Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Pharmacist Niamh Boden with Kevin McElroy (top) and Dorothy Fisher (above) in Dunville Community Pharmacy in Ranelagh, Dublin. Today saw hundreds of pharmacies around the country begin to administer Covid vaccines as part of an agreement between the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and the HSE.

Earlier: In The Fall

Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Viewer discretion advised.

FD writes:

Last December George Nkencho a young black man with a history of mental illness was shot and killed by the Gardai in the front garden of his Dublin home.

Shortly beforehand it is alleged that George had punched or slapped a worker in the local shopping area and it’s also claimed that George was carrying a small knife.

Regardless of those alleged crimes we believe the use of lethal force by the police was grossly disproportionate and that the 12-15 Gardai present should have been able to subdue George and arrest him.

The video above was recorded from the green opposite the Nkencho family home and captures the 5 shots which killed George. The video has been slowed and captioned so that the sequence of events can be better understood. (The video should be viewed on a larger screen like a laptop or tablet if possible.)

The BBC have covered the story in a Newsnight piece and have broadcast the same video though not with slow motion or with captions.

The Nkencho family’s grief was compounded by a torrent of racist and libelous misinformation about George which was systematically organised to justify the police killing and as a means to sow division between our communities in the aftermath of George’s death.

The Irish state like many others has a very poor record in holding the police force to account and so we believe that if the Nkencho family are to receive justice in this case it’s crucial that this video is widely viewed so that large numbers of people understand exactly what happened to George.

Previously: George Nkencho on Broadsheet

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy (above left)  and Department of Health Secretary General Robert Watt (above right) whose letter to the Public Accounts Committe warns against any discussion on costs or dates on construction of  the National Children’s Hospital (top)

This afternoon.

The Department of Health is refusing to release details of a review into the new Children’s Hospital to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), according to Social Democrats co-leader, and vice-chair of the PAC, Catherine Murphy.

Earlier this month, Mr Watt sent the PAC a letter which states:

“There is an extremely high likelihood that any discussion on costs or dates, however hypothetical, even from the draft stages of the process, would prejudice enforcement of the existing contract and very likely undermine the role of the Development Bord in its ongoing engagement with the main contractor.”

Ms Murphy said:

“A comprehensive review of this project, by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the Department of Health, has been ongoing since last year. The Minister was given their draft report in January.

“In February, the PAC was told that report would be concluded within weeks – at which point there would finally be clarity about the hospital’s budget. But there appears to be a new approach now there is a new Secretary General.

According to Mr Watt, all of the most controversial information about this project – the cost and timeline – is suddenly too sensitive to publish. What a stroke of luck for the Department.

“The PAC is the State’s public spending watchdog. How on earth is it supposed to do its job if Departments won’t tell us how much they are spending? Mr Watt’s intervention has ensured this debacle has gone from tragedy to farce.

“This latest review is at least the 13th into this omnishambles. Between 2017 and 2019, 11 separate reviews were undertaken at a cost of €700,000. An additional report was then sought from PwC at a cost of €450,000.

“After 12 reports costing €1.15 million, what did we learn? That the taxpayer would be lucky to emerge with any change from €1.7 billion for this project.

“Now, there is another report, the details of which are apparently too explosive to publish. What is the Department trying to hide?

“We know there have been more than 800 claims submitted by the contractor and the Hospital Development Board has been without a chairperson, and two members, since January.

How much is this project going to cost the Irish people; when is it going to be delivered and who is in charge of delivery?

“It is incredible that we still don’t have answers to these basic questions.”

Previously: There Cannot Be Price Certainty At This Point

Aviva Stadium, Dublin 4.

One of Ireland’s largest street art projects has been completed.

Spanning 160.4 metres, the urban wildlife mural is part of a partnership between Iarnród Éireann and Aviva Stadium, and supported by Dublin City Council.

Barry Kenny writes:

It runs along the railway lines running under the West Stand of the Aviva Stadium and along the tunnel up to Lansdowne Road Level Crossing.

Wall 1 depicts the image of an urban fox, which are regularly spotted within the areas of city centre stations and has been created by artist and illustrator Dan Leo.

The image of an Urban Hawk created by Artists for All City Records, is in place on Wall 2 situated at the North end of Tunnel.

The central area displays a work collaboration between The Walls Project and Artists Holly Pereira, Omin and Decoy. The urban wildlife theme continues, depicting a black cat as it moves along the tunnel through, bright flowers, shapes and graphics.

A sense of ‘page flick’ movement can be seen by those passing on DART, Commuter and Rosslare Intercity services.

In fairness.

Pics: Iarnród Éireann

Anyone?

Meanwhile, in the UK:

Vaccination experts are not planning to recommend Covid-19 jabs for children, a cabinet minister has said, while prominent academics have suggested that existing doses should be used to immunise vulnerable people around the world before those in the UK who are relatively safe…

Vaccine advisers not planning to back Covid jabs for children, says UK minister (The Guardian)

Top pic: Moderna

Meanwhile…

Things that never happened, part 27.

Um.

Above from left: Aoife Foster, Pine Daly and Aster Dylan Scully

This morning.

Camden Row, Dublin 2

Members of Foróige, the National Youth Development Organisation attended the unveiling of their Shine With Pride mural by artist KinMxin in collaboration with SUBSET.

The artwork is inspired by the lived experiences of LGBTI+ young people who are part of Foróige. It tells the story of ‘how they found deep solace in nature during their coming out journeys while the central character in the artwork embodies LGBTI+ young people as they come out and blossom with pride’.

Foróige

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland