gardaí in Limerick following a stabbing in the city yesterday afternoon which left a man seriously injured.
The pair, both in their mid-20s, were arrested shortly after the attack which happened off Parnell Street shortly before 4pm.
The victim, who is also in his 20's, remains in a critical condition at the Midwestern Regional Hospital this morning.
The woman arrested is being held at Henry St. Garda Station and the man is being questioned at Roxboro Road Garda Station.
They are being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act
The pair, both in their mid-20s, were arrested shortly after the attack which happened off Parnell Street shortly before 4pm.
The victim, who is also in his 20's, remains in a critical condition at the Midwestern Regional Hospital this morning.
The woman arrested is being held at Henry St. Garda Station and the man is being questioned at Roxboro Road Garda Station.
They are being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act
Garda flood victim to be buried today
The funeral mass of Garda Ciarán Jones will take place later today.
The 25-year-old died while trying to help people who were stuck in severe flooding in County Wicklow on Monday night.
He was off-duty at the time and was swept away by floodwaters at Ballysmuttan bridge.
Meanwhile, a mass was held at Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross in Dublin last night for Celia Ferrer de Jesus.
The 58-year-old, who had worked at the hospice for 10 years, was found dead on Tuesday morning after her home in Dublin was flooded.
The 25-year-old died while trying to help people who were stuck in severe flooding in County Wicklow on Monday night.
He was off-duty at the time and was swept away by floodwaters at Ballysmuttan bridge.
Meanwhile, a mass was held at Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross in Dublin last night for Celia Ferrer de Jesus.
The 58-year-old, who had worked at the hospice for 10 years, was found dead on Tuesday morning after her home in Dublin was flooded.
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Presidential election count begins
Counting in the election for Ireland's ninth president is set to begin.
Voter turnout nationwide was reported to be about 50% despite a record seven candidates standing for the role.
The first results from the first counts in the 43 constituencies are expected early in the evening or later, depending on the official turnout.
While a formal declaration by the Presidential Returning Officer may not come through until Saturday, the voting pattern should be clear much earlier and the final outcome expected to be known late on Friday.
The field was headed at the start of the week by opinion poll- topper Sean Gallagher, dogged in the final campaign days by controversy over his political fundraising past and financial transactions in his businesses.
Labour's Michael D Higgins was running second with commentators suggesting he will benefit from questions over Mr Gallagher's political background.
Gay Mitchell, candidate for the Government party Fine Gael, is not likely to poll strongly amid allegations that grassroots were not behind him.
Others in the race are Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, whose intervention in the last candidates' debate brought the questions over Mr Gallagher's past to the fore.
The also-rans look likely to be Senator David Norris, a former Trinity professor and Joycean scholar, Mary Davis, who headed the Irish division of Special Olympics, and Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision winner and Eurosceptic MEP.
The turnout was well below the high 70% seen at the February general election. About 3.1 million people were eligible to vote in the single transferable vote system, where the successful candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one
Candidates 'no match for the Marys'
Wielding a meat cleaver in an inner city butcher's, an exasperated John Dunne looked forlornly at tattered and defaced election posters cluttering the streets.
"They're not going to be able to keep the doors of our business open," the life-long butcher warned as he pointed outside.
A permanent fixture in Dublin's Liberties for several generations, an unimpressed Mr Dunne and brother Simon cut through the record seven presidential candidates.
"I've no intention of voting. I don't think any one of them deserves my vote. They live the high life and travel the world having their photos taken and shaking people's hands. How essential is that?" Simon warned.
Neither man, in their 30s and 40s, will vote, despite it being the first presidential election in 14 years.
The last two decades are a hard act to follow - trained lawyers Mary Robinson from 1990-97 and then Mary McAleese revolutionising and modernising the role.
Simon Dunne said none of the candidates in the running were as good as their predecessors - particularly the two women running, who could not live up to the legacies left by "The Marys".
As he weighed a half pound of grapes, Liberties greengrocer Jack Roache said this was the first time in his 67 years that he found himself stumped.
