Garda, Education, HSE, Corruption, Politicians, Bankers, Judges, DPP, of A Big Cover Up of Whitewash Crimes, only in Ireland
A REVIEW into allegations of irregular financial practices at the University of Limerick and the treatment of several employees who raised concerns will be published next week.
The review, which has been conducted by independent consultants Mazars, was completed on Friday last and passed to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for review. Since then, the HEA has returned to Mazars for clarification on a number of matters, as they wish to pass on “a clear and comprehensive document” to those who assisted with the review, and the university itself. The HEA anticipates that the report will be released to be public early next week, and it is also likely to make a statement on the review, which is expected to include a number of recommendations. Fianna Fail deputy Willie O’Dea, who raised the employees’ concerns in the Dail alongside his party colleague Niall Collins, is among those eagerly awaiting the report in full. He has been approached by a number of employees and former employees of UL in the past year regarding employment issues across a number of departments. Deputy O’Dea told the Limerick Leader that until this report is published the “lives and livelihoods of the complainants are on the line”. He said he hopes the report will be published “warts and all”. Deputy Collins also urged that the report be published as soon as possible “in the public interest”. The completion date for the report had been delayed twice due to the volume of submissions. The original completion date was set for November 30, after the review began in October. The review arises after an article was published in the Limerick Leader in September last, which detailed the claims of two UL employees in relation to alleged inappropriate payment of expenses and invoices, and their treatment by UL as a result of raising concerns. As a consequence, UL has sued the Leader and its editor, Alan English. Two staff members – who spoke to this newspaper in September last – remain suspended by the university. A third employee, who has since left the university, also aired her grievances with The Sunday Times. She was replaced in her department by one of the women currently suspended.
I am delighted to know of the findings of the Mazars Review conducted into the University of Limerick and the report itself is quite comprehensive in its findings against the University. The behaviour of the University, through its Senior Management and HR Department come in for significant scrutiny in the Mazars Review and indeed individuals other than the whistleblowers A, B and C have made significant contributions to the Review and we are of a view that such is the seriousness of the potentially negative findings in the Mazars Review that the HEA must now call for a full Investigation into these matters, without delay. I personally had written to the Minister for Education, Jan O' Sullivan, seeking to meet with her on these matters , as they affected me and my team in 2014 and she refused to do so telling me in writing that these concerns were matters for UL Internal Procedures and that the HEA had been made aware of the situation. It is clear from the Mazars Review that the Minister is and was wrong and that these matters go to the heart of the
Constitutional right of every citizen of the Republic to uphold his/her good name and the Responsibility of the State not to perpetrate any injury against the citizen. These rights have been violated by the University of LImerick and it must surely be the obligation on the State, through the HEA , and the Minister for Education to remedy this serious injury to the individuals concerned,
Pat Flanagan: Millions of reasons why this is Crooked Ireland BYIRISHMIRROR.IE 15:42, 26 MAY 2017
Apparently the whole country, from the Taoiseach to the tea lady, is furious at the outcome of the Sean FitzPatrick trial
Crooked cops, crooked country... cead mile failures, welcome to Ireland. Apparently the whole country, from the Taoiseach to the tea lady, is furious at the outcome of the Sean FitzPatrick trial. Even mature adults who have lived their lives in the Nigeria of the northern hemisphere are supposedly surprised the case has collapsed. Granted, it did come as a bit of a shock to learn vital evidence was actually shredded by the body bringing the prosecution. But let’s face it, how many times in the past have major trials involving well-connected people collapsed through inexplicable circumstances? In a country where the police college is embroiled in a money laundering scandal involving alleged offshore bank accounts why is anyone surprised by anything? I have to be very careful here as the former Anglo boss has been acquitted of all charges. His bank may have cost the taxpayer €40billion, brought about mass unemployment and emigration but Mr FitzPatrick did absolutely no wrong in the eyes of the law.
Sean Fitzpatrick
(Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)
His former bank may have laid low the Irish economy but Seanie can walk with his head held high. This week we found the corporate affairs watchdog – the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement – which botched the handling of Sean FitzPatrick’s criminal case is actually a neutered toy poodle. This was to be the trial of the century and the public had hoped they might get answers as to how this bank caused so much misery to so many and why no one was held to account. We will now never known because Kevin O’Connell, a legal advisor to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, shredded vital documents.
Sean Fitzpatrick leaves the courts complex
(Photo: Collins Photo
Agency)
We will never know why the documents were destroyed because there is no Garda investigation because that’s the way things are done in Ireland. Similarly the public was denied the right to know why Financial Regulator Patrick Neary stood back and allowed Anglo and the other banks to engage in the skullduggery and malpractices which led to the financial crash. Irish soccer fans used to have a chant which went something like, “Here we go, here we go, here we go.” Where white-collar crime is concerned it’s, “Here we go again.”
Don’t be fooled by the mock shock from the great and the good. For decades they have made sure corporate crime was not taken seriously. Way back in 2014 leading barrister Remy Farrell, a specialist in white-collar crime, pointed out the State’s regulatory agencies were so stretched by an “endemic” lack of resources many reports of corporate crime were not even being read by the authorities. He stated it was a “scandal” investigators were “at breaking point” due to the lack of investment allowing large-scale fraud to go undetected, costing the State millions in lost revenue. He said: “There is now one forensic accountant working in the principal law enforcement regulatory body in this country,” adding: “It’s enough to make the tin-pot dictator of a banana republic blush.” I’ve said it before but this country is even more corrupt than Nigeria and Zimbabwe. In 2015 the Social Democrats called for an independent anti-corruption agency similar to the ones in other EU states but their proposals were voted down by Fine Gael and Labour.
Fine Gael leadership candidate Simon Coveney TD at the launch of his policy document in the Dean Hotel in Dublin's city centre (Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins)
Now in the wake of the collapse of the Sean FitzPatrick trial Simon Coveney is promising to establish such an agency if he becomes Taoiseach. The reality is the main political parties did not want a corporate watchdog with teeth especially when the brown envelopes were flying like confetti. The State established the Criminal Assets Bureau to go after ordinary crooks but why have they never gone after the white-collar criminals? If the well-connected are unlucky enough to be exposed they face a tribunal which can only make findings. Imagine, three decades of tribunals which exposed a country more corrupt than any banana republic, yet only
one conviction because of corruption. Isn’t it strange those now calling for anti-corruption agencies don’t want to hear about the Moriarty Tribunal and SiteServ is a sight for sore eyes.
Hundreds of millions of euro has been stashed away by corporate crooks in the wake of the crash. Not a cent has been recovered by the State and much of the loot has had to be paid for by the taxpayer. But then again, when the laundry at the Garda Training College was allegedly being used to launder money why should we be surprised?
Pat Flanagan: 'Ireland is the most corrupt country in the Western world' There are and will always be crooked cops but to have a crooked police force, that’s something else BYPAT FLANAGAN 31 MAR 2017
Former Garda Commisioner Martin Callinan and acting Garda Garda Commisioner Noirin O' Sullivan
UP to 50 secret bank accounts, money laundering, fraud on a massive scale... and this is just the police force... welcome to the most corrupt country in the Western world. While we might not be able to compete with Nigeria and Zimbabwe but after the latest Garda revelations we are getting there. Name another country anywhere in the world that can boast a police force that used an actual laundry to launder money that should have gone to the State.
Garda Commissioner, Noirin O'Sullivan during the launch of the new 24 hour Phoneline for Victims of Child Sex Abuse
Find me another nation where law officers could falsify up to one million breath tests and still keep their chief in her job. Did I mention the 14,700 wrongful convictions and the smear campaigns against gardai who tried to highlight wrongdoing? Each one of those wrongly convicted can now sue the State for damaging their good name in combined claims that could run to tens if not hundreds of millions of euro. There are and will always be crooked cops but to have a crooked police force, that’s something else. READ MORE
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Garda Commissioner Norin O'Sullivan admits cops may have deliberately exaggerated drink driving figures It’s not that the public are not concerned about the never-
ending Garda scandals, it’s just that they are finding it hard to keep up to speed with the new ones. Still the disclosure that the laundry at the Garda Training College was being used to launder money is straight out of the Police Academy movies. Think about it, the institution charged with training cops to uphold the law collecting rent of €124,903 for land belonging to the taxpayer and keeping the cash that should have gone to the State at a time when the country was on its knees. And it gets better for there was another account held for laundry and services, where 37% of the funds were spent on meals, entertainment, contributions to charity or to parish clergy, and the golf society. It has now been revealed there was as much as €5million sloshing around in up to 50 bank accounts. This week an internal audit into Templemore Garda training college recommended a host of changes. Why not a host of charges?
Templemore Garda Training College
(Photo: Google Maps)
Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane claimed the college accounts were effectively used as “a slush fund”. Had these goings-on taken place in a private company the Garda would be investigating and not a team of accountants. But this is Ireland where corruption is so endemic that it is almost impossible to find the line between lawmakers and lawbreakers... if indeed there is one. What is even more worrying is the auditors couldn’t give an assurance the financial controls at the Garda College were compliant with public procedures or the Garda Financial Code. So we can’t even be sure anything has changed. The Garda Commissioner yesterday accepted gardai may have acted dishonestly by inputting false breath test
figures into the force’s Pulse computer system. Noirin O’Sullivan told the Oireachtas Justice Committee it has not been established why almost a million false breath tests were recorded. Could this systemic falsification of figures have anything to do with the fact that bonuses were paid for increased numbers? The Commissioner sincerely apologised for the “grave mistakes” and “wrongdoing”. This being corruption central, no one says words like fraud, crime, or criminal activity. Such descriptions are only applied to the guys in tracksuit bottoms who sell drugs and steal cars. For years we wondered why there were so few convictions for white-collar crime; the latest revelations provide all the answers we need. Is it any wonder the public have lost confidence in gardai when there are 17 separate inquiries, investigations, reviews and reports being carried out into a police force that is one-third the size of London’s Met. There are also Garda internal section audit reports and disciplinary reviews, GSOC reports, Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee and Independent Policing Authority hearings. Ireland is by the day becoming less a republic than a series of tribunals, investigations and inquiries. To think the breath test scandal came about because of an anonymous tip-off from a reserve who didn’t like what was going on when it didn’t seem to bother the regular force. But if people are expecting change they shouldn’t hold their breath. In the meantime we can’t confirm the force’s website has been changed to garda.lie. http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/pat-flanagan-ireland-mostcorrupt-10132233
Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan admits cops may have deliberately exaggerated drink driving figures The Garda boss appeared before the Oireachtas Justice Committee this morning to answer questions on the revelations over one million 'ghost' breathalyser tests, and 14,700 wrongful convictions for motoring offences 30 MAR 2017
Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan
Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan has admitted that cops may have deliberately exaggerated drink driving figures. The Garda boss appeared before the Oireachtas Justice Committee this morning to answer questions on the revelations over one million 'ghost' breathalyser tests, and 14,700 wrongful convictions for motoring offences. In her opening statement, Ms O'Sullivan apologised for the "grave mistakes and wrongdoing during the last decade" that led to the two incidents. She said the blame went from "top down to bottom up" for the litany of errors and malpractice over the years. An internal audit led by Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan is currently being carried out. And Ms O’Sullivan said the Assistant Commissioner "may well discover members, individual members, deliberately put figures into the system that were not correct figures.” She went on to claim that An Garda Siochana's failure to raise the two very serious issues with the Policing Authority was an "oversight."
Ms O'Sullivan suggested in her opening statement that the falsification of figures could go beyond just traffic offences. Senator Niall O'Donnghaile accused the Commissioner of "contempt" by raising a red flag like that without giving specific details, and suggested it may have been a distraction. Ms O’Sullivan later said that she wanted to apologise for all the failures that have happened in the force over the last 10 years, not just the breath testing, and insisted that she has never shirked responsibility. Shen said they were in a period of serious reform, overturning every rock, and that it was inevitable that more stories would come to light. http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/garda-commissioner-norinosullivan-admits-10126878
Clare Daly obtains documents that she claims proves Gardaí knew true number of breath tests 31/05/2017
A TD says she has new evidence proving that Gardaí must have known about the true number of roadside breath tests three years ago. Clare Daly says she has obtained new documents under the Freedom of Information Act to prove the way in which breath tests were counted. A review is ongoing into why Gardaí claimed to have performed nearly two million breath tests over five years, when the true figure was just over one million.
In the Dáil this lunchtime, Clare Daly says the information must have been known by 2014 at the latest. "Last week I received information under FOI from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety which shows very clearly that officers in An Garda Siochána were well aware in 2014 that every breath test machine had a running total of breath tests done each time it was calibrated, and that each machine was returned to every station with a form outlining those numbers," she said.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/clare-daly-obtains-documentsthat-she-claims-proves-gardai-knew-true-number-of-breath-tests791866.html
Entire Garda force may need to be DISBANDED and
replaced by independent body in wake of latest scandal People Before Profit is set to table a motion of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan BYJAMES WARD 18:44, 28 MAR 2017
The entire Garda force may need to be DISBANDED and replaced with an independent police body in the wake of the latest scandal to rock the force, it was claimed. People Before Profit is set to table a motion of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan following the news of 14,700 wrongful
convictions for motoring offences and almost a million ‘ghost’ breathalyser tests. Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted the Government still has confidence in the top cop, despite the fact her position is considered untenable by all of the opposition parties, including Fianna Fail. After a litany of scandals to hit the force in recent months and years, People Before Profit say the time has come for a completely new approach to restore public confidence in the force. TD Brid Smith said: “We have to have a serious discussion about that. One of the ideas is to appoint an independent outside body to run the police force. I find that idea quite attractive at the moment. When you look inside the members of the Garda Siochana - who knows whom, who’s related to whom and who’s been part of the establishment in the past - it leaves a lot of questions to be answered. “So some kind of outside body, accountable to the Dail, that the people can have faith in would need to step in. A police authority would need to take over. “You would need an outside body to take over the running of the Gardai. You would need to have a clearout of the top echelons that could be shown to be directly involved in cover-ups or corruption or malpractice, and then have it run by outside bodies.” Asked if the creation of a new force, as happened with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, should be considered, she replied: “Absolutely. We might have to have a people’s police service.” The PBP motion of no confidence in Commissioner O’Sullivan follows similar motions from Sinn Fein and Labour. PBP’s Richard Boyd Barrett TD said Ms O’Sullivan had “effectively put two fingers up” to the elected members of the Dail, by saying “regardless of what way they vote on motions of no confidence, she’s going to stay in situ.”
Ms O’Sullivan has been invited to appear before a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice on Thursday, where she will face questions from Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan, among others. Speaking on Tuesday, he said: “We don’t have confidence in the Commissioner. We don’t believe she has answered the questions that should be answered. “Micheal (Martin) has said that she should consider her position, I don’t think we can be any more straightforward that what have been. “I find it hard to believe that An Garda Siochana do not know the dominant reasons as to why there are 937,000 false entries on the Pulse system. “We haven’t got answers. It’s not satisfactory that the Gardai present it at as though they’re going to investigate a third party body. “This is within the force. The force must know what’s the reason for these false breath tests.” The Government are said to be intent on a ‘Patten Commission’ scale of root and branch reform. This was the inquiry which led to the dissolution of the RUC before it was replaced by the PSNI. A Government spokesman said: “The context was quite different. There’s the absence of a religious question, of a sectarian divide.
“I don’t think we’re in that space. We’re in the space of changing the culture. Trust has been lost and it needs to be rebuilt.” They added that there had been no ambiguity as to the decision at Cabinet to express confidence in the Garda Commissioner. An independent review of the force, likely to be conducted by the Policing Authority is set to be carried out. However, it is not expected to be a "fault finding" inquiry, but one "motivated by improving the force."
Crisis-hit Garda chief Noirin O’Sullivan today refused to step down and vowed to lead a “radical reform” of the country’s police force. Breaking her silence on the fake breath tests and penalty points blunder, she admitted more examples of bad practice were “inevitable”. She said an overhaul of the system was under way, adding: “We’re looking at a problem that goes back more than a decade.” The Commissioner made a statement after details of almost 15,000 wrongful traffic convictions and false claims of 937,000 drink-drive tests emerged. She said: “This is an issue which is more than systemic. It’s about ethics. It’s about supervision. “It’s about measurement. Most of all, it’s about trust.” Ms O’Sullivan said she had asked the Policing Authority to examine and review the processes used for roadside breath testing. In addition she has directed newly-promoted Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan to conduct a separate probe and report its findings within the next month. She admitted: “What we’ve found is totally unacceptable and not in keeping with the standards of a modern and professional police service. “It is a matter of grave disappointment that this has apparently been happening for so long, unchallenged.” The garda chief also hinted at more scandals to come and vowed she would not try to sweep them under the carpet. She said: “When an organisation like An Garda Siochana is on a journey of radical reform it is inevitable that we will identify more examples of bad practice. “In addition to correcting these issues we must share that information...with the public.”
It emerged on Friday that up to 14,700 people wrongly prosecuted for road traffic offences may have their convictions quoshed because of a garda error. In addition, gardai claimed two million drink-driving breath tests were carried out between 2011 and 2016 when the real figure was one million. Speaking earlier today in Rome Taoiseach Enda Kenny expressed grave concern over the latest revelations. Mr Kenny, who was attending an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the EU founding Treaty of Rome, said: “It’s not acceptable. “I’ve already expressed confidence in the Garda Commissioner a number of times. I continue to have confidence in her. It’s not for government to interfere in the running of the gardai, it’s an internal matter.” Speaking on RTE Radio 1 today Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar echoed the Taoiseach’s confidence in Ms O’Sullivan. He said she is “part of the solution” as opposed to being “part of the problem”. ON GARDA CORRUPTION AND THE TREATMENT OF WHISTLEBLOWERS http://www.integrityireland.ie/ON%20GARDA%20CORRUPTION %20AND%20THE%20TREATMENT%20OF%20WHISTLEBLOWERS.pdf
The Garda Who Limped
John Wilson woke one night to find a rat tied to the front door of his home. His mind raced. At 4am someone had journeyed far, to this quietest of quiet country lanes in Cavan to hand deliver a dark message. The symbol was striking and shocking but not totally unexpected - John Wilson is a Garda Whistleblower; a sort of Irish Edward Snowden: he accessed the computer system to expose a culture of 'ticket-fixing'. Speaking-out against widespread penalty point terminations made his career untenable, pitched him against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice, former colleagues and one-time friends.
Produced by Robert Mulhern with Ronan Kelly First Broadcast 18th January 2014 http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2014/0110/647599-documentary-podcastgarda-limped-whistleblower-john-wilson/
Head of police commission: Current garda management inherited 'poisoned chalice' 24/05/2017
The head of the new Commission on the Future of Policing says current garda management inherited a 'poison chalice'. The Commission met for the first time today - and Chairperson Kathleen O'Toole said they have a Herculean task She said gardaí on the street must be very demoralised after recent events, and that she wants to hit the reset button for the force. Kathleen O'Toole said the Commission will not look at the performance of individuals, but did offer some defence of the Garda Commissioner.
“I don’t think it would make a difference whether it was Noirín O’Sullivan or someone else. This management team inherited a poison chalice. “I think we need to get beyond the finger-pointing and the name-calling. We’re certainly not going to engage in that. We want to look to the future.” http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/head-of-police-commission-current-gardamanagement-inherited-poisoned-chalice-791033.html
Mick Wallace claims Kathleen O'Toole 'was part of the problem' in the Gardaí 24/05/2017
The head of the new Policing Commission has been accused of being part of the problems in the force. Independent TD Mick Wallace says Kathleen O'Toole can't 'reset' the Gardaí as promised. She gave a press conference earlier to coincide with the Commission's first public meeting today. Deputy Wallace was not impressed. "Listen we knew in 2014 that garda management was a serious problem and that's why the former Commissioner
Callinan lost his job, that's why the former Minister Alan Shatter who failed to deal properly with the policing lost his job. "I mean Kathleen O'Toole was on the panel that picked Noirín who was part of the problem," he said.
Kathleen O'Toole. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mick-wallace-claims-kathleen-otoole-waspart-of-the-problem-in-the-gardai-791072.html
Silencing The Garda Whistleblowers In politics by Fedayn
February 18, 2014
Back in 2010 The Sunday Tribune’s Ali Bracken reported on an alleged assault by Garda Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne on Garda Whistleblower Sgt. Maurice McCabe. In2008,theWhistleblowerhadallegedseriouschargesagainstcolleaguesin theCavan/Monaghanarea,includingframingofinnocentpeopleforcrimes, failingtoinvestigateseriouscrimesincludingsexualassaultandhijacking, publishingdetailsofavictimofdomesticabuseonsocialmedia, drunkennessatworkandfailureofmanagement. InMay2008AssistantCommissionerDerekByrnewasputinchargeofthe investigationintotheallegations.HehadbeentheseniorGardabasedin Sligoatthetimeofsomeoftheallegations;inotherwordshewastasked withinvestigatinghimselfandhissubordinates.ItwasreportedbyJohn MooneyintheSundayTimesofNovember2010thatByrne’stwoyear internalinvestigation‘upheldcomplaintsoverthefailureofofficersto followprocedures,butfoundnoevidenceofcorruption.’ TheheatedmeetingattheHillgroveHotel,Monaghantookplaceon11th October2010–presumablysubsequenttothewhistleblowerSgt.McCabe’s
learningoftheinvestigation’sreportfindingcontrarytohisproduced evidence. WehavereprintedtheSundayTribunereportonwhatallegedlytranspired below[emphasisourown]: AssistantGardacommissioneraccusedofassault:
THE GARDA commissioner has received a criminal complaint alleging that assistant commissioner Derek Byrne physically restrained and falsely imprisoned a garda whistleblower in a hotel in Monaghan last month. Byrne had been appointed to oversee an internal investigation after a garda made a number of serious allegations against his colleagues in the Cavan/ Monaghan area. He claimed gardaí failed to investigate certain serious crimes including a sexual assault, physical assault, a case of false imprisonment and hijacking. The whistleblower also alleged that some officers regularly turned up drunk to work. The garda, who has been moved from his station in the Bailieborough district since he made his complaint, also claimed that gardaí posted information about a victim of domestic violence on Bebo, the socialnetworking website. The accusations were made in a report passed to Brian McCarthy, former secretary-general to President McAleese. McCarthy was appointed by the government to receive confidential information from gardaí who want to report corruption and wrongdoing in the force. As a result, a major internal investigation was launched in May 2008, led by assistant commissioner Byrne.
Byrne met with the garda whistleblower and two other gardaí at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on 11 October. The meeting was held to discuss the investigation, which is almost complete. It is understood the assistant commissioner had not upheld some of the more serious allegations made by the whistleblower and these issues were discussed at the heated meeting. At the meeting, the whistleblower voiced concerns that Byrne was the assistant commissioner based in Sligo at the time of some of the alleged misconduct, meaning he would have had responsibility for the Bailieborough district and therefore could not be seen to be impartial. The garda also brought to the meeting boxes of documents printed from the garda intelligence system, Pulse, which he said clearly showed that gardaí had falsely claimed members of the community were involved in criminality. The whistleblower claimed that officers had incorrectly stated that innocent people were involved in crime, in a bid to increase their returns on work. The whistleblower said he planned to hand this information over to an independent body rather than the assistant commissioner. The garda then allegedly attempted to leave the room where the meeting was taking place with his boxes of documentation. In his complaint to the Garda Commissioner, the officer claimed Byrne restrained him by the arm and shoulder to prevent him leaving the room. Byrne then allegedly blocked the door and refused to let the garda leave with the documentation.
One of the gardaí present, a representative from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, tried to calm the situation down. The whistleblower claimed he was unable to leave the room and was again obstructed by the assistant commissioner when he tried to leave with the files. Byrne then took possession of the boxes of documents and left the hotel. The fourth garda present was Chief Supt Terry McGinn. It is understood the boxes of documents seized by the assistant commissioner alleging misuse of the Pulse system are to be investigated, but Byrne is not to lead this investigation. The documents have been placed in safekeeping and because of the conflict between the whistleblower and Byrne, another officer will be appointed to probe the fresh allegations. The assistant commissioner has been informed that a criminal complaint has been made against him in relation to the incident in the hotel. It is understood he will deny he assaulted and falsely imprisoned the garda but will admit there was an incident at the hotel between the pair. Formal statements have not yet been taken by gardaí. The Garda Commissioner has also been formally requested to set up an independent inquiry into the allegations of criminal malpractice at Bailieborough. A spokesman for the garda press office said he could not comment on an internal investigation. The Sunday Tribune understands deputy commissioner Nacie Rice has been appointed to investigate the allegations made against Byrne. ENDS
Inlightoftoday’sreportinBroadsheet(here)surroundingtranscriptsof GardaMcCabe’sdiscussionwithconfidentialreporterOliverConnollywe believeit’simportanttologtheSundayTribunereportwhichcanbefound ontheWayBackMachine. GardaJohnWilson,anotherwhistleblower,inaradiodocumentary‘The GardaWhoLimped’(availablehere)reiteratedsomeofMcCabe’sclaims ofseriouscorruptionincludingfalsificationofevidenceagainstinnocent people.Hehadarattiedtohisfrontdoor. Otherwhistleblowersandthosehighlightingproblemsorinvestigating issueswithintheforcehavebeensubjecttothreats,impliedorotherwise,or harassmentorderision. Thiscase,theKieranBoylanaffair,themurderofFr.NiallMolloyand recentGSOCbuggingclaimsarepartofageneralmalaisewhenitcomesto policingandreportinginIreland.(morecasessuchasdeathsincustody, missingevidenceetccoveredherebySoundmigration) ThishasseenjournalistGemmaO’DohertyfiredfromtheIndependent, ClareDalyTDhandcuffedandhumiliatedoveradrinkdrivingarrest (subsequentlycleared),TDsharassedandSgt.McCabetoldby Connolly:“I’lltellyousomethingMauriceandthisisjustpersonaladvice toyou.IfShatterthinksyou’rescrewinghim,you’refinished.” UPDATE:ReadtheGuerinReport(releasedMay9th2014whichhelped causeJusticeMinisterAlanShatter’seventualresignationandcontains referencetomuchofSergeantMcCabe’scomplaint)here https://www.scribd.com/document/223063715/Final-Redacted-Guerin-Reportof-Dodgy-Cop-Activity? ad_group=&campaign=VigLink&content=27795&irgwc=1&keyword=ft500noi& medium=affiliate&source=impactradius
Ten things you need to know about GSOC, Alan Shatter and
the Gardaí. Oireachtas Retort provides the skinny.
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1) In 1997 Kieran Boylan was sentenced to serve more than seven years for the possession of cannabis in England. In 2001 Boylan was convicted of theft and dangerous driving. 2) In 2003 Boylan obtained an international haulage license from the Dept of Transport after Gardaí provided information which suggested that he had no previous convictions. 3) GSOC launched an inquiry into Boylan in 2008 after the Sunday Times revealed that he had escaped prosecution despite being caught with heroin and cocaine worth 1.8 million in 2005. At the time he was on bail for an earlier one million euro drugs haul. 4) In custody, Boylan alluded to his involvement in entrapment operations and threatened to reveal all if charged. 5) GSOC took four years to complete its report citing determined obstruction by Garda management. The Ombudsman’s investigation into why those charges were dropped has also examined: – The nature of Boylan’s relationship with the gardaí
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– If he was acting as an informant for gardaí, registered or not – Whether any gardaí knew he was dealing drugs while acting as an informant – If he supplied drugs to dealers and gave information about those drugs to gardaí – Whether or not a conviction secured on the basis of such information is now unsafe 6) In November 2012 Alan Shatter altered a ban on gardai serving beyond the age of 60 to allow Commissioner Martin Callinan to remain at the top until August 2015, two years more than expected. 7) GSOC’s 600 page report was sent to the DPP just two weeks later. The report is believed to be critical of Martin Callinan and to have questioned the reliability of information provided by the force to the DPP’s office after Boylan’s arrest. Senior gardaí are said to have made representations to the DPP about the case before the decision to drop charges against Boylan at a court hearing in July 2008. 8) Martin Callinan, and his predecessor, Fachtna Murphy, carried out three internal investigations into Boylan’s connections with Gardai but found that there was no wrong doing involved. 9) Officers implicated in the collusion affair were
promoted while the GSOC investigation was ongoing. Callinan was their supervisor at the relevant times. 10) In May 2013 the DPP announced it will take no action on the GSOC investigation.
Among all this we have seen intimidation of whistleblowers by both gardaí and government, intimidation of journalists – including the Irish Independent’s dismal of Gemma O’Doherty and intimidation of elected representatives – selective leaks, press lead smear campaigns and the handcuffing of Clare Daly at the side of the road. Who is wondering why GSOC did not approach the Minister? Who is watching the detectives? Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has rejected criticisms of the force by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission following its investigation into alleged collusion between members of the force and a convicted drug dealer. The Ombudsman accused gardaí of delaying its investigation and expressed serious concern about informant handling procedures.
A report published this afternoon on the force's covert human intelligence system shows the High Court judge monitoring the system was satisfied gardaí are in substantial compliance. The Minister for Justice this afternoon published the Ombudsman's "special report" to him, which strongly criticises the garda informant handling procedures, training, management and governance and recommends changes. The Ombudsman is also seeking independent access to the garda PULSE computer system. Minister Alan Shatter said after he has received the Commissioner's observations on the Ombudsman's report he will convene a meeting to make sure that any difficulties have been resolved. The Ombudsman Commission accused gardaí of delaying its investigation into the case of Kieran Boylan, a convicted drug dealer against whom further drugs charges were dropped in July 2008. The public interest inquiry examined the nature of the garda relationship with the drug dealer. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed that nobody should face prosecution. The Ombudsman has also decided that no gardaí should face disciplinary action. The report took the Ombudsman over four years to complete. The DPP took four months to dismiss the report as insufficient to sustain a criminal prosecution. The commission's investigation focused on whether or not gardaí colluded with Boylan in the movement and supply of drugs. The convicted drug dealer faced six charges in connection with the seizure of €1.7m worth of cocaine and heroin at a transport yard in Co Louth in October 2005. He was on bail at the time after he had been caught with €700,000 worth of cocaine and heroin in Dublin and Louth, for which he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison. However, on the last day of the court sittings in July 2008, the 2005 drugs charges against Boylan were dropped without explanation. The Ombudsman's investigation into why those charges were dropped also examined the nature of Boylan's relationship with gardaí. It sought to establish whether or not he was acting as an informant for gardaí, registered or not. The Ombudsman investigated whether or not any gardaí knew he was dealing drugs while acting as an informant; if he supplied drugs to other drug dealers and then gave information about those drugs to the gardaí; and whether or not a conviction secured on the basis of such information is now unsafe.
However, the DPP directed that no gardaí should face prosecution and that there was not sufficient evidence to support claims that convictions connected to Boylan were unsafe. The Ombudsman today accused gardaí of repeated delay and debate and not supplying all the information within the 30-day agreed time frame. However, it acknowledged that it got all but one of the documents it sought.
Assistant garda commissioner accused of assault Ali Bracken, Crime Correspondent THE GARDA commissioner has received a criminal complaint alleging that assistant commissioner Derek Byrne physically restrained and falsely imprisoned a garda whistleblower in a hotel in Monaghan last month. Byrne had been appointed to oversee an internal investigation after a garda made a number of serious allegations against his colleagues in the Cavan/ Monaghan area. He claimed garda failed to investigate certain serious crimes including a sexual assault, physical assault, a case of false imprisonment and hijacking. The whistleblower also alleged that some officers regularly turned up drunk to work. The garda, who has been moved from his station in the Bailieborough district since he made his complaint, also claimed that garda posted information about a victim of domestic violence on Bebo, the social-networking website. The accusations were made in a report passed to Brian McCarthy, former secretary-general to President McAleese. McCarthy was appointed by the government to receive confidential information from garda who want to report corruption and wrongdoing in the force. As a result, a major internal investigation was launched in May 2008, led by assistant commissioner Byrne. Byrne met with the garda whistleblower and two other garda at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on 11 October. The meeting was held to discuss the investigation, which is almost complete. It is understood the assistant commissioner had not upheld some of the more serious allegations made by the whistleblower and these issues were discussed at the heated meeting. At the meeting, the whistleblower voiced concerns that Byrne was the assistant commissioner based in Sligo at the time of some of the alleged misconduct, meaning he would have had responsibility for the Bailieborough district and therefore could not be seen to be impartial. The garda also brought to the meeting boxes of documents printed from the garda intelligence system, Pulse, which he said clearly showed that garda had falsely claimed members of the community were involved in criminality. The whistleblower claimed that officers had incorrectly stated that innocent people were involved in crime, in a bid to increase their returns on work. The whistleblower said he planned to hand this information over to an independent body rather than the assistant commissioner. The garda then allegedly attempted to leave the room where the meeting was taking place with his boxes of documentation. In his complaint to the garda commissioner, the officer claimed
Byrne restrained him by the arm and shoulder to prevent him leaving the room. Byrne then allegedly blocked the door and refused to let the garda leave with the documentation. One of the garda present, a representative from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, tried to calm the situation down. The whistleblower claimed he was unable to leave the room and was again obstructed by the assistant commissioner when he tried to leave with the files. Byrne then took possession of the boxes of documents and left the hotel. The fourth garda present was Chief Supt Terri McGinn. It is understood the boxes of documents seized by the assistant commissioner alleging misuse of the Pulse system are to be investigated, but Byrne is not to lead this investigation. The documents have been placed in safekeeping and because of the conflict between the whistleblower and Byrne, another officer will be appointed to probe the fresh allegations. The assistant commissioner has been informed that a criminal complaint has been made against him in relation to the incident in the hotel. It is understood he will deny he assaulted and falsely imprisoned the garda but will admit there was an incident at the hotel between the pair. Formal statements have not yet been taken by garda. The garda commissioner has also been formally requested to set up an independent inquiry into the allegations of criminal malpractice at Bailieborough. A spokesman for the garda press office said he could not comment on an internal investigation. The Sunday Tribune understands deputy commissioner Naice Rice has been appointed to investigate the allegations made against Byrne. November 7, 2010
Dáil debates Tuesday, 30 May 2017 What are Dáil debates?
Leaders' Questions
Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) Former Garda press officer, Superintendent Dave Taylor, claims that he sent a text to the Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O'Sullivan, some years ago in which he told her that a journalist had interviewed a person making allegations against Maurice McCabe. Superintendent Taylor claims Commissioner O'Sullivan sent a one-word reply, "Perfect." We are told now that Commissioner O'Sullivan's phone from that time has gone missing and cannot be provided to the Charleton tribunal - perfect. Superintendent Taylor's phone has not been provided to the Charleton tribunal either. It was taken from him as part of an internal Garda investigation led by Commissioner O'Sullivan's husband and has not been returned to him.
Commissioner O' Sullivan's husband has Superintendent Taylor's phone and the Commissioner cannot find her own phone perfect, again. A senior Garda source told The Irish Timesthat "A search of Garda headquarters has taken place in recent weeks to try to find the missing phones, but there is little hope of the material being found at this stage". I would say not. Was that phone officially reported missing? If so, when exactly? Was Martin Callinan's phone officially reported missing? If so, when exactly? I am given to understand that Nóirín O'Sullivan used a second personal phone, known as the "off-site" phone, for some Garda business. Has this phone been sought or has she lost it too? More than 1,200 people at 100 sampling points in all constituencies were asked last Tuesday and Wednesday, before the story of the missing phones broke, whether Nóirín O'Sullivan should resign. A total of 57% said she should resign, 23% said she should not, while 19% expressed no opinion. This means that nearly three out of every four who expressed an opinion said that she should go. The people who are policed by An Garda Síochána, the people who pay their wages, have spoken decisively on this issue. The Government's failure to act reveals a huge democratic deficit on policing and threatens to open up a crisis of legitimacy for An Garda Síochána. There has been lots of talk this week about legacy. This is all part of the Taoiseach's legacy and it is far from perfect. Is the Taoiseach going to continue to keep the Garda Commissioner in her position and allow the further undermining of the Charleton tribunal? https://www.kildarestreet.com/debate/?id=2017-05-30a.24
'LITTLE HOPE' TD questions ‘perfect’ situation after two phones allegedly containing text from Garda Commissioner disappear
Solidarity/People Before Profit TD Mick Barry accused the Taoiseach of undermining the Charleton Tribunal by keeping O'Sullivan in her position By Adam Higgins 30th May 2017
A POLITICIAN has questioned the “perfect” situation where two mobile phones allegedly containing a text from Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan have disappeared. Solidarity/People Before Profit TD Mick Barry accused the Taoiseach of undermining the Charleton Tribunal by continuing to keep the Garda Commissioner in her position despite accusations made by whistleblowers.
Garda Commissioner Noirin O’ Sullivan
Judge Peter Charleton is leading a commission of
investigation into claims that top ranking gardai led an organised smear campaign against whistleblowers including Gda Maurice McCabe. Speaking during Leader’s Questions today, TD Mick Barry told Enda Kenny: “Former Garda press officer Supt Dave Taylor claims that he sent a text to Nóirín O’Sullivan some years ago in which he told her that a journalist had interviewed a person making allegations against Maurice McCabe. “Taylor claims O’Sullivan sent a one word reply – ‘Perfect’.
2 TD Mick Barry
“We are told now that Nóirín O’Sullivan’s phone from that time has gone missing and cannot be provided to the Charleton Tribunal. Perfect. “Dave Taylor’s phone has not been provided to Charleton either. It was taken from him as part of an internal garda
investigation, led by Nóirín O’Sullivan’s husband, and it has not been returned to him. “Nóirín O’Sullivan’s husband has Dave Taylor’s phone and Nóirín O’Sullivan can’t find her own phone. Perfect again.” The Cork TD also referenced reports that a search had been carried out at garda HQ recently in order to locate the phones but “there is little hope of the material being found at this stage.” The Taoiseach said he did not know if the claims were true or false. He said: “I don’t know if that is a true statement or not but I expect Judge Charleton will find out the truth about that.” https://www.thesun.ie/news/1069506/td-questions-perfect-situation-after-twophones-alleged-text-from-garda-commissioner-dissapear/
PERVERTS PARADISE; EXCLUSIVE IRELAND IS A HAVEN FOR FIENDS Sex Offenders Register does not exist Gardai don't know where paedo cons live MEGAN'S LAW FOR IRELAND IRISH DAILY Mirror CAMPAIGN. Byline: By PAT FLANAGAN PERVERTS are flocking here because we have NO official Sex Offenders Register, the Irish Daily Mirror can reveal. Although the courts and gardai use the term there is actually no register in existence. Yesterday a Mirror poll disclosed that the vast majority of Irish people want to know if perverts are living in their area. But the Citizens Information Board confirmed there is actually no Sex Offenders Register. The board states: "While the term Sex Offenders Register is commonly used in Ireland, there is in fact no such register.
"The term is not included in any section of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. "The only information on the whereabouts of sex offenders in Ireland which is held centrally by the Garda is a certificate issued by the court in relation to those convicted by the court of sexual offences." On the day it was revealed that one of the UK's "most wanted" sex offenders had been arrested here, the public will be shocked to learn how outdated the system for monitoring perverts is. Eighty-six per cent of those asked in the Irish Daily Mirror/Red C poll demanded to know if sex offenders lived near their homes. While the public want our own version of Megan's Law, it has now been revealed that even gardai have difficulty finding out where convicted paedophiles live. All the names and other details of those convicted of sex offences are held in an oldfashioned ledger at Garda metropolitan headquarters in Harcourt Street, Dublin. Also included are the names of overseas sex offenders who have obeyed the law and registered with the Garda. Most, including John Murrell, who is now facing extradition to the UK, do not. A Garda source said: "It's certainly not an ideal situation and I think it goes back to the original 2001 Act. "It was very cumbersome and out-of-date before it became law." Perverts have seven days to report to their local Garda station after they are released from prison. But if they refuse to sign on the most they face is a year in jail or a fine of up to EUR1,900. At the time of conviction, a certificate is issued by the court stating the person involved is subject to the Sex Offenders Act, 2001. The Garda Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit gets a copy of the Sex Offenders Notification Form from the Garda station where the offender signed on. Across the water police have a much more effective database called ViSOR which allows them to assess the risk posed by a particular offender. With ViSOR - Violent and Sex Offenders Register - officers can tell instantly how many registered sex offenders are in their area and what crimes landed them on the register. [emailprotected]
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/PERVERTS+PARADISE %3b+EXCLUSIVE+IRELAND+IS+A+HAVEN+FOR+FIENDS+Sex...a0169398873
Taoiseach asked about garda commissioner's
'missing' phone Updated / Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Enda Kenny said accuracy, veracity and truth will be established at the Charleton Inquiry
Solidarity/PBP TD Mick Barry has asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny about reports that a mobile phone used by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan at the time of the alleged smear campaign against garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe has gone missing. During Leaders' Questions, Mr Barry said: "Former Garda Press Office Supt Dave Taylor claims that he sent a text to Nóirín O'Sullivan some years ago in which he told her that a journalist had interviewed a person making allegations against Maurice McCabe. "Taylor claims O'Sullivan sent a one word reply 'Perfect'. "We are told now that Nóirín O'Sullivan's phone from that time has gone missing and cannot be provided to
the Charleton Tribunal. Perfect." A Commission of Investigation has been established to investigate allegations that there was an organised campaign against whistleblowers at the highest levels of the gardaí. Judge Peter Charleton will investigate claims made under protected disclosure legislation by Supt Taylor to the effect that he was told by former garda commissioner Martin Callinan and his then deputy Ms O'Sullivan, to brief the media that claims made by Sgt McCabe were motivated by malice and revenge and had no substance.
Peter Charleton will investigate claims made under protected disclosure legislation
He will also investigate Supt Taylor’s allegation that he was told to draw journalists' attention to an allegation of criminal misconduct against Sgt
McCabe. Mr Barry said: "Dave Taylor's phone has not been provided to Charleton either. It was taken from him as part of an internal garda investigation, led by Nóirín O'Sullivan's husband, and it has not been returned to him. "Nóirín O'Sullivan's husband has Dave Taylor's phone and Nóirín O'Sullivan can't find her own phone. Perfect again." He continued: "A senior garda source told The Irish Times 'A search of Garda HQ has taken place in recent weeks to try and find the missing phones. But there is little hope of the material being found at this stage'." Mr Barry asked if the phone was officially reported missing and when. He also asked if Mr Callinan's phone was reported missing and when. He said that he understands that Commissioner O'Sullivan had a second phone known as the "offsite phone for some garda business" and he asked if it has been sought or if it has been lost too.
He asked Mr Kenny if the Government would continue to keep the garda commissioner in position and "continue to undermine" the Charleton Tribunal. The Taoiseach said Mr Justice Charleton was the most appropriate person to carry out the investigation and had already adopted a "no nonsense" approach. Mr Kenny said he did not know whether Mr Barry's claims were true or not but Justice Charleton would find out. He said the Tribunal has comprehensive terms of reference and he would be loath to accept what the Solidarity/People Before Profit TD said on a basis of whether or not it was true. He said he would prefer to leave the accurate facts and truth to Mr Justice Charleton. Mr Barry asked the Taoiseach to ask Commissioner O'Sullivan about the missing phone. The Taoiseach said the Charleton Tribunal has made an interim report where it outlined the parties who
have been granted representation including Maurice McCabe, Dave Taylor the garda commissioner and the former garda commissioner. He said accuracy, veracity and truth will be established at the Charleton Inquiry. https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2017/0530/879073-leadersquestions-dail/
Garda auditor says superiors tried to block Templemore probe Updated / Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Niall Kelly said his 'professional integrity and competence' were questioned
The head of the internal audit unit in An Garda
Síochána has said that a culture of not admitting problems and trying to keep problems in house and away from transparent public scrutiny may still exist in the force. Niall Kelly made the remarks at the beginning of a special sitting of the Public Accounts Committee today. He is one of seven civilian employees in An Garda Síochána who will appear before the hearing. He alleged that his "direct superiors" in the force tried to block an investigation into financial irregularities at the Garda College in Templemore. Mr Kelly further claimed his "professional integrity and competence" were questioned in "an attempt to undermine" his audit report. During his opening statement to the PAC, Mr Kelly said: "Having conducted this audit and gone through all the discussions and analysis of the issues over the last two years I am convinced that there was and there may still be in some parts of An Garda Síochána a culture of not admitting to problems and when these problems persist, trying to keep them in house and away from transparent public scrutiny. "This is apparent from the reluctance by senior management to getting Internal Audit involved in the period 2008-11 and the period from July 2015 to
March 2016. "There is also evident a culture that thinks An Garda Síochána is different from other Public Sector Bodies and that the normal processes of financial procedures and transparent democratic accountability do not apply, for example from Deputy Commissioner Rice's letter of 18th September 2009." Earlier, Mr Kelly said that in the period 2008 to 2011 it was apparent to him that some people including his "direct superiors" during this period "did not want the newly-appointed and very independent internal auditor from looking too critically into the Garda College." "When I did make enquiries and attempt to get information, this information was withheld from me as apparent from the strings of emails between the then Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Director of Finance and the Chief Superintendent and Administrator in the Garda College on April 15, 2010." He also pointed out that from September 2016 to March 2017, when a draft report was concluded, he consulted widely with people that could possibly be identified in the report to ensure that fair procedures were observed. https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0531/879223-public-accountscommittee-gardai/
South East had the highest level of exaggerated breath tests in Garda controversy 28 March 2017
The South East region had the highest number of discrepancies in recorded breath tests, according to figures published today. The Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan and the Government have been under mounting pressure in recent days after it was revealed that almost a million extra breath tests were recorded. According to the figures released by the Gardai, 332,463 breath tests were recorded on the Garda PULSE system in the South East region between November 2011 and October 2016. However, only 127,291 breath tests were recorded by the actual breath test devices in the South East during the same period. That’s a percentage difference of +153%.
It’s still unclear what caused the errors. The review of roadside breath tests for five years to 2016 found the Medical Bureau of Road Safety recorded 1,058,157 tests had been carried out but the Garda recorded 1,995,369.
In an earlier statement, the Policing watchdog said: “The Authority is alarmed at the scale of the discrepancies disclosed between actual alcohol tests administered and the numbers recorded by gardaí. “This is not just an academic statistical matter, it is an ethical one. It raises serious questions of integrity for the Garda Siochana organisation and combined with previous issues regarding inflated activity levels, erodes confidence in the credibility of Garda data generally. “It again raises concerns about management and supervision… In the view of the Authority, the scale of the discrepancy is further evidence of deep cultural problems within the Garda service – a culture in which such behaviour was possible.” The Policing Authority said the Garda had admitted that there are possible wrongful prosecutions and convictions. Some 830,000 cases have been reviewed by the force and people affected are being contacted but the watchdog said there are potentially thousands of people caught up in the errors. http://www.beat102103.com/news/south-east-highest-levelexaggerated-breath-tests-garda-controversy/
Frances Fitzgerald caught up in breath-test scandal; Tánaiste and Garda boss called to resign Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has become embroiled in the Garda breath test “cover-up” as she and Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan faced calls to resign their positions in the Dáil.
Frances Fitzgerald looks at Noirin O'Sullivan As it emerged that thousands of drivers wrongly convicted could be in line for compensation, Ms Fitzgerald was accused of “doing nothing” about the scandal despite knowing about it for nine months. Breaking her silence on the matter, in an astonishing admission, the Tánaiste said that she only learned of the scale of the breath test scandal when she saw a Garda press conference last week, despite concerns being raised as far back as 2014. Commissioner O’Sullivan has until tomorrow to salvage her credibility or risk the stability of the minority government as Fianna Fáil warned they will “consider their options” based on how she performs at an emergency meeting of the Oireachtas Justice Committee. Last night, the independent Police Authority heaped further pressure on the commissioner saying it “has not yet been provided with the full internal reports or indeed a clear sense of how these matters have been handled to date within the Garda Síochána”. The authority has given Ms O’Sullivan until Friday to submit the information. It turned down her request for the Garda Inspectorate to examine the breath test scandal. Government has agreed an external review of the gardaí in the wake of the fake alcohol tests and penalty points scandal but it “will not be fault finding”, it was agreed.
During a lengthy four-hour meeting of Cabinet yesterday — mostly consumed with the latest Garda fiasco — it was agreed that a “root and branch” review would be conducted. This external review will be on top of two others of the force, including an internal one by gardaí themselves and a separate review by the Policing Authority of the points and alcohol testing scandal. From 2006 to 2016, a total of 146,865 district court summonses were issued in error. 14,700 citizens were brought before the courts and wrongly convicted. The minister came under fire in a Dáil debate last night, with calls for her to go and more questions about what she had done since details of the convictions and breath tests scandal reached her desk. Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan said since first learning of wrongful convictions against motorists nine months ago, she had “done nothing” about them. But the Tánaiste said she only became aware of the full scale of the scandal last week. She said people wrongfully convicted would start receiving letters from next week. “All fines will be reimbursed and penalties removed,” she said. She also conceded that there may be “compensation”, a scenario which could cost the State tens of millions of euro. The minister said the scandal was “completely unacceptable” and “all of the facts will emerge”. She confirmed the first reports of the phantom alcohol breath tests were raised by a whistle-blower in 2014 with Government. But she said it would be wrong if the Dáil was responsible for removing a Garda commissioner and this was the power of the Policing Authority. Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness described the scandal as a clear example of “corruption and mismanagement” within the gardaí. He said the failure of the gardaí to inform the Tánaiste of the scandal amounted to a “cover-up”. Wexford TD Mick Wallace also said the Garda commissioner would not last the year and that the public “are sick to the back teeth of hearing” about independent
reviews. Prof Denis Cusack of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety clearly said that in 2014 and August 2015, gardaí were alerted to the significant discrepancies between the amount of equipment used and the amount of breath tests recorded. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/frances-fitzgerald-caught-upin-breath-test-scandal-tanaiste-and-garda-boss-called-to-resign446423.html
Incredible' that mobile phone belonging to Garda Commissioner has gone missing Monday, May 29, 2017
The tribunal investigating an alleged smear campaign against Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe has encountered a setback. It has emerged that a mobile phone belonging to Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan has gone missing. Opposition TDs last night demanded an explanation from Ms O'Sullivan as to how crucial evidence is no longer in existence. Mick Clifford is a Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner and outlines what the tribunal is looking for. "They're looking for a mobile phone that was in the Commissioner's possession around the period 2013 to 2014, which is really the period when there was an alleged campaign, smear campaign against Sergeant Maurice McCabe. "This phone is not available. This is very unfortunate as you can imagine because quite obviously the Tribunal believes, I'd imagine with some justification, that there might be some evidence on there that might be relevant to the tribunal," he said.
Labour TD Alan Kelly has said: "The reported fact that the mobile phone that was used by Commissioner O'Sullivan during the period that the Charleton Enquiry are investigating is lost is quite frankly incredible. https://www.scribd.com/document/326782409/Corruptionand-Illegal-Laws-in-Ireland
I have figured it out! O'Sullivan's phone is not missing at all! its invisible ! Here she is talking on it!!!! https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserv...182&resize=685 Or like Callinan's "missing" mobile, has she learned something from the good old Commies in the former USSR and has all images of it airbrushed from history? Struggling to see how this means what you imagine. So some phones are gone and yet noone is going with the obvious, that they might have been destroyed or reset as a matter of course and security. Many companies regularly replace their phones and other IT every couple of years or less. Lots of confirmation bias going on with this.
But is it not a security issue that no one knows where this phone , this is the Garda commissioners phone, remember she is charge of both policing and security of the country, surely someone should know where it is or what happened to it. One of the papers said today that when it was first revealed a good while back that Callanan's phone was missing O'Sullivan agreed to put measures in place to ensure this could not happen again , and now here we are in the same situation with her own phone. Do you not think she should have taken a personal interest in ensuring this would not happen to her devices , it is beyond incompetence that the force does not know what happened to communication devices once held by such senior members.
Disillusioned democrat
But is it not a security issue that no one knows where this phone , this is the Garda commissioners phone, remember she is charge of both policing and security of the country,
surely someone should know where it is or what happened to it. One of the papers said today that when it was first revealed a good while back that Callanan's phone was missing O'Sullivan agreed to put measures in place to ensure this could not happen again , and now here we are in the same situation with her own phone. Do you not think she should have taken a personal interest in ensuring this would not happen to her devices , it is beyond incompetence that the force does not know what happened to communication devices once held by such senior members. .
There was also that kerfuffle of Noreen O'Sullivan using gmail for work emails t'would seem security isn't high on her list of priorities.
F*cking hell... if the Garda Commissioner is this blissfully unaware of potential state security breaches by her use of Gmail for work emails and her mobile phone, presumably a smart-phone' going missing then she has to be as thick as a brick. Have the AGS got an exemption from Data Protection Act regulations? Because this is potentially a serious breach depending on the records on the 'phone and/or the SIM card. What is the bloody point of having an intelligence agency if the state's garda commissioner is operating in a way that is completely wide open to security breaches?
The stink of Garda corruption is getting a whole lot stinkier for O'Sullivan! The cesspit of Templemore's financial skulluggery will be to the fore tomorrow at the PAC meeting. Garda culture seeks to conceal problems, claims Niall Kelly A senior civilian in An Garda Síochána has alleged that senior figures in the force deliberately withheld information about financial irregularities at its Templemore training college.
The allegations are included in a statement sent by Niall Kelly, head of the Garda’s internal audit unit, ahead of an appearance before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday. Mr Kelly alleges there were numerous attempts to interfere in his work and withhold information about alleged financial mismanagement at the college from his unit. He said there was a culture that “the newly appointed and very independent internal audit” should not be looking too critically into the Garda college in Templemore. Mr Kelly was responsible for an audit of the college, released in March, which found Templemore had been renting out land it did not own, running 50 bank accounts and using public money to fit out privately owned shops.
Senior gardaí tried to conceal irregularities, says head of audit Garda auditor warns of culture in force that shuns normal standards of ‘democratic accountability’ May 31, 17
Sarah Bardon
Niall Kelly, head of the Garda’s internal audit unit, said there was a perception within the force problems should not be admitted to and kept away from public scrutiny. Photograph: Frank Miller
A senior civilian in An Garda Síochána has alleged that senior figures in the force deliberately withheld information about financial irregularities at its Templemore training college. I expect we will soon see a "Where is Noirin O'Sullivan's mobile" book out soon. Just like the "Where is Wally" kids books but without the humour..... Meanwhile TD Mick Barry at Dail questions put it very well.... “Former Garda Press Officer Superintendent Dave Taylor claims that he sent a text to Noirin O’Sullivan, some years ago, in which he told her that a journalist had interviewed a person making allegations against Maurice McCabe. Taylor claims O’Sullivan sent a one-word reply, ‘perfect’. “We are told now that Noirin O’Sullivan’s phone from that time has gone missing and cannot be provided to the Charleton Tribunal. Perfect. “Dave Taylor’s phone hasn’t been provided to Charleton either. It was taken from him, as part of an internal Garda investigation, led by Noirin O’Sullivan’s husband and has not been returned to him. “So. Noirin O’Sullivan’s husband has Dave Taylor’s phone. And Noirin O’Sullivan can’t find her own phone. Perfect again. “A senior Garda source told The Irish Times ‘a search of Garda HQ has taken place in recent weeks to try and find the missing phones’. It goes on to say, ‘but there’s little hope of the material being found at this stage’. I’d say there isn’t all right, Taoiseach.
“Was that phone officially reported missing? If so, when exactly? Was [former Garda Commissioner] Martin Callinan’s phone officially reported missing? When exactly? “By the way, I’m given to understand that Noirin O’Sullivan used a second phone, a personal phone, known as the off-site phone for some Garda business. Has this phone been sought? Has she lost this phone too?”
Here's FG twat, Simple Simon on his invisible Mobile (loaned to him by O'Sullivan) on close inspection it is probably Noirins missing phone! http://c1.thejournal.ie/media/2014/0...71-752x501.jpg
So, how many phones - those belonging to senior Gardaí - have been disappeared now? I go back to my original point: AGS is not fit for purpose. Unless of course its purpose is to 'lose' evidence
did anyone else find this part of the article particularly disturbing "Talyor has alleged hr texted O'Sullivan about these matters and she replied. O'Sullivan has denied his allegation and pointed out that texts found on phones seized from Taylor contained vulgar and offensive comments about her" Given that the phones were seized during a criminal investigation, 1. how did the info get to O'Sullivan about what was on them and 2. how is O'Sullivan allowed to release this information into the public domain without breaching the DPA or arguably the Garda Act ? so how does O'sullivan know the contents of a missing phone ?
https://image.ibb.co/h7Jz5v/Cop.jpg Oh Frances...has the charade gone on long enough?? https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0531/87...mittee-gardai/ and then there's this... Garda HR chief FFS - when will enough be enough? It's beyond concerning at this stage. The people our elected representatives pay very well to uphold the law of the land seem to believe they are completely above those same laws
Garda HR chief ‘appalled’ at Commissioner’s refusal to release letter Heated exchanges at committee on Garda’s handling of financial irregularities at Templemore May 31, 17
Simon Carswell, Sarah Bardon
The Public Accounts Committee is hearing evidence on Wednesday from six civilian members of An Garda Síochána. File photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins
The civilian head of human resources at An Garda Síochána has described as “extraordinary” a claim that he may have been guilty of a crime for raising concerns about
financial irregularities at the Garda training college in Templemore. The Garda are not so bad really They need more professional training and backup as a Force The big problem is the Justice System and the Prison system It creates career criminals Like who the hell would like to be a Garda in this day and age? 16,700 would like to join the Garda....according to last year's recruitment drive. I agree the Garda could do with better training, but that has nothing to do with the Garda's present difficulties. There is so much talk these days about the whistle-blowers and their treatment that we seem to be losing sight of the big picture. There is more than Superintendent Taylor blowing the whistle. Taylor's list of complaints has gone public. Another Superintendent has handed his story to a group of TDs. He does not want his family to experience the same torture as Sargent McCabes family. The number of whistleblowers does not stop there. There is no grudge. It is simply a case of seeing that JUSTICE is done, which afterall is what AGS are paid to do. You cannot have a functional Justice System where crimes go unpunished because of who you are and who your friends are. Its been going on too long and the disease is spreading. FG promised to do something about it but almost six years later we are still waiting for action. Did they find it was rotten to the core, too big to handle? Were they too afraid of "reprisals"? 18 months after FG formed a coalition government with Labour a survey carried out showed that 86% of people put corruption as a major concern. You would have thought that the message would have got through Wouldn't be an advocate of the idea that we are the worst in the world for corruption but we are right up at the top for blissfully ignoring what corruption there is, no one in the media or politics (beyond Daly, Wallace, Murphy and a few others) blinks when potentially evidence and important files disappear or go on fire. Just did a search for a few examples I remember and they have disappeared from the oireachtas website and the media websites they were reported from! Fire in the server room perhaps.
Kildare VEC was chastised after it bought more than €890,000 worth of computers and support services from a former employee. TheVECspent21%ofitse1.9mhardwarebudgetbetween2006and2010withacompany formedbythispersonandafurther€486,000onmaintenanceandsupportservices. ComptrollerandAuditorGeneral,JohnBuckley,saidtherewerearangeofshortcomingsinthese deals,includinginsufficienttenderingandthelackofproperrecords. Inaspecialreport,healsohighlightedfailingsinKildareVEC’sflawedhandlingofa€23m propertydeal.Ithaddepartmentalapprovaltotakeouta€20.7mloanover24monthstopayfor thedevelopmentofnewschool.Thiswastobepaidbackfromthesaleofanoldschoolsitein Naasfore23mtoSuperquinn.Whenthegrocerychaincollapsed,sodidthesale. InthelastfourmonthsthedepartmenthashadtobailoutKildareVECtothetuneof€20m.There isstilladisputewiththebankabouttheliabilityforrolledupinterest.
