Ireland's Eye

County news from Ireland

Ireland's Eye

June 10, 2008

Mob Hurts Police

DRUNKEN revelers took photographs of an angry mob kicking and punching three Gardai (police) on the ground during a riot in O’Connell Street in Sligo.

But not one person in the crowd came to the aid of the Gardai who were viciously assaulted as they were forced to the ground by a frenzied mob.

Judge Oliver McGuinness said that the behavior of the thugs who carried out the attack that left three Gardai hospitalized would not be tolerated.

He gave the two main instigators of the riot — teenagers Fola Roche and Kevin Flynn — suspended sentences totaling 10 months and fined them *500 each for the assault, which took place in the early hours of July 29 of last year.

McGuinness said he believed that the frenzied attack which made the young people act like animals was fueled by much more than alcohol. He said the only thing the mob had in common was to turn on the Gardai.

“They turned on the symbol of authority, the police who are charged with making sure that we and our property are safe. It seems they think it is par for the course to abuse Gardai. Well it is not and their behavior will not be tolerated,” he said.

A Garda who has been in Sligo for 30 years said he thought he was going to be killed as he was kicked and battered by the mob. Pat Conway was one of three Gardai who were rushed to hospital for treatment after the fracas in which six people were fined a total of *4,500 at the district court.

Some of the mob pelted the Gardai with bottles, cans, coins and hard objects. Others took photographs and made recordings with their mobile phones.

Conway, Garda Pat Roddy and Garda Cathal Duffy were treated for their injuries in Sligo General Hospital and were off work for a week after the assaults, which were described as “outrageous” by one the defending solicitors.

Conway and Duffy had head injuries and severe bruising, while Roddy had his teeth shaken and needed dental treatment after the ordeal.

The row erupted at around 3:30 a.m. when Conway was attacked as he tried to separate Roche and another young lady. Roche’s boyfriend Flynn then joined in and lashed out at Garda Conway and this sparked a mini riot.

Sergeant Lee told the court that Roche and Flynn were kicking the Garda and refusing to get into the Garda van.

The judge warned that this mini riot was something that was just waiting to happen on the streets of Sligo after so many people were “disgorged onto the streets in an inebriated state.”

All the defendants expressed remorse for the incidents through their solicitors.

Sligo Weekender

Doctor Shortage

A SHORTAGE of GPs is making it difficult for local Drogheda people to get an appointment with their doctor, whether it be on an emergency or pre-booked basis.

The patient/GP ratio for the north east is one GP per 2,581 patients, when the recommended national number is one GP per 1,600 patients.

In some medical centers in Drogheda, appointments can only be booked a maximum of 48 hours in advance, and parents are complaining of having to wait days for a GP to see sick children.

Many new arrivals to the town are also having difficulty getting a doctor in the first place, as medical practices in Drogheda are already at capacity.

And the cost of visiting GPs in the town varies between *45 to *55 per visit, but how much you are charged is entirely at the doctor’s discretion.

Drogheda people are becoming increasingly frustrated at the situation. One woman said, “I rang my family doctor at 9 a.m. on a Monday after my child was up all night with a pain in her ear. However, I was told there was no way I could have an appointment that day as they were booked up. The receptionist told me to ring back on Wednesday.

“I pay *50 a go to see the GP, yet he couldn’t even see my daughter who was clearly suffering.”

Another male patient attended A&E at Our Lady of Lourdes with high blood pressure and was ordered to see his GP immediately. However, when he contacted his doctor he was told it would be another three days’ wait for an appointment.

“This is not just a local but a national problem too,” says local GP Dr. Conor O’Shea. “It boils down to the fact that we can’t fill the vacancies. The country is not producing enough doctors or GPs.”

O’Shea says he has a vague idea of what other doctors charge in the town, but the fact is, they are not allowed to standardize a price, as under current price-fixing regulations it is illegal to have a standard price for GPs.

Drogheda Independent

Fuel Thief

A KINNEGAD man who admitted purchasing €7,900 of fuel for his personal use on his employer’s fuel card, and who has not paid any compensation to date, was sentenced to six months in prison at Trim Court.

James Smyth, 33, pleaded guilty to theft in March 2007. The court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the case being dealt with in the district court and that the case related to the acquisition of fuel with a credit card over a period of time.

Smyth was employed by a man to drive a lorry. He had access to his employer’s fuel card and was using it for his personal use. The court heard the theft amounted to €7,900 and that no compensation had been paid to date.

Miriam Regan, defending solicitor, said the defendant’s financial circumstances were “appalling,” but that he wanted to make recompense. He was divorced with three children and had a seven-month-old child with his partner.

He was living in his lorry and was paying maintenance for his children. He earned *500 per week and does overtime when it is available, Regan told the court.

He was trying to get a few bob together for the first payment and was to have €1,000 in court but it would be this evening before he can get it,” said the defense solicitor. He would also pay *600 a month until the full balance was paid, she added.

This happened over a year ago. The lack of repayment to date troubles me,” said Judge Kevin Kilraine.

Regan reiterated that his financial circumstances were appalling. “Either he’s able to pay compensation, or he’s not,” replied the judge, and Regan said he would need time.

“It won’t be time to pay, it will be time in Mountjoy he will get. His attitude is appalling to the court. He arrives late at 12:45 p.m. with one arm as long as another and has paid no compensation to date. Is the defendant asking for time or playing for time?” asked Kilraine.

Regan pointed out that there had been a query about the exact amount owed but Kilraine said, even if there had been some query, “it would not prevent him from making some honest effort to put some money together.”

“You’re playing games with the court with a cock and bull story about living in a lorry, trying to get sympathy from the court, with your partner living around the corner,” the judge added.

Regan said the defendant’s boss was to give him two weeks wages that day but this had not materialized. Kilraine convicted the defendant and sentenced him to six months in prison.

Meath Chronicle

Cruel Farmer

A FARMER has been found guilty of 22 separate charges of animal cruelty and ordered never to own any animals again by Bruff District Court.

John Burke, 52, of Duncummin House, Emly was the subject of the longest district court trial ever held in Ireland last Thursday after Judge Mary O’Halloran refused to adjourn the case a further time and instead hold a record trial of almost 11 hours.

The charges against Burke concerned some 900 sheep and 300 cattle on lands rented in Bruff between July 12, 2005 and November 19, 2005.

The court heard that on different occasions, following inspections by Department of Agriculture veterinary surgeons, LSPCA inspectors and members of the Gardai, almost 50 animals, sheep and cattle, were found dead, while thousands of others were “starving,” “malnourished,” and “grossly ill-treated.”

Following evidence from over 20 witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense, O’Halloran found Burke guilty of all charges, but suspended sentencing until September pending a psychiatric report along with a full social inquiry.

Limerick Leader

Age Discrimination

THE elderly people of Waterford are feeling the effects of ageism. After coming from a time when elders were highly respected, they have noticed a change in society’s treatment of them as they age.

In a survey carried out by the Equality Authority on ageism in Ireland, 62% said that Ireland wasn’t an age friendly society. The elderly people who spoke recently at the Care of the Aged Centre in Lady Lane said that attitudes towards the elderly have changed a lot over the years.

Simple acts of kindness towards the elderly have been forgotten over time, says Christine (May) O’Keeffe.

“It’s not how it used to be when I was younger,” she explains. “There’s not as much respect from young people. People will watch you get on a bus with a stick or a crutch and they still wouldn’t get up and let you sit down.”

May, 95, feels lucky that she has someone to look after her because she feels people don’t want the burden of caring for an older person nowadays.

“Neighbors don’t play a role in caring for people as much any more,” says May. “When I was younger I used to look after elderly people, but people just don’t want to do it now.”

Daisy Le Blanc agrees that people don’t bother with the elderly anymore, “Years ago neighbors would look after people in their old age, but not anymore. We came from simpler times and we grew up a lot differently,” she said.

Chrissy Allen, 77, said that she’s also noticed that attitudes have changed towards elderly people. While she said some people would stop to help her if she needed it, she also feels that the level of rude behavior is growing.

“In my day we just didn’t answer back to our elders, but now they don’t listen and they answer back,” she says.

Waterford News & Star

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