"Let's just say for a presidential race, this has been very unpresidential," he said. "But I know who I'm voting for. And I'll use all my votes too. If there were 100 running, I'd do the same."
The strong-willed protesters outside the Central Bank from Occupy Dame Street - a sit-in which followed the Occupy Wall Street ideals - were even less complimentary. The demonstrators refused to give their names with one dismissing the presidency as "nothing but a symbolic, money-wasting" role.
Voters Low
Reports from polling stations around the country suggested a generally poor turnout before Thursday lunchtime.
Despite the fine autumnal weather, presiding officers warned that the number casting ballots appear down on the general election in February.
Southern counties were reportedly well below the last poll, with mixed returns in the border region. As expected, commuter counties have reported low figures while rural areas in the Midlands have experienced strong turnout.
Dublin city and county are also both well down on the general election, which saw a real appetite for voting with 70% of the electorate casting ballots - the highest since 1987.
Many Drivers cannot change a tyre
Almost a third of drivers in Northern Ireland are unable to perform basic car maintenance tasks such as changing a tyre or checking oil levels, a new report has revealed.
A survey, conducted by insurance retailer Open + Direct, found that women motorists scored particularly poorly when asked simple questions from the DVLA's practical driving test.
While 27% of all respondents admitted they could not complete any of the tasks, the figure for women was 44% compared to just 8% for men.
Only half of the females surveyed said they knew how to check oil levels. More than 60% had little or no awareness of how to change a tyre.
The survey claimed 77% were clueless on the procedures involved for recharging car batteries.
However nearly a quarter (23%) of women claimed to know how to check tyre pressure levels.
The poll surveyed 1,006 adults aged between 16 and 65.
Colin McEvoy, director of operations at NI Open + Direct, said: "These results are real cause for concern.
"It is important to have basic car maintenance knowledge to not only pass your test but also to ensure your car is safe to drive and is in a road worthy condition.
"Our survey shows that women's car maintenance knowledge is a great deal more limited than men's. We'd urge drivers to put the necessary measures in place to ensure this worrying factor becomes a thing of the past."
Black probe continues after verdict
Serial killer Robert Black's fourth murder conviction will prompt further investigations into other unsolved child disappearances, police have said.
The pledge to continue to re-examine cold cases linked to the notorious Scottish paedophile came after he was found guilty at Armagh Crown Court of kidnapping and murdering Jennifer Cardy in Northern Ireland 30 years ago.
"I certainly think the story of Robert Black doesn't end here today, there are lines of inquiry which we still have and we are still looking at," Detective Superintendent Raymond Murray said after the jury delivered its unanimous verdicts.
While Black, 64, has now been convicted of four child murders, he is suspected of involvement in many other crimes, notably the 1978 abduction of Devon schoolgirl Genette Tate.
Jurors took four hours and 15 minutes over two days to find Black, a former delivery driver, guilty of kidnapping and murdering Jennifer on August 12 1981.
Outside the court, Jennifer's father Andy said the family's strong Christian faith had sustained them through the horrors of the trial.
He said: "Robert Black stole the life of our daughter, Jennifer, but Robert Black didn't steal the lives of me and my family - we've lived a happy, prosperous life, but we miss Jennifer each and every day."
Mr Cardy said the family had prayed for Black in the wake of the verdict, but he said he believed his daughter's killer should pay the ultimate price for his crimes: "I would have to say that I would still say that somebody who commits murders like this, I believe their lives should be taken, I believe they should be put to death, that's my belief."
The schoolgirl was snatched as she cycled to a friend's house in the quiet Co Antrim village of Ballinderry. Her body was found six days later in a dam behind a roadside lay-by 15 miles away at Hillsborough, Co Down.
In 1994, Black was convicted of three unsolved child murders in the 1980s - those of 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, from the Scottish Borders, five-year-old Caroline Hogg, from Edinburgh, and Sarah Harper, 10, from Morley, near Leeds - and a failed abduction bid in Nottingham in 1988.