MrBuckleyalsoraisedconcernsaboutanumberofarrangementslinkedtothenewschooldeal. Inoneinstanceanauctioneerwaspaid€139,150in2008withoutacompetitivetender.Inanother, acompanyhiredtoworkonasmallschemein2004waskeptonasprojectmanagerforthelarger development.Aspartofthis,thefirmearned€830,000between2005and2011withoutthework beingtenderedfor. ChiefexecutiveofKildareVEC,SeanAshe,defendedhisorganisationatyesterday’smeetingof thePublicAccountsCommitteeandsaidthedepartmenthadbeenkeptinformedatalltimesabout itsaffairs. However,heacceptedmistakeshadbeenmade. “IdoofcoursefullyacceptthepointbytheC&AGthattheprocessmustnotjustdelivervalue, butbedemonstrablyopenandtransparent.” MrAshesaidlessonshadbeenlearnedand,particularlyinrelationtothepurchaseofITservices, changeshadbeenmade. However,hetoldthecommittee,andearliertheC&AG,thattenderfilesdidexistbuthadjust beenmisfiled.Hesaidjustbecauseitcouldnotsourcethedocumentstobackupitsprocurement processdidnotmeantheproperruleswerenotfollowed. InadocumentMrAshesuppliedtothePAC,KildareVECsaidmanyofitsfilesonthecompany runbyoneofitsexworkerswerenotavailableandwerepossibly“destroyedinanarsonattack”. PACchairmanJohnMcGuinnesscriticisedtheDepartmentofEducationforfailingtoexercise properoversightovertheVECsystemorpoliceforvalueformoney. HeraisedtheissueoftheproposedmergerofLongfordandWestmeathVECsasacaseofwaste. Inthisinstanceitwasconfirmedtohimthatthedecisionwasreachedtohousethetwobodiesin Mullingar,wherethebuildingisleasedfor€118,300. ThiswasinsteadofusingtheLongfordpremises,wheretheStatewaspayingapeppercornrentof €13.33ayear. MrMcGuinnesssaidthedepartmenthadnotrealisedtheimportanceofmakingvalueformoney decisionsandignoredaperfectlygoodpropertyinLongford. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/vec-criticised-after-890k-of-it-budget-paidto-ex-employee-183313.html
Sword of Justice needs to be sharpened The politicians are using grandiose words about whistleblowers. But we need action
It's now five months since we found out that the Garda Commissioner, Noirin O'Sullivan, made a very serious allegation against whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. It was false. Last Thursday, the Minister for Justice unloaded half a tonne of bullshit on to the floor of the Dail. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/gene-kerrigan/sword-of-justiceneeds-to-be-sharpened-35115162.html
The good, the bad and the irresponsible A garda gave his life to save one vulnerable woman, but the system utterly failed another
SiobhanPhillipswasavulnerablewoman.InOctober2015,GardaTonyGoldenwasmurderedtrying toprotecther.DaraQuigleywasavulnerablewoman.Amonthago,whenshewasataverylowebb, utterlydefenceless,avideoofherplightsomehowemergedfromGardacustody.Itwasdisplayedfor theworldtosee.
Withinashorttimeshekilledherself. Thesearetheextremeswe'veexperiencedfromtheGardaforce. My God, but anyone who can stand up and praise our political system at this stage is very suspect. Ireland is a cesspool, an overflowing cesspool....and the only time we find out how bad it is, is when the very generous pool of cess overflows into a media event. Then we blame TD's who will not conform to dress code and hair length. We need more Daly Wallace groups, people who will not bend and will ask questions on the corruption and NAMA type scandals. Watch Enda Kimmy run to Lowry for budget support. It's all a game to the men in suits, the law makers, tax accountants and big business. The rest of us can only trot out disgust for the system on keyboards. Divide and conquer really works perfectly in Ireland. In fact it works really well. Is a garda planting drugs on an innocent woman a MINOR THING? Read today's Sunday Times. The judge threw the case out because of a garda whistleblower's evidence. An attempt by AGS to blacken the name of an innocent woman and you turn a blind eye to it in order to cover up the scale of corruption. Sad God help Ireland.w http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/gene-kerrigan/the-good-the-badand-the-irresponsible-35712338.html
Statement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD on Protected Disclosures 7 October 2016 Last Monday I received correspondence under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014 from two members of An Garda Síochána. While there has been much public comment on the nature of these disclosures the law is very clear: a fundamental protection of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014 means I can say nothing publicly which might identify the persons making the disclosures. This means that I cannot comment on the accuracy or otherwise of reports which have appeared about the nature of these disclosures. As I have already said publicly, it is vitally important that the claims of people making such disclosures are properly addressed. We have to do that in a way that is proper, just and fair to all. The rights of everyone to fairness and proper procedures have to be vindicated. Throughout this week I made it clear I would take the appropriate course of action without delay. Having consulted with the Attorney General, I am now in a position to announce a first step in the process to ensure that these protected disclosures are addressed properly. Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, a former Judge of the High Court, has agreed, taking into account the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014, to: - review allegations of wrongdoing contained in the disclosures
- make any inquiries with persons or bodies that he considers appropriate in relation to the review - report to me within six weeks on the conclusion of the review including any recommendations which he may consider necessary in relation to any further action which may be appropriate and warranted to address the allegations. The review will have regard to reports made to me under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 dated 26 August 2016 and 26 September 2016 insofar as they are relevant to the allegations. I am very grateful that a person of such eminent standing has agreed to undertake the review. I am determined that An Garda Síochána operate to the very highest standards and this involves ensuring that allegations of wrongdoing are dealt with properly and the persons making those allegations are fully protected and respected. On conclusion of the review I will consider what further steps may be necessary. ENDS
http://justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR16000282 John McGuinness, ex chair of PAC was on radio today. He kept quiet re car park meeting with Callinan,giving spurious reasons. Surely he should not have remained in chair after that without revealing details.
John McGuinness is for the time being not revealing details of his meeting last week with a garda whistleblower relating to a separate matter. Garda whistleblowers coming out of the woodwork it seems and the "Justice" Minister only wants certain claims investigated in an effort to limit the damage to FG and AGS. Are FF holding back information and using it as a bargaining tool in budget negotiatins? I would not put it past them. Will the inquiry include the scandalous behavior, reported in tthe Sunday Times, of the gardai planting drugs on an innocent woman. The honest judge saw fit to believe another honest garda whistleblower. The case was thrown out of court. The bent gardai remain unpunished. The innocent woman's life is shattered. We need to remind ourselves once again what it was the whistle-blowers were blowing the whistle on. Sadly, the disgraceful treatment of Claire Daly is typical of the antics we've come to expect from the Garda. Daly's case made the headlines but don't think for one minute that it was an isolated incident.
Garda whistleblower criticises 'narrow scope' of inquiry Monday, 10 Oct 2016
Last week Frances Fitzgerald announced a review into an alleged smear campaign against garda whistleblowers
Lawyers for garda whistleblower, Keith Harrison, have written to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald criticising what they say is the narrow scope of the
judge-led review which she announced last week into allegations of a deliberate and high-level smear campaign against whistleblowing in the force. According to legal correspondence seen by RTÉ, solicitors for Garda Harrison wrote to the Minister this weekend, saying they and their client were "astonished" at what they described as serious failure of the review, under Judge Iarfhlaith O'Neill, to include garda Harrison - who they allege has been subject to the same smear campaign as Sergeant Maurice McCabe up to the present date. The Judge O'Neill review was announced by Ms Fitzgerald last week, after it emerged that the former head of the Garda press office, Superintendent David Taylor, had made a protected disclosure alleging that he took part in a smear campaign against the whistleblower Sgt McCabe. Superintendent Taylor said he was following orders from senior gardaí. The announced review will examine Supt Taylor's disclosure, alongside reports carried out by John Barrett, the civilian head of Human Resources in the gardaí, who was also Sgt McCabe's official liaison. However, according to correspondence seen by RTÉ's This Week, lawyers for another whistleblower, Garda Keith Harrison, have slated the new review as being "historical" in nature, as it appears to only relate to allegations of mistreatment against
Sgt McCabe. Garda Harrison's case has been raised widely in the Dáil by independent TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. Garda Harrison has alleged that his career was effectively ruined by harassment from senior colleagues after he arrested a detective garda for suspected drink driving. The letter, sent yesterday by Kilfeather and Company solicitor on behalf of Garda Harrison to Ms Fitzgerald, said that the "review in its current form is limited to historical events and clearly fails to address our clients concerns". The lawyers said that Garda Harrison, and also his family, continued to be subjected to "covert surveillance, victimisation, bullying and harassment". The letter raised doubts over whether the review can be effective if it does not include Garda Harrison's experience within its scope, adding that "failing to do so raises serious questions of the effectiveness, transparency and credibility of the review". "The treatment which our client continues to endure shall be compounded by his exclusion from the review, we hereby call upon you to reconsider the terms of the review." The two-page letter referred to an alleged smear campaign against Garda Harrison which comprised
of "dissemination of rumour, innuendo, and malicious falsehoods to certain member of the media". It also claimed these rumours were shared with politicians and other members of the force. RTÉ's This Week understands that the reference in the letter to the spreading of falsehoods to a "certain member of the media" relates to a specific alleged admission by a member of the media to Keith Harrison's team in recent days, in which the member of the media said that gardaí had used malicious and false rumours about Garda Harrison to warn them off taking his complaints about malpractice seriously. The Department of Justice did not respond to a query from RTÉ's This Week to clarify whether the scope of the judge-led review does omit garda whistleblowers such as Garda Harrison and also others who continue to allege that they are the subject of smears, unwarranted surveillance and intimidation of them and their families. Phone data important part of whistleblower probe, says McGrath Meanwhile, Minister of State Finian McGrath has said he will go to Cabinet to ensure that Judge O'Neill has access to data contained on a garda whisteblower's mobile phone. Speaking on RTÉ's The Week In Politics, Mr McGrath said access to phone data would be "a very important
part of any investigation" and added: "You can take it that the Independent Alliance will raise that at Cabinet level."
Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle said the mobile phone data was "vitally important", adding Minister McGrath "had to ensure that Iarfhlaith O'Neill had access to all of the evidence that he required to carry out his investigation". He said: "I would be very worried that his investigation could be curtailed." One whistleblower claimed that he was instructed by senior officers to spread false rumours about a colleague via text message; however his mobile phone is in garda custody in relation to a separate inquiry. Sinn Féin's David Cullinane said it was "very important that the Terms of Reference [for Mr Justice O'Neill] were right and are appropriate".
Mr Pringle called on Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to step aside while Mr Justice O'Neill's investigation was taking place. On the wider issue of cultural change within An Garda Síochána regarding whistleblowers, he claimed "there is a lot of talk of cultural change but there is very little evidence that it is happening". "It raises so many questions about the behaviour of senior management in the Gardaí. It also raises serious questions over what level of co-operation Garda Management will give to the Charleton Enquiry. It raises even further questions about the competence of Garda Management," he said.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1009/822626-whistleblower-garda-inquiry/ Maybe you're being a bit hard on the Superintendent. Supt. Taylor's misfortunes began when he was suspected of being himself a whistle-blower. The incident involving the Roma child was a classic example of Garda incompetence but not really anything for them to get overly worked up about. By no stretch could one say the Garda action was criminal or corrupt.
And yet this comparatively minor incident led to the arrest and detention of Supt, Taylor for twenty hours and, very significantly, the seizure of his phone and computer. J P Morgan once said..."A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason Who knows, maybe the Roma affair was a good reason to arrest and detain the Superintendent but getting hold of his phone and laptop might have been the real reason. In your view the garda whistleblowers have come forward revealing systematic abuses just because they fell out with their superiors. In an earlier post you agreed that the whisleblowers held a grudge against their superiors/colleagues. In my view the many garda whistleblowers reported their concerns to their superiors and the grudge and falling out came not from the concerned whistleblowers but from their superiors resulting in disgusting and often criminal repercussions. Let's play good cop verses bad whistleblower is the dangerous game you and the FG shills are acting out and for what purpose, to save ass.
The Roma scandal leak should never be tolerated and those concerned should be dealt with accordingly but how can a police force who come down hard on leaking stories to the press and at the same time seem to tolerate or show indifference to criminal behaviour by other members be taken seriously . Planting drugs and taking bribes is one thing but leaking information to the press, well that's a step too far.
Yes indeed, as any good Blue$hit would agree and to paraphrase his Lordship (tug your forelocks my good man and bow!) Lord Denning, the infamous Judge that would have rather seen the innocent Guildford Four hung rather than have British "justice" called into question, Denning remarked that if the Guildford Four had been hanged "They'd probably have hanged the right men. Just not proved against them, that's all" and he also said the same about the innocent Birmingham Six in 1988, saying: "Hanging ought to be retained for murder most foul. We shouldn't have all these campaigns to get the Birmingham Six released if they'd been hanged. They'd have been forgotten, and the whole community would be satisfied... It is better that some innocent men remain in jail than that the integrity of the English judicial system be impugned." Demonstrably based upon Fine Gaels continued reluctance and foot dragging to expose corruption in the Gardai along with Callinan's protege O'Sullivan refusal to even answer the most basic press questions on the topic For senior management in the Gardai and BellEnda's Fine Gael politicians its a case of "It is better that some innocent men (whistleblowers) have their lives destroyed than that the integrity of the Irish Gardai be impugned."
I’m going to hit this guy' Tense meeting between garda whistleblowers The fallout from the Garda whistleblower scandal is far from over as Commissioner O'Sullivan is about to find out
3 Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan (Left) and Superintendent Dave Taylor
GARDA Sergeant Maurice McCabe looked across at Superintendent Dave Taylor in disbelief. The two gardai had been speaking for more than three hours and McCabe could not believe what he was hearing. The country’s most recognisable whistleblower had been through the mill over the last few years and knew there
was a smear campaign against him within the force. He knew his credibility was being called into question by some of his colleagues when he decided to go public with his allegations of quashed penalty points and misconduct in the force. But, as he sat opposite Taylor over cups of tea in the former head of the Garda Press Office’s home in north Dublin, the only thing going through McCabe’s mind was: “I’m going to hit this guy”.
Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe (Picture: Tom Burke)
Taylor, who is currently suspended from the force due to an ongoing investigation into claims he leaked confidential garda information, did all the talking. McCabe just listened. The Superintendent claimed he was central to an orchestrated campaign sanctioned by the highest level of An Garda Siochana to discredit McCabe. Taylor was brutally honest and became emotional at times during the conversation. “We hated you,” he told McCabe. He claimed an intelligence file was created on McCabe in Garda Headquarters under the name ‘Oisin’ and details of
the garda’s private and professional life were collated. Taylor said three phones, which are currently in garda custody as part of the investigation into leaks, held the evidence to back up his claims.
NOT OVER YET: Superintendent Dave Taylor, who has been on sick leave since April Picture: Colin Keegan
He said the phones contained chains of text messages outlining the plot to target McCabe by spreading vicious lies about the whistleblower and his family. The texts were sent to senior gardai, members of the media, and prominent politicians. The allegations could never be printed due to the defamatory nature of the claims, but they spread like wildfire in political and garda circles. No matter how many times independent investigations proved McCabe’s claims were correct, there was always a cloud over his reputation. Taylor told McCabe he regretted the role he played in spreading the rumours but insisted he was acting under instruction. He claimed former garda commissioner Martin Callinan knew what was going on, as did his successor Noirin O’Sullivan, who was then a deputy commissioner. McCabe was fuming.
After he left and calmed down, McCabe called Taylor a few days later to tell him he was going to make a protected disclosure under whistleblower legislation. Taylor took legal advice and decided he would also send a disclosure setting out his allegations to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald. The two gardai sent separate statements to Ms Fitzgerald two weeks ago and on Friday, the Tanaiste announced the establishment of a statutory inquiry into the claims of a smear campaign against McCabe. During their first meeting, Taylor also opened up about the ordeal he had been through while suspended from the force. Taylor was close to Martin Callinan and was regularly sent out to bat for his boss throughout the litany of controversies which led to the commissioner’s downfall. He was sitting behind the former Garda Commissioner when he described McCabe’s actions as “disgusting” during a Public Accounts Committee hearing. He was moved to the Traffic Division soon after Callinan retired and Noirin O’Sullivan was appointed. This was widely seen as a demotion by Taylor’s colleagues, who knew a garda of his experience would not be happy working in traffic. In February 2015, Detective Superintendent James McGowan, who is Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan’s husband, came into Taylor’s office in Dublin Castle and seized his phone and laptop on foot of a bench warrant. Two months later, Taylor found himself down in his local garda station where he was arrested over claims he leaked information to a journalist about a Roma child taken into custody over fears she had been kidnapped. It turned out that the child was wrongly taken from her parents following a spurious complaint from a neighbour, and a Children’s Ombudsman report was extremely critical of the garda investigation into the matter. In a sworn affidavit submitted as part of a High Court
action seeking to quash the investigation into the leak, Taylor claimed his arrest was aimed at humiliating and ridiculing him. He said the gardai who detained him were unnecessarily heavy handed given the nature of the crime he was alleged to have committed. Taylor said the investigation and subsequent suspension has led to his health deteriorating and he suffered panic attacks, breathlessness, headaches and feelings of pressure. McCabe has also been on sick leave since April. He got a sick cert from his doctor citing work-related stress just before the publication of Justice Kevin O’Higgins’s Commission of Investigation into his claims of garda malpractice. The inquiry was supposed to herald a new dawn of transparency in the force and McCabe went into the process singing the praises of Commissioner O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan had also publicly commended McCabe for exposing failings in An Garda Siochana. However, behind the closed doors of the inquiry room in Smithfield, Dublin, it was a different story. O’Sullivan’s legal team told the judge they were tasked by the commissioner with testing McCabe’s credibility and motivation for making allegations against his own colleagues. Some would say this is fair enough as the garda sergeant’s allegations needed to be rigorously tested given the seriousness of the accusations. McCabe’s legal team, however, believed the robust questioning was not in the spirit of the investigation and argued against the approach. More concerning though was a claim by two gardai that McCabe told them during a meeting in Mullingar Garda Station that his allegations were based on a personal grudge against a senior officer. Luckily for McCabe he had a recording of the conversation which completely rubbished the claim by gardai that he
was motivated by malice towards colleagues. The O’Higgins Report was critical of some actions taken by McCabe but in general it recognised the personal cost he endured in coming forward with his allegations. The controversy surrounding the inquiry put the Commissioner on the backfoot and she found herself fighting a public relations battle. The Garda scandals should have been put to bed at this stage, but Government ministers found themselves being asked to publicly express confidence in the Commissioner. And that wasn’t the end of it. John McGuinness, Fianna Fail’s former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), took to the floor of the Dail to make further accusations about the treatment of McCabe by senior officers. McGuinness claimed the then garda commissioner Martin Callinan asked to have a discreet meeting ahead of McCabe’s appearance before the PAC to discuss quashed penalty points. So discreet was the meeting that it took place in the car park of Bewley’s Hotel on the Naas Road in Dublin. The date was January 24 2014 — the eve of the first anniversary of Garda Adrian Donohoe’s murder by a gang holding up a credit union in Dundalk. Callinan spoke at a press conference marking the occasion that day, but he had other things on his mind. Speaking in the Dail in May, McGuinness said: “The garda commissioner confided in me in a car park on the Naas Road that Garda McCabe was not to be trusted and there were serious issues about him.” He described the accusations levelled against McCabe as vile and said they were made to discredit the whistleblower. Callinan has never spoken publicly about these accusations and has so far yet to address the claims made by his former confidant Superintendent Dave Taylor. Noirin O’Sullivan has denied any knowledge of Callinan’s meeting with McGuinness and last week issued a statement insisting she was not involved in any campaign
to smear McCabe. She also listened as Opposition politicians once again called for her resignation and ministers responded by expressing confidence in her. The Commissioner now faces being called before another judge- led inquiry and this time she will be the star witness. There is also the small matter of a minor revolt among senior officers bubbling beneath the surface in Garda Headquarters, of which the Commissioner will be all too aware as she battles to bring the latest whistleblower fiasco under control. Today’s revelations about the gross mismanagement of public funds by the Garda College in Templemore will add to her worries. Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald is eager to act quick and memories of former justice minister Alan Shatter’s fall from grace in the wake of Callinan’s sudden retirement are surely to the fore of her mind. O’Sullivan will know Taylor, more than any other garda, knows where the bodies are buried during Garda scandals. Whether he has the evidence to link them to the sitting Commissioner remains to be seen.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/im-goingto-hit-this-guy-tense-meeting-between-gardawhistleblowers-35115941.html
Minister ponders claims top gardaí covered up abuse Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald held meetings this week to discuss allegations that senior gardaí covered up claims of sex abuse in Waterford. Saturday, October 08, 2016 Saoirse McGarrigle
Labour leader Brendan Howlin confirmed that he handed over a comprehensive document compiled by one of Bill Kenneally’s victims detailing a “litany of concerns around the handling of the investigation”. “There is going to have to be an investigation of some kind and the victims must be at the heart of it,” Mr Howlin told the Irish Examiner.
The matter has been referred to Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan by Ms Fitzgerald, who has “in the first place, sought the views of the Garda Commissioner on the issues raised”. Mr Howlin said he had met with a victim and “believed that there are many issues that must be explored”. He said: “I met with the Tánaiste on Tuesday night briefly in the Dáil, then I met with her again at lunchtime on Wednesday. I sat down with Frances and went through it and she accepts the significance of the situation.” He added that he expects to speak with Ms Fitzgerald again next week and hopes to meet with her and the victims to discuss the parameters of the inquiry. Victim Paul Walsh, 45, says he is “very eager” to ensure that all victims are given the opportunity to “tell their story”. He was abused for a number of years and waived his anonymity after the trial in February of this year when Kenneally was jailed for 14 years for abusing 10 boys in the 1980s. Mr Walsh is one of five abuse victims who wrote to Ms Fitzgerald last month through their lawyer Darragh Mackin seeking a Commission of Investigation. They claim senior gardaí, members of the South East Health Board, members of Fianna Fáil, and members of the Catholic Church were aware of the abuse and “turned a blind eye”. The force is rotten. The reason? A level of deference that ultimately amounts to impunity.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/minister-pondersclaims-top-gardai-covered-up-abuse-424762.html
A force in fear of talking to the media puts public at risk Reprimanding of whistleblowers is just the tip of the iceberg, as senior ranks run scared, writes Jim Cusack
1 Old guard: Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter Picture: Steve Humphreys Theterm"whistleblower"hasbecomecentraltodiscourseontheGardaSiochanaasaresultofa decisiontakenmorethanadecadeago,andalmostforgotten. InordertoamelioratecriticismofthecriminaloffenceintroducedbythenministerforjusticeMichael McDowell,inthe2005GardaSiochanaAct,threateninggardaiwithsevenyear'simprisonmentand,or, a€75,000for"unlawful"disclosureofinformation,anofficeknownastheOfficialRecipientwasset up. Thiswastobestaffedbyapoliticalappointeewhosefunctionwastosecretlyhearcomplaintsabout corruptorcriminalpracticesorbullyingfromgardaiwhofeltunsafemakingsuchcomplaintstosenior officers.
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Here's what we know so far about the garda breath test scandal
THIS WEEK SENIOR gardaí revealed a baffling discovery – that almost one million roadside breath tests that never happened had been recorded on their system over the last five years.
At a press briefing in Dublin, Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn held his hands up and told reporters: “The numbers don’t add up – that’s a fact.” An internal investigation has begun to determine how this happened, but here’s what we know so far: How did garda management discover this error? Assistant Commissioner Finn on Thursday said a review was conducted into breath tests at traffic collisions and as a result of that another review took place in the southern region in 2015. Discrepancies were discovered during that process and a nationwide audit was launched in early 2016. Finn did not disclose what prompted these reviews, but The Irish Times revealed earlier this year that the audit began after the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) noticed a discrepancy in the number of disposable mouth pieces being ordered compared to the number of tests recorded on Pulse. How bad is it? The MBRS, which calibrates the garda breath test devices and so has access to the data, shared its figures with An Garda Síochána for comparison. On the Pulse system, the number of recorded tests between October 2011 and December 2016 was 1,996,365. The Medical Bureau of Road Safety’s figure was 1,058,157 for that same period. What explanation did garda management provide? Finn told reporters that there is no one single reason that may account for this discrepancy. Before the beginning of last year, a garda would leave the station to conduct a checkpoint and return that day or the following day to update the Pulse system. They would then input the number of people they checked.
At the time, no one was required to record the specific device used or the start and end numbers on the breathalyser (which would indicate how many tests had been carried out). “That is one of the reasons that account for it,” Finn explained. As time went on the importance of recording that data was lost to us, or we didn’t appreciate it. People weren’t doing that, they weren’t updating that database at the particular time. Asked whether gardaí had been making up figures, Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn said: “I don’t know. Certainly they weren’t recording them correctly”. Who’s to blame? At Thursday’s briefing, Finn was asked whether it will be possible to pinpoint which gardaí were responsible for these errors. “The short answer is no,” he replied. You’re talking about devices that were shared between multiple users, say it was in a patrol car, who had access to it. We don’t have the paper records going back to 2011 to say who did what checkpoint and if we did we didn’t even record the device number on those records going back then. Essentially, the lax system that allowed for almost a million phantom tests to be counted is also likely to prevent management from identifying who logged the tests. Could someone who was convicted of a drink-driving charge get off scot-free because of this? One of the first comments Finn made in relation to this revelation was that “no prosecutions or court outcomes would be impacted by this”. However, a person who was convicted could technically attempt to use this in an appeal. It is unlikely to be successful, as the roadside test would not be used as evidence in a case. A subsequent test to provide a specific blood-alcohol level reading is always conducted after a failure in a roadside test. This is the evidence that would have to be disputed in an appeal.
This was happening for (at least) five years – why are we only hearing about it now? That’s exactly what the Policing Authority wanted to know after the Irish Times story. It had not even been informed that a review was taking place or that discrepancies of any kind had been discovered. Finn did not respond to suggestions that the information was only put into the public domain this week because it had already broken in the media. He said he had himself briefed the Policing Authority this week about the error. In a statement this week, the authority referenced its “disappointment” at not being advised at the time that an audit was underway. The authority said that the situation also raises widespread concern about the way gardaí go about their daily work and about management and supervision. The scale of the discrepancy is “further evidence of deep cultural problems” within the service, it added.” What is An Garda Síochána doing about it now? In 2016, a new system was introduced which required gardaí who conducted checkpoints to fill out a paper form with the data from each device, including their name, the device number and the reading from it. In November last year, a new specific data-recording IT upgrade was also installed on the Pulse system. On this system officers have to record the serial number of the device used plus the meter reading before and after the checkpoint was concluded. The data since then has been compared to MBRS data and Finn said he believes it is accurate. However gardaí are removing breath test data from their website and will not be publishing further data on checkpoints until they are certain they can stand over them. New devices are currently being sourced for the organisation, which will record GPS location and the start and end readings for each checkpoint.
And an internal investigation has been launched, led by Superintendent Pat Murray, to try to determine how this happened and who may have been responsible. However, as already stated, due to the lack of detailed information on the Pulse system for that five-year period, it is unlikely that there will be consequences for anyone who logged a test that did not actually happen.
https://www.msn.com/engb/news/newsireland/heres-what-weknow-so-far-about-the-garda-breathtest-scandal/ar-BByIphI
Cheeky Post Rips It Out Of The Garda Breath Test Scandal DERMOT AND DAVE WRITTEN BY: ALISON HEALY DATE: 3 APR 2017 Tweet Mail
It was only a matter of time really The Garda Commissioner has found herself in hot water after it was revealed that one million breath tests had been falsified. Commissioner O'Sullivan admitted they still don't know if the recording of the fake tests was deliberate or an error. An internal investigation is underway to try and get to the bottom of what happened.
Fake breath tests not used by Gardai to claim overtime says Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan
Ed Carty, Press Association 12 April, 2017
Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan.
The Garda Commissioner has said bogus roadside breath tests were not used by officers to claim overtime.
Noirin O'Sullivan also told a parliamentary watchdog that she has no evidence that records of 400,000 mandatory alcohol testing (Mat) checkpoints on the roads are false. In 23 pages of written replies to the Oireachtas Justice Committee on the gross exaggeration of drink-driving statistics and the wrongful prosecution of motorists for traffic offences, the commissioner said there was no "co-ordinated effort or drive" to inflate activity from drink-driving crackdowns. An audit has revealed almost one million fewer drink-driving breath tests were carried out from 2012 to 2016 than gardai had claimed. The Garda also admitted that 146,000 people were taken to court and 14,700 people were wrongly convicted of motoring offences because of issues with the fixed penalty system. Some of those had not paid fines but were prosecuted even though they had not received the fixed charge notice in the post, while others were taken to court even though they had received the penalty and paid it. The Garda chief was asked to answer another 27 questions on the scandal after a lengthy hearing in Leinster House almost two weeks ago. Ms O'Sullivan told the committee: "The results of breath-testing were neither used as a performance indicator nor justification for incurring overtime." And with reviews of the controversy ongoing and no official explanation for the improper prosecutions and gross exaggeration of data, the commissioner said there is no evidence "at this point in time" to suggest the records on mandatory drink-driving checkpoints are not accurate. "An Garda Siochana has put considerable control mechanisms in place to ensure that Mat checkpoints are conducted and recorded correctly," she said. Ms O'Sullivan told the committee that the checkpoints were primarily preventative but designed and located to improve safety and reduce road deaths. The written responses to the committee also revealed "staff associations" were concerned about increased paperwork when a new order was issued last year on how records of checkpoints were to be kept.
The scandal, on the back of a catalogue of controversies to have dogged the force, not least the treatment of whistleblowers, prompted the government to promise a special commission to review of management, training, recruitment, culture and oversight. Meanwhile, the committee was told internal auditors are reviewing Garda data on domestic violence and the classification of a number of homicides. In the written responses, the commissioner also said that an article in the Irish Times on anomalies in breath test figures did not influence the decision to contact the Medical Bureau of Road Safety about data it held on breathalyser use. An anonymous letter from a Garda Reserve to the Road Safety Authority in April 2014, which was subsequently sent to the Department of Transport and then the Garda, was the catalyst for the initial sample review of breath tests figures in the Southern Region in 2015. The commissioner claimed that because the tip-off was made anonymously, "it was not possible, at that point in time, to identify if there was substance to any of the issues raised". The assistant commissioner for the Western Region assessed the allegations about anomalies in the data in 2014 but shut down the inquiry in December of that year after he "was unable to progress the matter any further". According to the Garda website, Donall O'Cualain took charge of the Western Region in July 2012. Seven months lapsed between a final report on bogus breath test numbers in the Southern Region being completed in November 2015 and a nationwide audit being set up, the committee was told. It would be another year before the public had any indication of an issue when a notice was posted on the Garda website warning about the data. The issue was reported to the commissioner's office in June last year, the committee was told. An interim report on the issues – the scale of them and potential insight as to how and why they occurred – will be completed in a month and a final report will be sent to the Policing Authority by the end of June.
http://www.irishnews.com/news/republicofirelandnews/201 7/04/13/news/fake-breath-tests-not-used-by-gardai-toclaim-overtime-says-garda-commissioner-noirin-o-sullivan995496/ An audit has revealed almost one million fewer drink-driving breath tests were carried out from 2012 to 2016 than gardai had claimed
Issues discovered with administration of Fixed Charge Notices (FCN) and road side breath tests An Garda Síochána has issued over 10½ million Fixed Charge Notices since 2006. Section 103 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended provides that where a member of An Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing that a fixed charge offence is being or has been committed by a person: a)If the member identifies the person, the member shall serve, or cause to be served, personally or by post, on the person a notice under this section. In April 2016 a person was summonsed to Court for no NCT Certificate. It transpired that the person had already paid a Fixed Charge Notice. As a consequence An Garda Síochána commenced a review to establish how this had occurred. Failure to have an NCT Certificate became a fixed charge offence on 8th December 2014 and from that date on, no summons should have issued for failing to have an NCT Certificate unless the driver had firstly been issued with a fixed charge notice, and the fixed charge had not been paid. An initial examination of records for offence – ‘Not having a valid NCT Certificate’ indicated that in 759 cases, where a fixed charge notice (FCN) had been issued and paid a summons was later issued. The examination of all fixed charge offences, since the roll out of the FCPS system, identifies that 1,130 cases have had summonses issued for offences where the FCN has been paid. Extended review Arising from the initial findings in relation to prosecutions taken where the person prosecuted had paid a fixed charge for the offence; a decision was made by Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing and Major Event/Emergency Management, to establish if any other issues were arising in relation to the operation of the full FCPS. This review was carried out in conjunction with Garda IT. An examination of 830,687 summonses issued between 1st January 2006 and 27th May 2016 for road traffic offences declared as fixed charge offences has now taken place. This review has identified that in addition to prosecutions taken where the person prosecuted had already paid a fixed charge for the offence prosecutions were
initiated where a fixed charge notice had not been issued. A total 146,865 summonses were brought before the Court in these circumstances. The main offences relating to the 146,865 summonses are set out below.
OFFENCES
Offence Description
Total
Non Display Of TAX Disc (Use)
68664
Non Display Of Insurance Disc (10 days after date of authentication of the certificate)
42462
Use Vehicle without NCT
4511
Learner Driver Failing to Display ‘L’ Plates on a vehicle
1000
Non Display Of Insurance Disc Owner
6782
Driving Without Reasonable Consideration
5939
Failing To Stop For Garda
3658
Driving Past A Red Traffic Light
1903
Holding a Mobile Phone While Driving.
1217
136136
Other offences: Speeding, Lighting, bus lanes, Parking offence
10729
146865
An estimated 96% of the cases relate to persons that had multiple offences before the Court. The remaining 4% (estimated at 5,860) summonses relate to persons who were not before the Court for any other offence. In relation to 146865 summonses 14,700 cases resulted in a penalty being imposed by the courts. We have undertaken to appeal of those outcomes to the Circuit Court. IT Solution Based on the findings and enquiries, a number of solutions were identified by Garda IT to avoid as far as possible a reoccurrence of the issues highlighted. As of the 15th July, 2016, an IT solution has been designed and rolled out. The solution was designed around addressing the above three issues and prevents summonses being created in these circumstances. Going Forward – An Garda Síochána’s Next Step We have spoken to the DPP and the Court Services about how to rectify cases where a penalty has been imposed. We will be bringing these matters before the courts and requesting that the convictions are set aside. A dedicated team has been set up and we are liaising with the Court services to expedite this process. We will be writing to all of the people affected and explaining what happened and how we propose to rectify the situation. Any fines imposed will be reimbursed and all records involved will be corrected. We have put in place a dedicated support helpline for anyone who has any queries or questions Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn said, "This was an error in the manner by which we processed these cases. We have identified it and have put an IT update in place to ensure it is not repeated. An Garda Síochána apologises to all of those people who were brought before the Courts without being given the opportunity to pay a fixed charge notice. It is our mistake and we will rectify the matter. The people involved do not have to take any corrective action until they hear from us”. The public can contact us via email on [emailprotected] People affected can expect to receive a letter between the 3rd and 14th of April and this will contain a contact telephone number. Issues in respect of Garda Roadside Breath Test Figures Following a review An Garda Síochána has decided to withdraw the data on the Garda Website relating to Roadside Breath Tests. The reason for this decision is that we have been provided with data by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety from their breath test device database and we have been unable to reconcile this with the figures displayed on the Garda Website. No prosecutions or Court outcomes will be impacted by this decision. Background
Roadside Breath Tests are conducted to indicate the presence of alcohol in the breath. The power to conduct Roadside Breath Tests at Mandatory Alcohol Testing Checkpoints is provided for by Section 10, Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended. A member of the Garda Síochána, who is on duty at a checkpoint, may stop any vehicle at the checkpoint and, without prejudice to any other conferred on him or her by statute or at common law, may require a person in charge of the vehicle— to provide (by exhaling into an apparatus for indicating the presence of alcohol in the breath) a specimen of his or her breath. The devices that we use are provided to An Garda Síochána by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. The devices indicate the presence of alcohol in the breath. The background to our review, and decision to remove the data from our website, is based on a review - initially of breath tests conducted at traffic collisions - and this led to concerns about the overall quality of our data and recording systems. As a result of these concerns a review of the breath test data was conducted in the Southern Region in 2015. The results of the Southern Region review indicated that there were significant discrepancies in our data and a full review of breath test data across the entire organisation commenced in 2016. The 2016 review was unable to reconcile the PULSE data and our paper based breath test data - primarily due to significant gaps in the manually recorded breath test data. In February 2017 the Medical Bureau of Road Safety provided data from their breath test screening devices. From this data we were able to quantify data from October / November 2011 (when all of the Drager Breath Test Machines were brought back into the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for recalibration/dual calibration). Based on the data provided by the Medical Bureau and compared to data recorded on the Garda Pulse system we were able to verify that there was a significant deficit between the data recorded on the PULSE System for Roadside Breath tests versus the number of breath test recorded on the apparatus used by the Medical Bureau for Road Safety The difference between the data is: Pulse Data: 1,995,369 Medical Bureau of Road Safety Data: 1,058,157 There is no one single reason that may account for the discrepancy. The data pertains to an era when we did not record the specific counter readings nor did we identify the device that was used. Over that period over 1,200 devices were in use across 108 Garda Districts with no central recording process. In 2016 An Garda Síochána put in place a new paper based recording and verification processes and more significantly in November 2016 a new specific data recording IT upgrade was installed on the Garda PULSE system. The net effect of the new IT upgrade was that personnel now have to record the serial number of the device used for each breath test plus the meter reading
before and after the checkpoint was concluded. Data from the device is now used to verify the total number of breath test conducted at each checkpoint. Data for 2016/2107, average over a 365 day period, suggest that the data we have recorded on PULSE for 2016 is accurate based on the data available to AGS from the Medical Bureau for Road Safety. While An Garda Síochána satisfied at this stage that the new processes that we have put in place in 2016 are working and that the 2016 data is solid we will not publish the data until we are satisfied that the processes is robust enough and consistent enough to stand up to scrutiny. While the 2016/2017 data is reassuring we will continue to closely monitor the data. If we are satisfied that the data is accurate and solid at the end of 2017 we will consider publishing data that we can verify. The Medical Bureau for Road Safety are currently in the process of procuring new breath testing equipment which will have the capacity to automatically record data in relation to breath test. New equipment which is available in the market place has the capacity to record the time, GPS location, number of persons breath tested and has the capacity to download the information automatically reducing the chances of errors occurring in the data.
http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=20163&Lang=1 Now a picture ripping it out of the Store Street Garda Station Bi-Annual Easter Draw entry form is doing the rounds, and it perfectly sums up how people are feeling about the scale of the breath test scandal.
GARDA 'SLUSH FUND' Garda College money earmarked for laundry services spent on meals, flowers and golf, report finds The report found 38 per cent of the expenditure of the Laundry and Services Account at Templemore in 2008 “had nothing to do with laundry or services” By Kieran Dineen, Public Affairs Correspondent 30th March 2017
MONEY supposed to be used for laundry services went on meals, flowers and golf, a report into running of the Garda College has found. An internal audit has uncovered serious irregularities in the operation of the training centre in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
Money meant for laundry was spent elsewhere
Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan will tomorrow be grilled at an Oireachtas Committee over the almost one million fake breath tests that took place along with 147,000 summonses sent out wrongly for driving offences. She will also be quizzed about the report from the Garda Internal Audit Service, which was made public today. The audit team found they could “provide no assurance that the internal management and control systems in place to manage the finances of the Garda College are adequate”. Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane today said the college accounts were effectively used as “a slush fund”.
PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION
3 Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan will be grilled the report from the Garda Internal Audit Service
The audit found 38 per cent of the expenditure of the Laundry and Services Account at Templemore “had nothing to do with laundry or services”. In 2008 there were outgoings of €200 on flowers, €500 on staff bonus, €7,231 on “meals entertainment”, €2,150 on “contribution to parish clergy” and €300 on “jewellery and gifts”. There were payments of €1,040 to a golf society, €500 to the Garda Boat Club and €5,527 which was an “amount owed by GAA Club”. Waterford Deputy Cullinane said: “It is incredible that staff with no training or experience were given control of public monies at Templemore.
PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
3 This is the latest scandal An Garda Siochana have suffered
“The team was not able to give any assurance that financial controls were compliant with proper procedures. “It comes at a time when public trust in An Garda Siochana is at an all-time low. “The use of de facto slush funds at the college once again raises more questions than answers about the internal operations of An Garda Siochana. “A new beginning to policing is needed if trust is to be restored.” A total of €100,000 was transferred in four separate payments from the Garda College Sportsfield Co Ltd to the Garda Boat Club Ltd, Islandbridge, Dublin 8, from 2000 to 2003. The report notes: “During this period the Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Resource Management, was
also the President of the Garda Siochana Boat Club.” The report found €124,903 raised from leasing Dromad farm to local farmers should be given back to the OPW, because they are the actual owners of the land. Instead this cash was lodged to the College Restaurant Account. Among the items of expenditure from the Dromad farm income in 2010 were €440 on entertainment, €412 on “Murphy’s restaurant entertainment”, €716 on “presentation to Commissioners retirement” and €500 on “Garda Boat Club sponsorship”. The audit uncovered “non-routine restaurant expenditure” which included cash for the repair of tennis courts, purchase of gym mats and expenses for a GAA team involved in the Sigerson Cup. The report also looked at the expenses regime of staff and found “members are claiming subsistence which includes both the night before and night after a course”. Among the areas of concern, an earlier report in 2008 found, was an “accumulated surplus in excess of €5million”. The report notes the capitation grant per student was set to cover all costs of feeding and accommodating students. Yet exchequer funds were used to “cross-subside the restaurant” — meaning the training centre was getting money from the State on the double. When it came to the kitchen, restaurant and shop, the Exchequer bore the cost of electricity and heating bills, equipment and furniture and some staff salaries — which all should have been covered by the capitation grant.
And the report found: “Even though the capitation grant was meant to cover laundry, the college also charged students a small fee for their laundry, charging twice for the same laundry. “Charging of students ceased in November 2008 when the laundry account was closed.” Labour’s Alan Kelly said today: “I am looking for answers to all the figures and concerns highlighted in the audit including this €5million. We need accountability as to where all the funds went and how they were used. “Let’s be clear here, funds were being handed over twice for the same reason and that’s simply not good enough. “So we need to know exactly what happened. I want to know when the Commissioner knew about this and what she has done about it to date. “This had nothing to do with those great Gardai who went through the college but is to do with its management. “There was gross incompetence highlighted in the report. There was negligence going on for years.” In all, 50 accounts were unearthed. The audit team said they were “concerned that the number of accounts and the complex switching of funds between accounts has resulting in a non-transparent system of accounting”. It found “no financial control exists” in relation to accounts for the Garda College GAA Club and the Sportsfield Company while controls for the Garda College Services Account were “very poor”.
It concluded there were “no assurances” financial controls at the Garda College were compliant with public financial procedures or the Garda Financial Code.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/795374/gardacollege-money-earmarked-for-laundry-servicesspent-on-meals-flowers-and-golf-report-finds/
Claims that Templemore spending scandal will see 'people led away in handcuffs' A senior civilian in An Garda Síochána warned that the Templemore spending scandal would see people "led away in handcuffs", according to an explosive new dossier obtained by the Irish Independent. The documents also reveal how the Head of Garda Audit, Niall Kelly, alleged that the Garda college in Tipperary had "offshore bank accounts". And it’s claimed that an "altercation" took place in Garda Headquarters last November amid bitter tensions between officers involved in investigating the financial scandal. The dossier, which runs into hundreds of pages, shows clearly that the scandal surrounding the notorious ‘slush fund’ runs far deeper than previously feared.
It reveals how a bank account linked to the laundry services at the college was used to pay staff loans, and fund bonuses, entertainment and sporting expenses. And it shows that Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan turned down advice that she should immediately notify Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald about the financial irregularities. The new information that can now be revealed includes: Claims by the head of Finance and Services, Michael Culhane, that the Head of Garda Audit, Niall Kelly, warned that "people would be led away in handcuffs". It is also alleged Mr Kelly told an administrator he believed the College had "offshore bank accounts". Mr Culhane also claimed an "altercation" took place in Garda HQ when Mr Kelly sought access to specific emails. Comparisons were made between the college and the scandal-hit charity Console. EU training funds for police were funnelled into the infamous college laundry fund. And there are allegations that the Head of HR, John Barrett, "wasted" €30,000 on consultants. The allegations are contained in a letter sent by Mr Culhane to Mr Kelly in February. It is part of a dossier that will now be probed by the Public Accounts Committee. (PAC) When contacted by the Irish Independent on Wednesday night, Mr Kelly – who has spearheaded the audit – said he did not wish to comment on the claims. Mr Barrett did not respond to a request for comment. All three civilians are expected to be called in front of the PAC next week. The dossier itself also gives fresh detail surrounding the bank account linked to the laundry services at the training college. It’s stated that there were "certain malpractices" linked to the laundry service that would be "disallowable under normal circumstances".
And the documents detail how the account was used to give loans to staff, pay bonuses and fund entertainment and sporting expenses. It was found that there was a lack of "financial control" over the laundry account which received €1 each from every student through an account linked to the college restaurant. The laundry bank account also received money from European Union (EU) training funds designated for police forces. Separately, the head of the new commission on the future of policing has called for an end to finger pointing and name calling. Kathleen O’Toole said the current Garda management team had inherited a poisoned chalice. "It makes no difference whether it is Nóirín O’Sullivan or anybody else in charge of the Garda force," she said. "We are not going to engage in finger pointing and name calling. We need to get beyond that and look to the future". Ms O’Toole made the comments after its first meeting in Dublin yesterday. Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s failure to inform the Tánaiste of the Templemore College fiasco for 16 months has been described as a “significant oversight” by a Cabinet minister.
OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS' LINKED TO GARDA COLLEGE A senior civilian member of An Garda Siochana has made allegations of offshore bank accounts linked to the Garda Training College in Templemore, according to an explosive new dossier obtained by the…
Independent Alliance minister Finian McGrath’s criticism comes as Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is facing a Dáil questioning over the ongoing Garda crisis, the Irish Examiner has learned. Opposition parties are demanding Ms Fitzgerald attends an emergency Dáil debate on the scandal today. Mr McGrath, who is minister of state for disabilities, was speaking after it emerged that lawyers for Ms O’Sullivan told her to inform the Tánaiste in July 2015 of the scandal, but Ms Fitzgerald only learnt of the situation in October 2016. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr McGrath said that while he retains confidence in both Ms Fitzgerald and Ms O’Sullivan, he is awaiting the findings of the Public Accounts Committee and Garda Authority investigations into the scandal to fully make up his mind. Mr McGrath’s comments come as other members of the Independent Alliance have expressed concern at Ms O’Sullivan’s ability to lead the force, but said they will not seek her head. “Our confidence is at best lukewarm, but we are not prepared to force her sacking or risk collapsing the Government,” one minister told the Irish Examiner. “But to say we are not happy is an understatement.” Ms Fitzgerald yesterday hit back at opposition criticism of her handling of Garda disputes by calling on them not to
put political expediency “ahead of policing”. She said that she had “no objective evidence” that Ms O’Sullivan had “done anything wrong” and said the two inquiries under way — the Charleton tribunal and the Public Accounts Committee hearings — should be allowed to continue their work. “Everybody says ‘take politics out of policing’,” said the Tánaiste. Asked what were the specific wrongdoings of Ms O’Sullivan, she said: “I have no objective evidence that the Garda commissioner has done anything wrong. I’ve no evidence in relation to that. “Of course, the opposition are going to ramp up the pressure on the commissioner, and, indeed, on me. I would say politics and political expediency aren’t going to sort out the very deep-seated issues in relation to An Garda Síochána.” In a letter to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Sinn Féin whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that Ms Fitzgerald must be grilled over the latest Garda crisis. “I believe it is of such seriousness that all business on Tuesday after order of business be set aside to facilitate a frank and honest exchange,” Mr Ó Snodaigh wrote. Mr Ó Fearghaíl, who did not respond to calls on the issue last night, will decide on the potential plan during a Dáil business committee meeting this morning. However, while the debate request is likely to be backed by some other opposition parties keen to keep the spotlight on the justice minister, the Government members of the committee are likely to oppose the call. Despite growing criticism of Ms Fitzgerald’s handling of events, she is also set to avoid a mooted no-confidence motion in her. Fianna Fáil officials said the confidence and supply deal with Fine Gael means the party must abstain or vote against any no-confidence motion in the Government unless in extreme circumstances. Similarly, although Sinn Féin’s Mr Ó Snodaigh and justice spokesman Jonathan O’Brien last night said they are still considering a motion, sources said that there is little point in tabling one if it is not supported by others. Labour leader Brendan Howlin also warned Ms Fitzgerald
her “position will become increasingly untenable if that leadership [to remove Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan] does not manifest in the coming days”. Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar yesterday expressed his confidence in both Ms Fitzgerald and Ms O’Sullivan.
The Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary A senior civilian member of An Garda Siochana has made allegations of offshore bank accounts linked to the Garda Training College in Templemore, according to an explosive new dossier obtained by the Herald. The documents also reveal that the head of the force's internal audit, Niall Kelly, alleged that the financial scandal at the college in Co Tipperary would see people "being led away in handcuffs". It has been claimed that an altercation took place in garda headquarters last November, amid bitter tensions between officers involved in investigating the financial scandal. Notorious The dossier, which runs to hundreds of pages, showed that the scandal surrounding the notorious slush fund runs far deeper than previously feared. It revealed that a bank account linked to the laundry services at the college was used to pay staff loans and fund bonuses, entertainment and sports expenses. It showed that Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan turned down advice that she should immediately notify Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald about the financial irregularities. Among new information that can be revealed is that Mr Kelly allegedly told an administrator he believed the college had "offshore bank accounts"
It has also been claimed that the head of finance and services, Michael Culhane, claimed an altercation took place in…
Day-long PAC meeting to hear evidence after claims Garda chiefs block probe into college scandal Wednesday, May 31, 2017
The head of the gardaí’s internal audit unit has said his “direct superiors” tried to block a probe into the Garda college scandal, “withheld” information and tried to “undermine” his position when the inquiry began.
The claims will be made by Niall Kelly today at a meeting in which it will also be alleged a senior officer urged Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to investigate whistleblower John Barrett because his private recordkeeping of what happened may have breached the Official Secrets’ Act. Documents seen by the Irish Examiner are due to be discussed at a special day-long Dáil public accounts committee meeting today. And while the files will be countered by a senior officer’s emails showing they were open to examining the issue from as early as 2008, they highlight the growing divisions in the force.
In a written statement to the PAC, Garda internal audit chief Mr Kelly — one of seven civilian officers due to be questioned today without the presence of Garda management — will claim his investigations were repeatedly blocked and undermined. Mr Kelly will tell the cross-party committee between 2008 and 2011 he believes “some people did not want the newly appointed and very independent internal auditor [Mr Kelly]” to look “too critically into the Garda college”, and that “these people included my direct superiors”. The audit chief will say that when he sought information it was “withheld from me”, and will claim he was misled in September 2015 about whether he could examine the case. “I was informed legal issues were being advanced in regard to the land and employee status and until they were resolved it would be unwise to commence an audit,” he will say. “I now know that I was misinformed... [Garda head of legal affairs] Ken Ruane was advising from July 2015 onward that internal audit should be requested immediately.”
Mr Kelly — who confirmed two new audits into Garda college EU funding since 1998 and current controls of cash have been launched and are due in July — will also claim that his “motives, professional integrity, and competence” were questioned in two letters sent in October 2016 and February 2017 by senior management.
However, despite alleging “there was and may still be a culture of keeping problems in-house and away from transparent public scrutiny”, the claim will be staunchly rejected by another civilian officer. In records provided to the PAC and as part of his own evidence, head of Garda finance Michael Culhane will reject any suggestion that management failed to address what happened. Mr Culhane, who was finance officer throughout the Garda college controversy, will provide management emails from January 7, 2008, to March 4, 2011, confirming he, assistant commissioners and the chief administration officer all sought to allow and act on an investigation. Mr Culhane will tell the PAC it has “significant gaps” in its information and that whistleblower garda HR executive Mr Barrett — who will also attend the meeting — provided it with “partial and inaccurate representations”. However, Mr Culhane is also expected to be questioned over an October 24, 2015, letter to management in which he suggested Ms O’Sullivan should consider setting up an investigation into Mr Barrett over concerns his private records — key to the case — could breach the Official Secrets’ Act “as his intent may appear to be to cause damage” to the gardaí. Meanwhile, during an unrelated Dáil leaders’ questions debate Taoiseach Enda Kenny said reports a phone belonging to Ms O’Sullivan had gone missing will be probed by the Charleton tribunal. Mr Kenny was responding to Solidarity-PBP TD Mick Barry, who asked “was that phone officially reported missing, if so, when exactly” and suggested that Ms O’Sullivan may have a second phone. The Public Accounts Committee, examining a series of financial scandals at the Templemore Garda College, are to grill eight civilian members of the force next week — without Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan being present.
The cross-party committee confirmed the move after deciding that splitting civilian and Garda witnesses was the only likely way to ensure transparency in the evidence being provided. At a three-hour private meeting of PAC yesterday, which also heard concerns that gardaí are still failing to provide all documents relating to the scandal, the committee agreed that while it may ultimately not be able to uncover what happened it must meet with those involved in the coming weeks. In order not to interfere with the existing work schedule of the PAC, it was agreed to hold a series of “special meetings” on Wednesdays only, with the first of these scheduled for next week, and to focus solely on civilian officials. The PAC said next week’s witnesses will include whistleblower John Barrett, internal Garda auditor Niall Kelly, head of Garda finance Michael Culhane, chief administrative officer Joseph Nugent, and Mr Nugent’s predecessor Cyril Dunne. Among others who will also attend are former audit committee member Michael Howard — who like Mr Dunne has since left the force and, as such, can turn down an appearance request — and the gardaí’s head of legal affairs, Ken Ruane. At a meeting next Thursday morning, the PAC will decide
in private session when to bring in senior gardaí to respond to the issues expected to be raised by the civilian officers. However, it is widely expected among PAC members that this Garda management meeting will take place within a fortnight of next week’s Wednesday meeting, with Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan, and potentially former commissioner Martin Callinan due to be told to attend. A small number of PAC members, including Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, told the private meeting yesterday they remain unconvinced a PAC investigation will uncover the exact circumstances of what happened at the Garda college. However, the majority of the PAC continue to be of the view that it is not plausible to delay any investigation. Meanwhile, PAC members have raised concerns Garda management have yet to provide them with the full amount of documents relating to the college scandal, and are due to formally request full transparency from the force over the coming days. The concern was highlighted by Labour TD Alan Kelly, Fine Gael’s Alan Farrell and others. PAC members including unaligned Independent Catherine Connolly, Mr Kelly, Fine Gael’s Josepha Madigan and Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane and Mary Lou McDonald have also criticised alleged leaking of PAC files to the media after garda college records were released on Wednesday night. PAC chair and Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming is to urge all committee members, individually, to stop releasing sensitive records. Fresh Garda documents sent to the Public Accounts Committee reveal deep divisions among senior civil servants within An Garda Síochána.
Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan. The revelations expose further fractures at Garda HQ and follow revelations of serious differences between senior civil servants — including HR boss John Barrett, internal auditor Niall Kelly and top statistician Gurchand Singh — and Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan. However, the latest Garda documents sent to the PAC highlight even more severe divisions — which are expressed vehemently in some files — between civil servants, namely Mr Kelly and finance director Michael Culhane. The divisions are graphically captured in one letter sent by Mr Culhane to Mr Kelly on February 20, 2017, a month before the internal audit report on financial irregularities at Garda College Templemore was released. The letter was sent by Mr Culhane in response to Mr Kelly’s circulation of the draft interim audit. Mr Culhane said it was “not acceptable” that his comments and observations had not been reflected in the draft. He accused Mr Kelly of making a number of “outrageous comments”. Mr Culhane listed several incidents in which he claimed Mr Kelly made “verbal allegations” that he claimed were witnessed. He alleged that Mr Kelly had told junior staff at the finance
section that what was going on in Templemore was comparable to the charity Console. Mr Culhane further claimed that Mr Kelly had asserted in a meeting with a Templemore superintendent that he believed the college had “offshore bank accounts”. Mr Culhane claimed this was “without a scintilla of evidence to substantiate such a ridiculous claim”. He said Mr Kelly also told a superintendent that “there was evidence of fraud in the college”. Mr Culhane said he had previously questioned Mr Kelly’s reports and their “unnecessarily negative tone”. He added: “You have effectively set yourself up as the ‘judge, jury and executioner’.” The documents sent to PAC include a letter dated December 14, 2010, from Mr Kelly to Deputy Commissioner Nacie Rice regarding Mr Culhane. In it, Mr Kelly said he had been “trying to engage in discussions and get management responses from the Finance Directorate for some time”. The letter details what Mr Kelly said were differences of legal and regulatory opinion between him and Mr Culhane on who had responsibility for financial management of Templemore. In a letter to Commissioner Fachtna Murphy in September 2009, Mr Rice said it was important to point out that all of the limited companies and committees that had been established in Templemore were formed at a time “when there was no money made available by the state to develop and improve the welfare and sporting facilities”. He said: “The only means at the time to develop and improve the social and sporting culture was by the formation of the said committees and companies.” He said he did “not share the very negative views” that permeated a report on the college by then chief administrative officer John Leamy. A letter sent by Mr Leamy on April 16, 2008, to Commissioner Murphy, and copied to Mr Culhane, said significant breaches and poor financial controls at Templemore exposed the organisation to “serious reputational damage unless addressed immediately”.
Garda College Accused Of Spending Money On Gifts And Entertainment
This doesn't look good...
The controversy rolls on. Garda bosses are already under fire for the recent breathalyser scandal and now RTE are reporting that financial irregularities at the Garda college in Templemore are set to be revealed. The report, which has been handed to the Minister For Justice Frances Fitzgerald, is said to contain evidence that money from the college was being spent on gifts and entertainment. The irregularities are thought to have taken place over a number of years. The news is sure to increase the pressure on Garda commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan who has come under fire in recent weeks for her handling of the recent controversies. Huge Garda Error Leads To Thousands Of Quashed Drink Driving Convictions
The Gardai have stated publicly that a huge error has been made in recording the number of roadside breath tests which have taken place in the past five years. According to RTE, the Policing Authority is 'alarmed at the scale of the discrepancies disclosed between actual roadside alcohol tests administered and the numbers recorded by Gardai'. In a statement, they said: "It raises serious questions of integrity for the Garda Síochána organisation and combined with previous issues regarding inflated activity levels, erodes confidence in the credibility of garda data generally." It is now expected that 14,500 people will have road traffic convictions quashed due to the error.
Ministers blast Garda college’s ‘€5m slush fund’ - but Fine Gael still supporting chief commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan
Fine Gael are continuing to support her despite Minister Varadkar describing the €5 million in misapropriated funds as 'an abuse of taxpayers money'
Pressure is building on embattled Garda chief Noirin O’Sullivan over the Templemore slush fund scandal. But Fine Gael are continuing to support her despite Government Minister Leo Varadkar describing the €5 million in misapropriated funds as “an abuse of taxpayers money.” Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald has defended the Commissioner’s decision not to accept legal advice about financial problems at the Garda Training College. Speaking today, Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald said
revelations about financial abuses at the college “were very serious and completely unacceptable.”
An Tanaiste and Minister for Justice Francis Fitzgerald TD pictured at a Garda Graduation Ceremony which took place at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary (Photo: Don Moloney / Press 22)
But when asked about Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan’s decision not to tell her about the irregularities as soon as possible, the Minister said it was her judgement call. Minister Fitzgerald said: “The Garda Commissioner has to make decisions on a daily basis on a whole range of operational matters and she gets legal advice on many issues. “Whether, at any given time, she decides to make a referral is, at the end of the day, her decision.” Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin told the
Dail that the current scandal was “stretching the credibility of the force to its limit and the Government’s as well.” He told the Dail: “Do you get it Taoiseach? The thing is completely untenable. “Over the last number of years, unfortunately, the force has been mired in scandal and debacle, lowering moral and confidence in the force.”
Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin TD
(Photo: Collins Photo Agency)
His comments came one day after it was revealed by the civilian director of human resources in An Garda Siochana, John Barrett, that a meeting about the issues at the Training College last a lot longer than Commissioner O’Sullivan had stated at a Public Accounts meeting last week. She had told the meeting that she had a brief meeting with Mr Barrett however he said it lasted over two hours.
Meanwhile, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has described the scandal as “grave and unacceptable.” He told Morning Ireland: “The Government has confidence in the Commissioner, that has not changed but obviously we are very concerned about the further revelations about financial malpractice in the Garda College. “What’s happened there is very grave and is unacceptable. It does involve the abuse of taxpayer’s money.”
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar TD
(Photo: Gareth
Chaney Collins)
Following further revelation on Primetime on Tuesday night, Labour TD and Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Alan Kelly has said it is now time for Fianna Fail to act on the latest controversy. Deputy Kelly said: “Fianna Fail has said if they were in Government they would have removed the Garda Commissioner.
“Their position that they cannot do anything is absolutely untenable following the latest revelations on Primetime, the Public Accounts meeting last week, and my contribution in the Dail on April 12th. “Fianna Fail has leverage over the Government that they are not prepared to use, despite the evidence that has been brought to light and their statements of no confidence in the Commissioner from their Leader and Justice Spokesperson.” He continued: “What appears to have been done is that the civil servant in charge of Human Resources in An Garda Siochána, John Barrett who brought these matters to attention has now been side-lined for calling a halt to this behaviour. “That indicates no cultural change, and further damage to efforts to reform our police force. “It is critical now that action is taken to restore public confidence in our police force which has been shattered following years of controversies.”
A senior civilian member of An Garda Siochana has made allegations of offshore bank accounts linked to the Garda Training College in Templemore, according to an explosive new dossier obtained by the Herald. The documents also reveal that the head of the force's internal audit, Niall Kelly, alleged that the financial scandal at the college in Co Tipperary would see people "being led away in handcuffs". It has been claimed that an altercation took place in garda headquarters last November, amid bitter tensions between officers involved in investigating the financial scandal. Notorious The dossier, which runs to hundreds of pages, showed that the scandal surrounding the notorious slush fund runs far deeper than previously feared. It revealed that a bank account linked to the laundry services at the college was used to pay staff loans and fund bonuses, entertainment and sports expenses.
It showed that Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan turned down advice that she should immediately notify Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald about the financial irregularities. Among new information that can be revealed is that Mr Kelly allegedly told an administrator he believed the college had "offshore bank accounts" It has also been claimed that the head of finance and services, Michael Culhane, claimed an altercation took place in garda HQ when Mr Kelly sought access to specific emails. There are also allegations that €30,000 was "wasted" on consultants by the head of human resources, John Barrett, without the approval of the Government. The allegations are contained in a letter that was sent by Mr Culhane to Mr Kelly in February. When contacted by the Herald last night, Mr Kelly said he did not wish to comment on the claims. Mr Barrett did not respond to a request for comment. Fianna Fail justice spokesperson Jim O'Callaghan earlier this month called on Ms Fitzgerald to sack the Garda Commissioner amid the continuing controversy.
Commissioner owns this fiasco - and her position is untenable
Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan at Garda Headquarters yesterday Colette Browne March 28 2017 HowmanytimeswilltheTaoiseachandtheJusticeMinisterbeforcedtoexpressconfidenceinthe GardaCommissionerbeforethatconfidenceevaporates? It'samonthlyoccurrencenow.AGardascandalhitstheheadlines,oppositionpoliticiansloudlycallfor herheadandaseniormemberofGovernmentstepsforwardtopubliclydefendNóirínO'Sullivan. Lastmonth,EndaKennyinsistedhehad"fullconfidence"inMsO'SullivaninthewakeoftheMaurice McCabescandal,acrisissoseriousthatitnearlycosthimhisownjobandledtotheestablishmentofa tribunal. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/colette-browne/commissioner-ownsthis-fiasco-and-her-position-is-untenable-35571056.html
This little piggy is telling porkies like all who serve under her !!
“I’d Usually Go Through Several Burners In A Week” Garda Commissioner Defends Missing Phone “I’d Usually Go Through Several Burners In A Week” Garda Commissioner Defends Missing Phone WATERFORDWHISPERSNEWS.COM
GARDA Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan has told the tribunal investigating an alleged smear campaign against Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe that she usually goes through several burners a week, and has no idea where the phone she used during that period is at this moment. “I’d usually go through five, sometimes six blowers a week,” she said, breaking a sim card in half and swallowing it, “How do you expect me to still have a phone from 3 years ago? That mobile number is well gone at this stage. I don’t leave trails like that, what do you think I am, an amateur?” O’Sullivan’s comments come after opposition TDs demanded an explanation as to how the crucial evidence, along with another mobile phone belonging to former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, has somehow gone missing, raising fears that the head of An Garda Síochána maybe purposely trying to cover her, and her predecessors tracks. “I would never use the same phone for more than a day,” the Commissioner again defended, before then referring to a recent investigation which proved
Garda intelligence listened into thousands of innocent peoples calls, “sure you wouldn’t know who’d be listening into my calls at the station. The lads are always eavesdropping into people’s conversations for the craic, so I said best to do what the criminals do – burn the sim when done. Innit bruv?” The news of the missing phones comes exactly two years after Supt Dave Taylor was arrested for the alleged leaking of information to the media, which also saw his phone seized on the orders of Commissioner O’Sullivan’s own husband, Detective Chief Supt Jim MacGowan, which is still in the possession of the Gardaí. “That’s a shame now that all the phones needed for this tribunal are either missing or in lock up, looks like I’m here for another while,” the Commissioner concluded.
Disgraced banker Sean FitzPatrick parties on LIZ DURKAN @IrishCentral July 04, 2010
There is fury in Ireland over the continuing free spending habits of public enemy No. 1 banker Sean FitzPatrick. FitzPatrick was at the helm of Anglo Irish Bank when it collapsed and so far Irish taxpayers have paid a shocking $30 billion to relaunch it. Anglo Irish lost more money last year than any bank anywhere In the world, it was revealed last week. Last weekend, FitzPatrick threw a lavish party for himself at his exclusive County Wicklow residence on the occasion of his 62nd birthday. He hired an events specialist company to make sure the party was top notch according to the Sunday Independent. Commenting on the event, one close friend of Mr FitzPatrick's said: "He did what? Oh, Jesus! I don't understand why he doesn't just stay out of the way and stop drawing attention to himself . . . That's crazy behaviour altogether." Fitzpatrick was involved in another embarrassing episode recently when he won second prize at his local golf club's annual competition. When he stood to receive his award, someone shouted "Where's our $30 billion?" Since his bank was bailed out by the Irish taxpayer, Fitzpatrick has continued to work on his handicap at Druids' Glen, Greystones and at the exclusive Las Brisas Golf and Country Club in the Spanish resort of Marabella.
He is due to meet with his creditors this Wednesday to avoid bankruptcy. He owes his own bank $140 million in personal loans. http://www.irishcentral.com/news/disgraced-banker-sean-fitzpatrickparties-on-97761029-237703281
Seán FitzPatrick investigator shredded documents, court hears ODCE solicitor tells trial he made a ‘calamitous error’ by destroying files Mon, Jan 30, 2017, 13:01 Updated: Mon, Jan 30, 2017, 13:24
Colm Keena
Former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick (68), Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, outside Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Photograph: Collins/Courts
An investigator into alleged crimes by the former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick shredded documents relevant to the inquiry, the Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Solicitor with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) Kevin O’Connell said he “made a calamitous error and shredded a small number of documents” in 2015. He was speaking after he had been cross-examined by Mr FitzPatrick’s counsel, Bernard Condon SC. Mr O’Connell said that at the time he was under
“enormous pressure” and made a “dreadful mistake”. The 2015 trial failed to reach a conclusion and a new trial was started in September last year and is continuing. It has heard that since the first trial ended, the ODCE has instructed that only gardaí seconded to the office should interview witnesses in criminal inquiries. The ODCE solicitor, who played a leading role in the inquiry, said the documents he shredded were only a “tiny” proportion of the documents that were available. Mr Condon said something had to explain the “extraordinary sequence of mistakes” made by the ODCE during the inquiry . He said one explanation was that the it was “driven by a desire to produce a head, to deliver the goods”. Mr O’Connell said that was not the case. The office had been diligent in retaining all documents linked to the case and had shared them with the Director of Public Prosecutions. “You got carried away with yourself because you had the opportunity to get Seán FitzPatrick,” Mr Condon said. Mr O’Connell rejected the suggestion. Mr Condon said the then director of corporate enforcement, Paul Appleby, also appeared to have had “a very significant desire to get” Mr FitzPatrick. Mr O’Connell said he did not believe Mr Appleby was improperly motivated. Mr FitzPatrick (68), Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in 2002-2007. The prosecution alleges the loans were “artificially reduced” for a period of two weeks around the bank’s financial year ends by loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society. The trial heard Mr FitzPatrick was in danger of being
jailed because of a “clanger” made by the bank’s former auditors. The bank’s auditors, EY (formerly Ernst & Young), asked Anglo directors to sign the wrong type of letters of representation during the years relevant to trial, the jury was told. The letters asked the directors to state their loans from Anglo during the relevant financial years. This was a standard request from auditors to most types of directors at the time, but not for bank directors, who only had to declare their loans from their bank at each financial year end. Mr O’Connell said the ODCE took the view there was a requirement on Mr FitzPatrick to give a truthful answer to questions put to him by the bank’s auditors. “It looks like EY made a mistake and used the wrong document,” Mr Condon said, referring to the letters of representation. Mr O’Connell, he said, had referred to this as “fortuitous”. Mr O’Connell and the ODCE was “trying to put a man at risk of imprisonment” because of this “clanger” by the auditors, Mr Condon said. Mr O’Connell said his office took the view that even it was a mistake, it still required a truthful answer. The trial heard that during a phone conversation with Liam Kennedy of A&L Goodbody, Mr O’Connell was told that EY was co-operating with the inquiry out of a sense of “corporate social responsibility”. The trial continues before Judge John Aylmer and a jury. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/seán-fitzpatrickinvestigator-shredded-documents-court-hears-1.2956632
Corporate enforcement investigator admits shredding documents relevant to Sean Fitzpatrick probe Monday, January 30, 2017
Sean Fitzpatrick’s trial has heard the main investigator in his case shredded a number of documents related to the investigation. Mr Fitzpatrick, who stepped down as Anglo Irish Bank’s chairman in 2008, is accused of failing to disclose multimillion euro loans to the bank’s auditors. When he was first called to give evidence earlier this month, Kevin O’Connell from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement accepted he had a significant involvement in the investigation into allegations against Sean Fitzpatrick and under cross-examination today, he admitted shredding “a very small set of documents” relating to that investigation. The court heard the destroyed notes related to conversations with the solicitors firm representing Anglo Irish Bank’s auditors Ernst & Young and that it happened after he’d been cross-examined in a previous trial. He described the shredding as “a calamitous error” and a “dreadful mistake” and said it was at a time of “enormous pressure”. Mr Fitzpatrick denies making false, misleading or deceptive statements to Ernst & Young between 2002 and 2007, and denies furnishing false information to them during that time.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/corporateenforcement-investigator-admits-shredding-documents-relevant-tosean-fitzpatrick-probe-774686.htm
Tackling white-collar crime in Ireland poses many challenges Thursday, May 25, 2017 Shane Kilcommins
It is important that we commit to law reform and allocate resources to ensure effective investigation and prosecution,
Removing the sign from Anglo Irish Bank HQ on St Stephens Green, Dublin. Picture: Nick Bradshaw The Sean FitzPatrick judgment highlights the “difficulties and challenges” in investigating and prosecuting whitecollar crime, according to a legal expert.
Professor Shane Kilcommins of the School of Law at the University of Limerick said there was a “fragmented” approach by a myriad of state agencies in tackling this type of crime. He said there was no centralised governance and “no
unifying strategy” as well as sparse “accountability structure”. Despite the challenges of tackling white collar crime, Prof Kilcommins warned that failure to do so would have a ‘demoralising effect’ on society and potentially “make a mockery of the notion of equality for all citizens before the law”. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court directed the jury to acquit MrFitzPatrick — who was charged with misleading Anglo Irish Bank auditors about millions of euro in loans. Judge John Aylmer said he was making his ruling because of real concerns that the defendant was being denied his constitutional right to a fair trial. He said the investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement was flawed by witness coaching, contamination of witness statements and shredding of evidence. Prof Kilcommins said, on one hand, the judgement reflected the need in Ireland’s criminal process to ensure the quality and integrity of information emanating from an investigation. As well as accuracy, this was to protect individual freedoms, basic fairness and check abuses of power. “When these safeguards are breached, it is difficult, if not impossible, to stand over the integrity of the investigation process,” he said. He added: “More broadly, the judgement also, to some extent, reveals the difficulties and challenges posed in investigating and prosecuting alleged white collar offences.” He said this is for a number of reasons. “To begin with, the line between poor business decisionmaking and criminal activity is far from clear- cut. It is also the case that proof is difficult in these cases, and often resource intensive.” He said white-collar crime was difficult to detect “because it often occurs in private, behind closed corporate doors”. He said another difficulty was the “expansion in agencies” with the power to investigate white-collar crime and to bring prosecutions. “They have increased dramatically in Ireland in recent years,” he said. “They include: the Revenue Commissioners, the
Competition Authority, the Director of Consumer Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health and Safety Authority and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. “This enlargement in scope, however, is fragmented in nature, occupying diverse sites and modes of operation.” He said there was no centralised governance and no unifying strategy. Judge John Aylmer made the decision earlier this week to acquit former Anglo Irish bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick in the Circuit Criminal Court of 27 charges of misleading the bank’s auditors and furnishing false information about multi-million euro loans to him and to people connected to him between 2002 and 2007. He refused to allow a jury to make a determination of innocence or guilt as a result of ‘fundamental errors’ in the investigation, particularly in relation to the taking of witness statements and the shredding of evidence. On the one hand, the judgment reflects the need for our criminal process to ensure, as far as possible, the quality, integrity and legitimacy of the information emanating from an investigation. The procedural demand for accurate fact and verdict findings is woven into the framework of the Irish criminal process. In addition to ensuring accuracy, it is designed to protect individual freedoms, check abuses of power and preserve basic fairness in State-accused relations. The justification for these procedural safeguards is rooted in the notion that a wrongful conviction is a deep injustice and a fundamental moral harm. When these safeguards are breached, it is difficult, if not impossible, to stand over the integrity of the investigation process. More broadly, the judgment also, to some extent, reveals the difficulties and challenges posed in investigating and prosecuting alleged white collar offences. This is so for a number of reasons. To begin with, the line between poor business decision-making and criminal activity is far from clear cut. It is also the case that proof is difficult in these cases, and often resource intensive. White collar crime is hard to detect because it often occurs in private, behind closed corporate doors.Another difficulty relates to the expansion in agencies which have the power to investigate white collar crimes in specific areas and to
prosecute summarily. They have increased dramatically in Ireland in recent years. They include: the Revenue Commissioners, the Competition Authority, the Director of Consumer Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health and Safety Authority, and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. This enlargement in scope, however, is fragmented in nature, occupying diverse sites and modes of operation. Governance, therefore, is no longer defined by centralising tendencies. Rather it is much more dispersed. Despite extensive powers to share information, there is no unifying strategy across the agencies or with other law enforcement institutions such as the DPP or gardaí. Staffing levels, resources, workloads and working practices vary from agency to agency. Indeed, and apart from respective annual reports, there is little in the way of an accountability structure overseeing the policy choices of the various regulatory agencies, the manner in which they invoke their considerable investigative and enforcement powers, or the way in which information is shared between them and with the gardaí. In addition, many aspects of the law on white collar crime are influenced by regulatory impulses which are designed to make up for the difficulties of proof in serious cases. As these regulatory criminal practices become more embedded, they are subjected to judicial scrutiny. When due process, regulatory values and outlooks meet, as they increasingly do, it makes for an interesting battleground, a site for struggle and competing claims about security, instrumental effectiveness, governance, and principled protections. These tensions occur in relation to justiciability; legal privilege, definitions of crime; double jeopardy; privacy; the privilege against selfincrimination; the burden of proof; proportionality of punishment; and culpability requirements. Another difficulty is the emphasis that the law of evidence traditionally places on oral testimony. This may sometimes pose a dilemma in the arena of regulatory wrongdoing where documentary trails may form a central part of an investigation. Recently, for example, a former senior official in Anglo Irish Bank, Tiarnan O’Mahoney,
successfully argued, among other things, that a substantial number of documents that the prosecution sought to adduce in support of their case were wrongly admitted in evidence. His conviction was accordingly quashed on appeal. At an institutional level, many of our regulatory criminal laws, which are designed to deal with white collar crime, have been added on to our ordinary criminal law infrastructure. This has largely been ad hoc in manner, as opposed to a properly synthesised approach with an overarching strategy in mind. Information trails and information gateways cut across civil, administrative, criminal and regulatory domains of action. When the option is a serious criminal charge, this can have consequences for information gathered, particularly having regard to due process safeguards. It is important that we take the threat of white collar crime seriously, by committing to law reform and allocating resources to ensure effective investigation and prosecution. Though it may appear more remote, more victimless and may often be less dramatic, misconduct in the banking and corporate sectors, in the workplace, in the environment, in the political arena and in the distortion of competition in the market poses as much, if not more, of a threat to our everyday lives as ordinary crime, with the potential to impact upon more people. Despite the challenges, we should continue to use the criminal law in tackling serious white collar wrongdoing. We should not underestimate the powerful cathartic effects that the proper use of criminal law can provide in society. It acts as an important safety valve, limiting the ‘demoralising effects’ on society of the consequences of serious misconduct. Its effective use will also ensure that we do not have a two-tier system of justice. This is something which would make a mockery of the notion of equality for all citizens before the law. The State utterly failed to protect the taxpayer from the dangers of white-collar crime all the way along, so to Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin, please spare us your outrage and your anger,
Potential conflicts of interest and incompetencies evident in the prosecution of Sean FitzPatrick speak volumes about our attitudes to white-collar crime,
Former Anglo chairman Sean Fitzpatrick with his daughter Sarah, after he was acquitted on all charges by direction of the judge. Pic: Collins Courts Two elements which were key to the collapse of the prosecution of Sean FitzPatrick speak volumes about attitudes to white collar crime in this country. Yesterday, Judge John Aylmer instructed the jury to find Mr
FitzPatrick not guilty of 27 charges relating to the concealment of hundreds of millions of loans from his time as chairman of Anglo Irish Bank. On Tuesday, the judge set out reasons as to why he felt the trial couldn’t go on. One related to the role of the chief investigator in the case, Kevin O’Connell, a legal adviser to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). Mr O’Connell was entirely out of his depth. At one stage during an earlier, eventually aborted, trial on these charges, O’Connell shredded documents that should have been given to Mr FitzPatrick’s legal team. Apart from that, he was central to a strategy that involved taking witness statements in a manner that was completely wrong, and characterised in the trial as more suited to preparing a civil case, rather than a criminal prosecution. The difference is vital. A civil case usually involves two parties fighting over money. A criminal case can see the defendant found guilty of a crime and sent to prison. On Tuesday, the judge said that Mr O’Connell had no previous experience relevant to the prosecution of indictable offences. “As a result, the investigation fell far short of the standard impartial, unbiased and thorough investigation in which the paramount duty was to seek out and preserve all evidence which was or might potentially be relevant to innocence as well as guilt.” Prior to joining the ODCE, Mr O’Connell’s main experience had been in summary prosecutions at the district court. Typically, prosecutions in the district court involve public order summonses, road traffic offences, petty crime and minor assaults. A solicitor for whom that arena represents the vast bulk of his prosecutorial experience was thus thrust into a world of complex accounting involving alleged fraud, connected — albeit peripherally — to the near collapse of a banking system in a developed economy. Why did the agency hand this case to a professional with virtually no experience in investigating breaches of company law? Is it that the terms and conditions were unattractive to more suitable candidates? Or is it that those in the legal business don’t take seriously such a role
as a career option? Either way, the deployment of this solicitor to lead an investigation requiring knowledge of company law and forensic accounting says plenty about how seriously white collar crime was, and most likely still is, regarded. It has ever been thus. All the way back to 2007, when the country was awash with money, the then taoiseach said the ODCE would have to wait in line before getting the kind of resources that its chief executive claimed were necessary in order to function properly. “It’s only a matter of priorities,” Mr Ahern said at the time. “It’s not that his work is not considered important.” Not important enough it would seem to be in light of all that we now know was happening at the time. The taking of statements was another issue that contributed to the collapse of the FitzPatrick trial. Statements taken from two auditors who had audited Anglo’s books — in which Mr FitzPartrick’s loans were hidden — were seriously contaminated.
