Author Archives: Bodger

Yesterday evening.

Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

A copy of the 1916 Proclamation hangs outside the site of the demolition of the O’Rahilly house, home of 1916 rising leader Michael Joseph O’Rahilly, pulled down without warning early yesterday morning to make room for an aparthotel development with 105 flats fronting on to Herbert Park.

Yesterday: Razed

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Last night.

RTÉ One’s Prime Time.

Dr. Martin Feeley (top left) debated infectious disease expert Professor Sam McConkey (top right) in one of the first times RTÉ has aired a dissenting voice on Covid restrictions.

Dr Martin Feeley was forced to resign from Dublin Midlands Hospital Group after criticising Ireland’s ‘Draconian’ response to the pandemic.

Previously: Dr Martin Feeley on Broadsheet

Video via ivor Cummins

Last night.

A highlight reel from the The first US Presidential debate between Donald Trump (top left) and Joe Biden.

No, you shut up.

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

This afternoon.

Further to the proposed discontinuation of Bus Eireann routes from Dublin to Cork, Limerick and Galway….

“The blame for this lies squarely with the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has, over the years, flooded the market with privately held operating licenses and strangled the national carrier.

Bus Eireann, unlike other operators, has continued to supply much needed services during the current Covid-19 crisis and the NTA needs to recognise this and provide funding so that these services continue to provide safe and accessible transport for all its passengers.

The threat to some of the most strategic bus transport routes in the country is short sighted, flawed and a kick in the teeth for workers and passengers.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy,

SIPTU condemns decision to discontinue vital Bus Eireann Expressway routes (Medium)

RollingNews

Former Junior Finance Minister Michael D’Arcy who is resigning his Seanad seat to become the Chief Executive of a lobbying group for the funds sector, the Irish Association of Investment Management (IAIM)

This afternoon.

[Sinn Féin President] Ms [Mary Lou] McDonald, referring to Mr D’Arcy leaving the Seanad for a “big job”, asked what it says to families and businesses who are relying on the Government to stand up for them, to go and bat for them.

She said the Tánaiste welcomed the new job of Mr D’Arcy, while other ministers have concerns and wanted to know what action the Taoiseach proposed to take.

Mr Martin replied:

“I believe there should be an effective cooling-off period and I am not happy or in any way comfortable with people taking up a position who have been in office particularly in the area where they had responsibility.”

Taoiseach ‘not comfortable’ with D’Arcy appointment (RTÉ)

Yesterday: Mr D’Arcy Takes A Job

RollingNews

This morning/afternoon.

North Great Georges Street, Dublin.

Senator David Norris steps is presented with the Vanguard Award from the GAZE international LGBT Film Festival 2020.

The award, presented by Sarah Williams (above left) Chair of GAZE (LGBT) Film Festival and Brendan Byrne (above right), Lead Of Accenture Ireland’s LGBTQ+ Network, is to mark Senator Norris’ “unending contribution and legacy to the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Ireland”.

GAZE 2020 runs until Sunday.

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland.

This afternoon.

Special Covid-19 Committee meeting.

Committee Chairman, Independent TD Michael McNamara questioned Dr John Cuddihy, Director, Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HSE, on how rona deaths are counted.

Michael McNamara: “Dr Cuddihy, if someone shows no symptoms of Covid and they have a heart attack and are brought to hospital and they are tested and it is found they have Covid and they die soon thereafter – but this is someone who has demonstrated no symptoms whatsoever – are they recorded as a Covid death or not? If they have tested positive for Covid but ultimately came to hospital because they had a heart attack or a stroke or fallen off the roof of a building or something like that?”

Dr John Cuddihy: “We adhere to the World Health Organisation case definition in terms of recording and reporting deaths so in the situation you describe, where someone has a positive Covid test and it is a death in a confirmed Covid case but such a case would be subject to a coroner’s report aswell, and as part of the ongoing validation of data in our surveillance system, we wouldn’t…”

McNamara: “Obviously a coroner’s report takes a very long time to work its way through the system. So, for now, they are recorded as a Covid death? And maybe they are taken off that list at a later date. is that what you are saying?

Dr Cuddihy: “That’s it exactly.”

Meanwhile…

Cloverhill Prison

This afternoon.

Three separate investigations were underway into a prisoner’s death at Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on Monday night.

Via The Irish Times:

The deceased was a 36-year-old Irish man who was on remand in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin.

The Irish Times understands he became engaged in a stand-off with staff on Monday after he declined to be relocated within the prison.

He was then tackled by a number of staff, who subjected him to control and restraint techniques to force him to move.

The man then became unwell and quickly became unresponsive.

Man’s death in prison after restraint by officers is investigated (Irish Times)

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