Noonan: Greece will be in recession for 10 years, Ireland for two
Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore has defended the Government's position that Ireland will not be seeking to default on any of its eurozone debts.
Mr Gilmore said Ireland does not want to be in an austerity programme for the next 10 years and that the country will hopefully return to the markets within the next two years.
He said that objective would be be difficult to achieve if Ireland did not repay its debts.
Mr Gilmore said: "We don't want to be in a situation that we are in recession for the next 10 or 15 years.
"If we go down the Greek route, that is the consequence of that. What we want to do is get out of recession, get economic growth back into our country, get back into the markets, pay our way and recover our economic sovereignty."
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has also rejected Mr Adams' suggestions.
He said Greece will remain in a bailout programme for the next 10 years, while Ireland could be out in two, with the economy growing again.
Mr Noonan said: "Could you imagine the situation in Ireland if we went to the electorate and said you have another 16 years of this and you have declining growth rates and severe austerity measures.
"To say that Greece has done very well, that is like saying if the man down the road has gone bust and you say 'that's great I'll go bust as well, so that I won't have to pay my bills', that's a wrong take."
Mr Gilmore said Ireland does not want to be in an austerity programme for the next 10 years and that the country will hopefully return to the markets within the next two years.
He said that objective would be be difficult to achieve if Ireland did not repay its debts.
Mr Gilmore said: "We don't want to be in a situation that we are in recession for the next 10 or 15 years.
"If we go down the Greek route, that is the consequence of that. What we want to do is get out of recession, get economic growth back into our country, get back into the markets, pay our way and recover our economic sovereignty."
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has also rejected Mr Adams' suggestions.
He said Greece will remain in a bailout programme for the next 10 years, while Ireland could be out in two, with the economy growing again.
Mr Noonan said: "Could you imagine the situation in Ireland if we went to the electorate and said you have another 16 years of this and you have declining growth rates and severe austerity measures.
"To say that Greece has done very well, that is like saying if the man down the road has gone bust and you say 'that's great I'll go bust as well, so that I won't have to pay my bills', that's a wrong take."
Dept: ESB chief's pay does not exceed 'updated' salary cap
The Department of Finance has rejected Fianna Fáil's claim that the salary of the new ESB chief executive breaches the Government's pay cap.
Pat O'Doherty is to be paid €318,000, which is higher than the €250,000 semi-State cap introduced by the former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
However, the Department of Finance has said the Minister for Public Sector Reform, Brendan Howlin, had introduced "updated" pay caps earlier this year and the salary of the ESB chief is in line with those.
Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley said the Government should look again at the salary of the new ESB boss.
Mr Dooley said: "I think that this is going to have to be revisited.
"I think Brendan Howlin is going to have to come out as minister for responsibility in this regard, and give a very detailed explanation as to why he believes this individual is worth more than the salary cap being set for everybody else."
But Minister Pat Rabbitte has said the Government introduced updated pay caps earlier this year and the salary of the ESB chief is in line with those.
Mr Rabbitte said: "The ceiling for the new chief executive of the ESB is €318,000. I have no knowledge yet of whether the board has sanctioned the terms and salary conditions, but the cap was €318,000.
"The ESB was at the top of the pinnacle so I have no knowledge of anybody being paid €70,000 or anything on top of what has been agreed by Government.
"
Pat O'Doherty is to be paid €318,000, which is higher than the €250,000 semi-State cap introduced by the former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
However, the Department of Finance has said the Minister for Public Sector Reform, Brendan Howlin, had introduced "updated" pay caps earlier this year and the salary of the ESB chief is in line with those.
Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley said the Government should look again at the salary of the new ESB boss.
Mr Dooley said: "I think that this is going to have to be revisited.
"I think Brendan Howlin is going to have to come out as minister for responsibility in this regard, and give a very detailed explanation as to why he believes this individual is worth more than the salary cap being set for everybody else."
But Minister Pat Rabbitte has said the Government introduced updated pay caps earlier this year and the salary of the ESB chief is in line with those.
