Author Archives: Bodger

This morning.

The MV Alta, shipwrecked off the Cork coast 12 months ago…

…the Receiver of Wreck has confirmed that the period of time to claim the vessel – one year and a day – has expired.

Despite contact being made by an individual claiming to act on behalf of the owner in the days that followed her grounding, no valid claim of ownership has been received.

The Receiver of Wreck is consulting with the National Museum, which has 30 days to decide whether or not the wreck has any value – historic, archaeological or artistic.

It the National Museum decides the vessel or any part of her has no worth, the State becomes entitled to the unclaimed wreck.

What happens next to the MV Alta will then be a matter for Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.

Recycle so.

Shipwrecked freighter breaking up off Cork coast (RTÉ)

Last night.

Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ 1.

Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy recounts the ‘shocking things’ he witnessed at last Saturday’s skanger-hijacked, anti-lockdown protest.

Yesterday: Roaming Candle

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrives at government buildings for a cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile…

A Fianna Fáil cumann in a minister’s constituency (junior minister Thomas Byrne) is calling for the replacement of leader Micheál Martin.

In a letter seen by Independent.ie, his departure is demanded by the entire officer board of the party cumann in Slane, Co Meath.

Mr Martin, who took over the party a decade ago, is said to have presided over its becoming a “laughing stock” on occasion.

“We need someone with fire in his/her belly,” said the signatories in an open letter-email to all Fianna Fáil TDs and some of the party’s senators.

‘Ignore us at your peril’ – Fianna Fáil cumann calls for Micheál Martin to be replaced as party leader (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

This afternoon.

Good times.

EU to propose law on COVID-19 certificates in March (EuroNews)

Getty

Then French president Nicolas Sarkozy nuzzling Enda Kenny while chatting with Cypriot president Dimitris Christofias in 2012

This afternoon.

Corrupt, cheese-eating, neck-nuzzling, surrender monkey.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to jail in historic ruling (CNN)

Getty

This afternoon.

Further to Saturday’s shenanigans…

Via Irish Times:

Gardaí have identified a group who launched fireworks at officers during violent scenes on Dublin’s Grafton Street on Saturday and expect to make arrests shortly.

The group comprises males from the Monkstown/Dún Laoghaire area who have a history of engaging in anti-social behaviour.

“They are a bunch of thugs who have terrorised Monkstown Farm for years. They are organised in a sense that they all work together and are into all sorts of stuff. But mainly just thugs,” a source said.

Gardaí have clear footage and images of the group, including of them preparing the firework to be fired during a mid-afternoon stand-off between gardaí and anti-lockdown protesters.

Gardaí identify men behind fireworks attack, further arrests expected (irish Times)

Hot Eight?

Saturday: Fireworks

This morning.

Further to the Bank of Ireland’s decision to close 103 branches across the island of Ireland….

…John O’Connell, General Secretary of the Financial Services Union, said Bank of Ireland could not be allowed to withdraw a vital service from the elderly, from people with no internet access, from people with literacy problems at this time of increased anxiety.

He added:

“The announcement this morning by Bank of Ireland to close 103 branches will shock both staff and customers alike. How can Bank of Ireland think it is appropriate to make this announcement when the country is in the middle of a pandemic. It is a shameful act which needs to be reversed.”

Full list of closures here

Decision to close Bank of Ireland branches ‘shameful’ (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Bank of Ireland CEO Frances McDonagh

RollingNews

Saturday.

Outside The offices of the Mother and Baby Home Commission, Dublin 2.

Mother and Baby Home survivor Sheila O’Byrne (top) joined a protest organised by ‘Baby Shoes Remember’ highlighting the treatment of witness testimony by the Mother and Baby Home Commission and the whitewashing of the gravity of crimes committed against women at Mother and Baby Homes in the Commission’s final report.

‘Baby Shoes Remember’ is a group that commemorates Church and state crimes against women and children.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews