Monthly Archives: January 2013

Legal reaction to sentencing by Mr Justice Paul Carney which saw a 72-year-old sex offender walk free from court on Monday has been mixed. Patrick O’Brien from Bray, Co Wicklow, was sentenced to 12 years with nine suspended for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter, Fiona Doyle, over a nine-year period, but was released on continuing bail pending an appeal.

In passing sentence, Mr Justice Carney noted that in another judgment, the Kennedy case in 2008, the Court of Criminal Appeal suspended a moderate sentence imposed on the basis of the health of the accused.

He said that in that judgment he was “horrified” to find the Director of Public Prosecutions, “behind my back, saying it’s a matter of indifference” whether the accused served a prison sentence or not.

He said he believed he was taking a moderate position by imposing a sentence of 12 years for the rape charges, along with concurrent sentences of three years for the indecent assault.

Barrister Paul Anthony McDermott said Mr Justice Carney may have felt the Kennedy case “somehow tied his hands”.

He said the sentence showed the judge felt the law was “uncertain” when “dealing with elderly, very sick defendants who nonetheless have committed very serious crimes”.

An ass.

That’s what the law is.

Previously: Judge Of The Day

Trial judge ‘may have felt hands tied’ (Joanne Hunt, Irish Times)

Dublin in the late 1960s and early 1970s by Bill Hastings.

“Looking at this artwork, one does not get a sense of loss, sentimentality or nostalgia for something that has gone simply because this volume of work manages to capture its essence, its DNA and our instincts respond to that memory, that fabric, those laughing, smiling, playing, citizens of Dublin.”

Conor McAndrew writes:

For anyone in Dublin this week, a projection exhibition of a collection of Bill Hastings’ photographs will run every night from 5 pm – 11 pm on the modern building at Bernardo Square, City Hall Dublin. The exhibition runs as part of the Othered Voices programme of Temple Bar Tradfest.

Dirty Dubsters DJ Obese and Jay SHARP team up with MC Mystro for the title tune from their debut album ‘Fire it up’:

Mystro waxes Lyrical on a tongue in cheek ‘Free the Weed’ vibe to bring you 2013’s first Ganja tune. Here’s the official Video shot in Dublin recently as we see Mystro and Saxman Anton cosy up to Both the Garda and Enda Kenny no less, resulting in a Hazy smoke filled day in Dublin which culminates in a party that was held in the Twisted Pepper last Month with Dirty Dubsters & Irish moss Records.

Download here

Loving the garda’s English accent.

(Hat tip: Cathal O’Rourke)

Fancy a bit of a ride out?

Aileen Parsons writes:

This a is new initiative called Cycle Against Suicide. A 1,400km 14 day Cycle Against Suicide. Travelling all around Ireland. Starting in Dublin on the 22nd of April. Take part in one or more legs (approx 100km each). Cost is €40 for jersey and insurance regardless of how many sections you do.


1,400km.

Cycle Against Suicide

Louisa Nolan from Ringsend.

Who?

She was the Easter Rising’s sensibly shod ‘Lady with the Lamp’.

Sibling of Daedalus writes:

Louisa was a policeman’s daughter turned Gaiety chorus girl and one of the first ever recipients of the Military Medal, presented to her (cough) at Buckingham Palace by (splutter) King George.

Louisa was commended For her valour during the 1916 Rising, when she walked calmly and gracefully through a hail of bullets to tend to wounded soldiers and civilians injured in the Battle of Mount Street Bridge.

Louisa, aged 19 at the time, was lucky; two young girls, and other non-combatant Dubliners, died in the crossfire at Northumberland Road.

This was probably because neither side knew how to shoot.

The British soldiers involved, the Sherwood Foresters, had only arrived at Kingstown [Dun Laoighaire] that morning and some of them even thought they were in France.

The rebels, also with limited military experience, weren’t much better at finding the right target though they did in fairness know what country they were in.

Little more is known of Louisa, who subsequently left the Gaiety for the London stage, but her medal (above) can be seen in the Belfast Museum.

(Pic: New York Times)

Update: a question mark has been added to the headline following a request by Sibling.