Mr Rabbitte said: "The ceiling for the new chief executive of the ESB is €318,000. I have no knowledge yet of whether the board has sanctioned the terms and salary conditions, but the cap was €318,000.
"The ESB was at the top of the pinnacle so I have no knowledge of anybody being paid €70,000 or anything on top of what has been agreed by Government.
"
Corrib pipeline challenge settled
A number of legal challenges aimed at quashing consents for the construction of sections of Corrib gas onshore pipeline have been settled.
Two local residents, Peter Sweetman and Monica Muller, Rossport South, Ballina, Co Mayo who own land 500m south of the proposed pipeline and An Taisce, the heritage protection agency, had separately challenged An Bord Pleanala's decision last January granting permission to Shell E&P Ireland for its third proposed route for the pipeline.
They claim the proposed pipeline traverses several areas of special interest in Co Mayo governed by the EU habitats directives.
The same parties also challenged consents for the construction of sections of the pipeline issued by former Minister for energy Pat Carey and Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.
An Taisce also brought proceedings against the granting of a foreshore licence by Minister Hogan earlier this year.
Today at the High Court, on what was the 11th day of the action, Mr Justice Peter Charleton was informed that all the actions were withdrawn.
In a statement to the court, the State acknowledged its failure to properly transpose into Irish law certain aspects of European directive concerning Environmental Impact Assessments. However it stated that all of the consents challenged in the actions were valid.
Shell EP Ireland who were notice party to proceedings said "it was always their intention to comply in full with all the conditions applicable to the permissions and consents granted to it" as part of its construction works.
Afterwards in a statement, An Tasice said the settlement was a victory for all those who "fought so long and so hard for vindication" in relation to the manner in which the pipeline development has proceeded
.
Two local residents, Peter Sweetman and Monica Muller, Rossport South, Ballina, Co Mayo who own land 500m south of the proposed pipeline and An Taisce, the heritage protection agency, had separately challenged An Bord Pleanala's decision last January granting permission to Shell E&P Ireland for its third proposed route for the pipeline.
They claim the proposed pipeline traverses several areas of special interest in Co Mayo governed by the EU habitats directives.
The same parties also challenged consents for the construction of sections of the pipeline issued by former Minister for energy Pat Carey and Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.
An Taisce also brought proceedings against the granting of a foreshore licence by Minister Hogan earlier this year.
Today at the High Court, on what was the 11th day of the action, Mr Justice Peter Charleton was informed that all the actions were withdrawn.
In a statement to the court, the State acknowledged its failure to properly transpose into Irish law certain aspects of European directive concerning Environmental Impact Assessments. However it stated that all of the consents challenged in the actions were valid.
Shell EP Ireland who were notice party to proceedings said "it was always their intention to comply in full with all the conditions applicable to the permissions and consents granted to it" as part of its construction works.
Afterwards in a statement, An Tasice said the settlement was a victory for all those who "fought so long and so hard for vindication" in relation to the manner in which the pipeline development has proceeded
.
Gilmore: Pay caps must apply
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has expressed dissatisfaction that the salary of the new ESB chief executive has breached the semi-state pay cap.
The new ESB head Pat O'Doherty is to be paid €318,000, some €68,000 in excess of the pay cap
set by the previous finance minister Brian Lenihan in December.
Fianna Fáil's deputy leader Eamon Ó Cúiv has demanded an explanation, describing it as the latest in a long list of abandoned promises from the Government.
ButMr Gilmore said his ministerial colleague Brendan Howlin intends to deal with the matter.
"The Government has made it very clear that pay caps are going to have to apply," the Tánaiste said. "And I expect that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be dealing with that issue."
"We intend to stick with the decisions that we have made."
The new ESB head Pat O'Doherty is to be paid €318,000, some €68,000 in excess of the pay cap
set by the previous finance minister Brian Lenihan in December.
Fianna Fáil's deputy leader Eamon Ó Cúiv has demanded an explanation, describing it as the latest in a long list of abandoned promises from the Government.
ButMr Gilmore said his ministerial colleague Brendan Howlin intends to deal with the matter.
