Author Archives: Bodger

Chief Justice Frank Clarke

The law is frozen.

Try turning it off and back on.

Irish Legal News reported:

Remote court hearings are set to begin later this month following a successful trial of the new technology, the Chief Justice has announced.

Solicitors, barristers and courts staff across various jurisdictions are now taking part in mock hearings ahead of the use of the technology in actual cases “early in the next legal term”, Chief Justice Frank Clarke said.

The pilot of the technology was announced earlier this month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the administration of justice.

The “systems trial” of the platform was successfully completed last week.

If the mock hearings now taking place “are conducted satisfactorily, it is hoped that remote hearings of actual cases will begin early in the next legal term”, which begins on 20 April 2020, Chief Justice Clarke said.

Successful tests pave way for remote hearings to begin this month (Irish Legal News)

Elderly man walks in Bray, Co Wicklow last month before the Government called for people aged over 70 to “cocoon”; tweets from Irish marine journalist Tom MacSweeney

This morning.

Kathy Sheridan, in The Irish Times, wrote about people aged over 70 having to “cocoon” which she described as “mandatory confinement”.

She writes:

They have put on their game faces. None of them lacks awareness of the pressing reasons behind the lockdown or is seeking to place blame.

But it is a very odd situation where a supermarket can organise separate, safe shopping hours for people who are older or vulnerable while the incalculable psychological and physical benefits of a short walk outdoors are denied to them.

A designated “walking hour” each day – or even the luxury choice of an hour in the morning or evening – for the over-70s is hardly an insuperable ask.

In fairness.

Kathy Sheridan: Let the over-70s have a walk (The Irish Times)

Rollingnews

A letter from St Patrick’s Guild to Dublin Archbishop McQuaid. The agency arranged the secret export of 572 children to the USA

Via My Name Is Bridget:

Some records I uncovered for my book My Name Is Bridget includes this letter (above) which show how adoptions were being carried out by the state through St Patrick’s Guild, the adoption agency currently under investigation for illegal adoptions.

Previously: Orientated Toward A Better Class of Girl

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

This afternoon in Cork city.

Cork City Council tweetz:

“Cork City Council has reported criminal damage to the gardai after paving at four different locations in the city centre were dug up over the weekend. An investigation is underway.

“In some instances, cut flowers and greenery were placed in the dug out sections.”

Anyone?

Annie West writes:

I saw loads of people posting colouring sheets for kids and thought ‘aw wait now what about the grownups/” Also that crazy mindfulness colouring book thing with their horrid drawings of rainbows and fish and whatnot.

So I thought okay let’s do some Mindfulness colouring of some lovely modern day heritage sites . Behold (above)….The Mindfulness colouring pages of Twitter. The places you miss the most during #Covid19. The pubs and chippers of Ireland.

Annie West

Meanwhile…

Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin (left), Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, before the final live television leaders’ debate of Election 2020

 

This afternoon.

Further to Fine Gael agreeing “seven tests” (above) that any future coalition must pass to form a Government and Fine Gael highlighting ten policy priorities…

Um.

Sinn Féin TD Eoin O’Broin tweetz:

“Am I seeing things? Is this a joke?

“Not a single mention of housing or homelessness in Fine Gael’s seven policy tests and ten specific policies they want a new government to achieve.”

Related: Government formation: Fine Gael agrees ‘seven tests’ before joining coalition (Jennifer Bray, The Irish Times)