"The Government has made it very clear that pay caps are going to have to apply," the Tánaiste said. "And I expect that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be dealing with that issue."
"We intend to stick with the decisions that we have made."
Armagh court finds serial killer Black guilty of fourth murder
Serial killer Robert Black has been convicted of his fourth child murder.
The notorious Scottish paedophile was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy in the North 30 years ago.
The jury returned its verdict at Armagh Crown Court on the second day of deliberation at the end of a high-profile five week trial.
The schoolgirl was snatched as she cycled to a friend’s house in the quiet Co Antrim village of Ballinderry on August 12 1981.
Her body was found six days later in a dam behind a roadside layby 15 miles away at Hillsborough, Co Down.
In 1994, Black was convicted of three unsolved child murders in the 1980s - 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, from the Scottish Borders, five-year-old Caroline Hogg, from Edinburgh, and Sarah Harper, 10, from Morley, near Leeds – and a failed abduction bid in Nottingham in 1988.
Black’s killing was finally ended in 1990 when he was caught red-handed by police with a barely alive six-year-old girl hooded, bound, gagged and stuffed in a sleeping bag in the back of his van in the Scottish village of Stow. He had sexually assaulted her moments earlier
.
The notorious Scottish paedophile was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy in the North 30 years ago.
The jury returned its verdict at Armagh Crown Court on the second day of deliberation at the end of a high-profile five week trial.
The schoolgirl was snatched as she cycled to a friend’s house in the quiet Co Antrim village of Ballinderry on August 12 1981.
Her body was found six days later in a dam behind a roadside layby 15 miles away at Hillsborough, Co Down.
In 1994, Black was convicted of three unsolved child murders in the 1980s - 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, from the Scottish Borders, five-year-old Caroline Hogg, from Edinburgh, and Sarah Harper, 10, from Morley, near Leeds – and a failed abduction bid in Nottingham in 1988.
Black’s killing was finally ended in 1990 when he was caught red-handed by police with a barely alive six-year-old girl hooded, bound, gagged and stuffed in a sleeping bag in the back of his van in the Scottish village of Stow. He had sexually assaulted her moments earlier
.
Body of man found in Drogheda
Gardai say they are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a man's body in Co Louth this morning.
The 58-year -old's remains were found at his home on Ship Street in Drogheda at 4.30am.
The office of the State Pathologist has been notified, and a post mortem is expected to be carried out on the man's body later this afternoon, to determine the cause of his death
The 58-year -old's remains were found at his home on Ship Street in Drogheda at 4.30am.
The office of the State Pathologist has been notified, and a post mortem is expected to be carried out on the man's body later this afternoon, to determine the cause of his death
Aylward: CAP reforms will raise food prices
Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward has said the current reform proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will end up costing Irish consumers much more.
Mr Aylward said the current CAP subsidies mean food and agricultural products can be sold at cheap prices.
However, he said the proposed reforms will mean food products will be dearer in the future.
Mr Aylward said: "The benefit that CAP has been to the consumer - we always think in terms of the direct payment to the farmer.
"Now as we all know, the farmer has to produce at a very low cost; comparatively, the shopping basket today is much cheaper than it was 20 years ago.
"We also have a very solid, secure supply of food, but now I think we've gone over the top. That is going to effect everybody at the end of the day.
"And obviously if there is a scarcity of product, then prices are going to rise automatically.
"
Mr Aylward said the current CAP subsidies mean food and agricultural products can be sold at cheap prices.
However, he said the proposed reforms will mean food products will be dearer in the future.
Mr Aylward said: "The benefit that CAP has been to the consumer - we always think in terms of the direct payment to the farmer.
"Now as we all know, the farmer has to produce at a very low cost; comparatively, the shopping basket today is much cheaper than it was 20 years ago.
"We also have a very solid, secure supply of food, but now I think we've gone over the top. That is going to effect everybody at the end of the day.
"And obviously if there is a scarcity of product, then prices are going to rise automatically.
"
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