Removing the sign from Anglo Irish Bank HQ on St Stephens Green, Dublin. White-collar crime is hard to detect because it often occurs in private, behind closed corporate doors. Picture: Nick Bradshaw The statements were put together through repeated consultation between the two auditors, their solicitors and
personnel in the ODCE office. There were a number of revisions, deletions and suggestions from the various parties. This kind of thing is common in civil law. Affidavits are prepared which lay out the positions of various parties. In criminal law, a statement is a sacred document, which is supposed to be an account of the witness’s experience or observations. Any input from other parties in revising the statement is a complete no-no. The rights of a defendant demand a high standard of integrity in a statement in a criminal trial. This is the kind of stuff that gardaí learn in year one. The FitzPatrick trial heard that gardaí were “conspicuously absent” in the preparation of these statements. So we’re left with highly paid legal and accountancy personnel putting together statements and nobody among them had a clue that this kind of thing was wrong, while the people who knew how to take statements were outside the door. Was it incredible incompetence, or was it simply that these people don’t consider breaches of company law to be a “crime” as such? Perhaps they see crime as something that is confined to those of the lower orders who lack a good education. One other thing to emerge from the shambles was the potential conflict of interest of some of the lawyers who were coaching the auditors on their statement. These lawyers are also acting for Ernest & Young in a potential action being taken by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation — successor to Anglo Irish — against the company. And in addition, they are acting for Ernest & Young in an inquiry by the accountancy regulatory body to examine whether the auditors did a proper job in auditing Anglo Irish. Therein lies an enormous potential for a conflict of interest. What, for instance, if the statements prepared for the criminal trial were seen by the lawyers to be incriminating in relation to one of the other actions? Would that have prompted any revisions or deletions? Of course, we know from experience that among the socalled professional classes there exists Chinese walls to block out any conflicts of interest. In this the boys and girls in the worlds of law, accountancy and auditing have
the capacity to eliminate the kind of bad thoughts which might seep into the minds of mere mortals. That again is something that is relatively unique to the Irish business world. In most other countries there is a recognition as to the limits of human capacity to negotiate conflicts of interest. So it goes in this State, apparently the best little country in the world in which to do business.
In His Own Words he said” Its a good day for the justice system,
The prosecution of Sean Fitzpatrick bore many elements of a stitch-up,
Smiling Sean FitzPatrick walks free
RELIEVED: Sean FitzPatrick smiles as he talks to media outside the court after being acquitted on all charges of proving illegal loans BEAMING ex-banker Sean FitzPatrick winked and smiled with delight yesterday after he was found not guilty of providing illegal loans for businessmen to buy shares in Anglo Irish Bank. The relieved former Anglo chairman skipped out of court a free man, before complaining that he had been through “six years of great personal difficulty”. Mr FitzPatrick, of Greystones, Co Wicklow, had denied providing unlawful financial assistance to a select group of clients, known as the ‘Maple Ten’, to buy shares in the bank in July 2008 as its stock value tanked. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday returned a verdict of not guilty on ten charges against Mr FitzPatrick (65) after deliberating for 13 hours and 29 minutes, following a 10week trial.
Trial
The defendant smiled and shook hands with his legal team, before giving a wink to his family in the courtroom, as Judge Martin Nolan discharged him. After his acquittal on all counts, Mr FitzPatrick left the court to issue a brief statement outside, before being whisked off in a taxi. Reading from a prepared statement, he said: “First of all I would like to thank my wife, my two sons, my
daughter and my sister, who have supported me, not only during this trial, but for the past six years of great personal difficultly. “I would, of course, especially like to thank my legal team — solicitor Michael Staines, senior counsel Michael O’Higgins, junior counsel John Fitzgerald and Gavin McCormack — for their dedication and hard work.
I’M BACK: Ex-Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick arrives at his home in Greystones after his acquittal “I would like also to especially thank the women and men of the jury who found me not guilty of all charges.
Friends
“To all my friends who have stood by me, and in particular two very special friends, I will always be truly grateful for their support during this very difficult time. “I now simply ask that the courtesy which has been extended to me and my family during this trial by the media will be maintained, and the privacy of my family which has been intruded on over the past six years will now cease. “Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.” The seven women and five men of the jury will continue their deliberations today on charges against ex-Anglo bankers Pat Whelan and William McAteer. And Mr FitzPatrick is still to face other charges of failing to disclose at least €139m worth of loans to the bank’s auditors, with that trial expected to start after the summer.
Mr Whelan (51) and Mr McAteer (63) deny providing unlawful financial assistance to 16 individuals as part of the plan to unwind businessman Sean Quinn Snr’s secret stake in the bank. Judge Nolan previously directed that Mr FitzPatrick be found not guilty in connection with the loans to the Quinn family because there was no evidence against him.
Stock
He also cleared Mr Whelan of seven counts relating to facility letters to the Maple Ten. The Maple Ten deal was designed to unwind the 29.4 per cent control of the bank which Mr Quinn had built up through investment tools known as contracts for difference (CFDs). The ten investors were loaned a total of €450m by Anglo to buy around ten per cent of the shares that Mr Quinn controlled. Mr Quinn’s wife and five children were also loaned €169m to buy nearly 15 per cent of the stock. Few of the facts in the case were in dispute but the prosecution alleged different levels of involvement by the three accused, with Mr FitzPatrick playing the most minor role.
CASE: Businessman Sean Quinn Snr who held a secret stake in Anglo Irish Bank They said he was aware of the Quinn issue from a meeting with
Mr Quinn in September 2007 and from a second meeting in March 2008.
Gardai
Mr FitzPatrick was told over the phone by Anglo CEO David Drumm about the Maple plan and informed that Anglo would be lending to ten wealthy customers to buy shares. He told gardai that Mr Drumm never told him the ten’s identities as he “was keeping it very tight”. Over the course of five Garda interviews, Mr FitzPatrick told investigators that he was aware the bank would be lending money to the Maple Ten group of investors before the transaction went through. Mr FitzPatrick told gardai he was in the south of France when Mr Drumm called him on July 9, 2008, and said they had a solution to the Quinn problem. He said the CEO told him they were going to get ten customers and give them money to buy the shares.
Deal
Mr FitzPatrick said he only discovered the Maple Ten’s identities later through rumours and newspaper reports. He said that he didn’t have a problem with the deal and that he had been assured by Mr Drumm that the deal was “kosher” and “above board”. He also denied to gardai that he was using his role as non-executive director “to detach himself” from the Maple Ten deal. Mr FitzPatrick said he assumed Mr Drumm informed the Financial Regulator about the deal, as the regulator had been kept up to date on all developments until that point. During the interviews, Mr FitzPatrick repeatedly told gardai he had no executive function in the bank since he retired as CEO in 2004 to become the non-executive chairman. “I was 56, I’d worked hard,” he told gardai. “I wanted to pass the baton to someone else. I’d done my time.” http://thestar.ie/about-us/smiling-sean-fitzpatrick-walks-free/
Seánie’s Free To Go And He’s Already Thrown The Party As he was officially confirmed a free man at the final day of his trial yesterday, Seán FitzPatrick revealed that he had already held a celebration to mark his acquittal. The jury in the 127-day long trial concerning multi-million-euro loans yesterday acquitted the former Anglo Irish Bank chairman of all charges, on the direction of Judge John Aylmer. The judge told the jurors at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he had found that there was insufficient evidence in the case for them to be allowed to deliberate about the verdict.
The jury in the 127-day long trial concerning multi-million-euro loans yesterday acquitted Seán Fitzpatrick of all charges. Pic: Collins
And Dominic McGinn SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that it was not pursuing six outstanding counts relating to alleged false accounting by Mr FitzPatrick between the years 2002 and 2007. Mr McGinn said the counts had been severed from an initial suite of charges facing Mr FitzPatrick two years ago, and were to have been dealt with at a separate trial. He told Judge Aylmer: ‘I have been instructed to enter a nolle prosequi. There is nothing else facing Mr FitzPatrick.’ Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC said his client, who had not entered the dock but had watched the proceedings from the public gallery with his daughter Sarah, should be discharged.
Former Anglo Irish Bank Chairman Sean FitzPatrick arriving with his daughter Sarah yesterda
Judge Aylmer addressed Mr FitzPatrick, and said: ‘The prosecution has confirmed that there is nothing else against you. You are now free to go. Thank you very much for your attendance.’ Mr FitzPatrick replied: ‘Thank you.’ He smiled but did not make any further comment to reporters as he left court, other than to confirm that he had celebrated his acquittal the night before. Mr FitzPatrick – who served as both chairman and chief executive of Anglo until his resignation in 2008 – faced 27 charges of misleading the bank’s auditors, and of furnishing false information of multi-millioneuro loans to him and people connected to him, between 2002 and 2007.
He had pleaded not guilty to all charges, and had faced two trials on the issue – the first having collapsed in May 2015, shortly after the lead investigator for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Kevin O’Connell, admitted to having shredded evidence in the case. Judge Aylmer told the jurors yesterday that he had made the decision that, as a matter of law, the prosecution had not established a sufficient case to go to a jury.
He said he had issued a lengthy ruling on Tuesday in which he had decided to direct the jury to acquit Mr FitzPatrick on all counts. ‘The thrust of what I have decided is that there was an investigation into the charges against Seán FitzPatrick which fell short of that an accused person is entitled to,’ he told them. He added the shortcomings of the investigation had been highlighted by defence. ‘The prosecution had not proved the case to a standard which allowed me to let the charges go before you to decide the matter,’ the judge said.
http://extra.ie/news/irishnews/sean-fitzpatrick-party
Gardaí have never investigated a State official shredding Seán FitzPatrick documents The former Anglo Irish Bank chairman is accused of misleading auditors about multimillion euro loans from the years 2002 to 2007. Feb 2nd 2017,
Seán FitzPatrick Image: PA Archive/PA Images
GARDAÍ HAVE NEVER investigated a State official’s destruction of documents related to the investigation of alleged crimes by former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick. FitzPatrick (68) is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of misleading auditors about multimillion euro loans from the years 2002 to 2007. The jury has already heard that in May 2015 Kevin O’Connell, a lead investigator from the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), shredded documents which were relevant to the investigation. He told Bernard Condon SC, defending, he panicked when he discovered the five pages in his office and made a wrong
decision to destroy them. He admitted it was unethical and said he was ashamed of his actions. He said he disclosed his actions to his boss, director of corporate enforcement Ian Drennan, three days later. This morning, Condon began a sixth day of cross-examining O’Connell. The witness agreed it is a criminal offence to destroy documents relevant to an investigation. He also agreed that there had been no garda investigation into his shredding of the documents. Pleading the fifth O’Connell said when he told Drennan about his actions he did so knowing it could have led to very serious outcomes such as criminal investigations or disciplinary proceedings. He agreed with counsel that none of these things happened. Condon said there has been no garda investigation and hence there has been no prosecution. He said at the start of the current trial last October the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) offered O’Connell what counsel described as “effective immunity” from prosecution. This offer came while O’Connell was giving evidence during legal argument and he indicated to the court he may wish to rely on the privilege against selfincrimination. Condon told the jury this was a legal right available here and known in the US “as pleading the fifth”, where a person does not have to answer a question that may incriminate them. On 12 October last, the Chief Prosecution Solicitor for the DPP wrote to solicitors for O’Connell stating that no evidence given by him concerning the destruction of documents will be used in evidence in any criminal proceedings against him. The court heard lawyers for the DPP have firmly rejected that the letter amounted to an immunity against prosecution. Condon submitted that it was a qualified but “effective” immunity. FitzPatrick of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false
or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007. The trial continues. Comments are closed as legal proceedings are ongoing.
http://www.thejournal.ie/seanfitzpatrick-shreddeddocuments-3219181Feb2017/ Cork credit union sacking over lost €200k; Gardaí investigating Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - 07:05 am
By Eoin English and Catherine Shanahan
A credit union staff member has been dismissed after the discovery of alleged financial irregularities of up to €200,000. Gurranabraher Credit Union (GCU) is the second credit union in Cork in less than a week to confirm it has referred investigations to both the gardaí and the Central Bank. Last Thursday, it emerged that more than €400,000 was stolen from members’ accounts at Synergy Credit Union in Fermoy in a series of “unauthorised transactions”.
The Irish Examiner understands the latest investigation at Gurranabraher Credit Union is focussing on a staff member who was allegedly engaged in misappropriation of members’ funds for a number of years before the problem was exposed. A statement from the credit union confirmed it has referred a matter that “arose internally” to both the gardaí and the Central Bank following an internal investigation. However, the credit union would not elaborate on the nature of the investigation, the amount involved, or the number of accounts that may have been affected. “This matter was identified and investigated by Gurranabraher Credit Union, and as a result of the investigation a staff member has been dismissed,” the statement said. It said the Gurranabraher Credit Union is insured to cover such matters. The credit union said none of its 15,000-plus members has been exposed to a loss as a result of this matter, and that it had no impact on the provision of its services. “Gurranabraher Credit Union is a financially strong and
stable credit union, with over €96m in assets,” the statement said. The Garda fraud squad confirmed it has been made aware of the allegations. The Irish League of Credit Unions which represents affiliated credit unions said that “while any instance of this nature is extremely regrettable, such incidents remain very isolated”. “As credit unions are democratic and fully accountable to their members, where such incidents occur, it often comes to public attention,” said an ILCU spokesperson. “This is distinctly different to other financial institutions where such incidents may be dealt with via a closed internal process.” The spokesperson said in recent times “credit unions have been strengthening their systems of internal control and this will continue”. “Indeed, additional compulsory functions such as risk, compliance and internal audit have been added to the preexisting controls,” the spokesperson said. Con O’Leary, a member of GCU’s board of directors until his resignation on health grounds five weeks ago, said he had “no comment” to make in relation to the investigation. Gardaí are also investigating a series of “unauthorised transactions” at Synergy Credit Union in Fermoy involving €407,442. An internal investigation found 29 member accounts had been affected. Accountancy firm Grant Thornton was commissioned to carry out an independent investigation into the irregularities at a cost of €160,000. The credit union said all accounts were subsequently “replenished”.
It refused to clarify if the insurance of the credit union was used to replenish the 29 affected accounts or if the original monies were recovered. Gurranabraher Credit Union has a chequered history. It was the subject of an almost year-long investigation in 2000 by the Registrar of Friendly Societies. The investigation raised concerns about expense claims and a €7,000 junket to Killarney for, inter alia, members of the board of directors, the supervisory committee and management. There were also concerns around bullying and harassment of staff. In 2002, the manager and deputy manager were dismissed following “an exhaustive investigation”. There are about 400 credit unions in Ireland and 3.5m members.
Unauthorised transactions at a credit union worth €400,000 are being investigated by gardaí. Larkhill & District Credit Union has asked consultants Grant Thornton to investigate the extent of the
suspected fraud, which involved one member of staff taking money from members accounts. It is believed that much of the money has been refunded to members. A Garda spokesperson confirmed that gardaí in Santry are investigating financial irregularities at a financial institution that occurred from 2002 to 2013. Sources indicate that the credit union became aware of the irregularities on foot of complaints from members. The incident was then reported to gardaí and the Central Bank. The lender has around 8,000 members and €28 million in assets and says that there is an investigation into “a small number of affected accounts”. They say that members’ savings are secure, a stance backed up by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU). “We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation into irregular activity in a small number of members accounts at Larkhill & District Credit Union. While this investigation is underway, we will not be able to comment in any substantive way on the matter other than to say that this is a rare occurrence and Larkhill & District Credit Union is working with the relevant authorities to ensure that the issue is dealt with comprehensively and brought to a satisfactory conclusion. “Members that have been affected by this issue have been contacted by the credit union and have been refunded. The credit union continues to work closely with these members. Larkhill & District Credit Union is trading as usual and day to day operations have not been affected. Member savings are safe and continue to be guaranteed by the Government’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme of up to €100,000 per member.”
http://www.irishexaminer.co m/breakingnews/ireland/cork -credit-union-sacking-over-
lost-200k-gardaiinvestigating-789994.html Garda-probe credit union inspector is back working as a ‘watchdog’ Posted on 06 July 2014.
By: Michael O’Farrell Investigations Editor A CREDIT union is believed to have appointed a risk and compliance officer who is being investigated by gardaí in connection with loans for foreign property investments. Kilmallock Credit Union is understood to have given the position to Matt Heffernan earlier this year. The chairman of the board of the Co. Limerick credit union is Con O’Brien. The Irish Mail on Sunday featured Mr O’Brien last week attending a Las Vegas junket where he was pictured kissing a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. (http://www.newsscoops.org/?p=1606) Prior to his post in Kilmallock, Mr Heffernan worked as a field officer for the Irish League of Credit Unions, where he was responsible for auditing credit unions in the southern region. During this time he obtained significant loans from credit unions that he was responsible for monitoring.
Matt Heffernan leaving Kilmallock Credit Union this week. (Photo – Michael O’Farrell) One such loan from Berehaven Credit Union – for property in Spain – was jointly in the name of the then manager and treasurer of that institution. Others were for property in Bulgaria and Ireland. A report carried out by auditors KPMG found that application forms for loans obtained by Mr Heffernan contained some incorrect personal information. According to the KPMG report, Mr Heffernan’s loans required ‘provisioning’, which means the credit union was forced to put funds aside as it feared they would not be repaid. The report noted that as an ILCU field officer Mr Heffernan inspected Berehaven credit union in 2007 and 2009 but made no reference to his own loans there. As a result, Mr Heffernan stepped down as a director of the ILCU in April 2013. And because cer-tain loans were in default, Berehaven Credit Union this year obtained a judgment against him. Meanwhile the Garda press office this week confirmed that an investigation into Mr Heffernan is still active. After being contacted by a member of Kilmallock Credit Union, the MoS photographed Mr Heffernan leaving the credit union as it closed on Tuesday. When approached, Mr Heffernan denied he was working there. On Wednesday morning we again photographed Mr Heffernan arriving at the office as the credit union opened at 10am.
Later that day he was again photographed as he accompanied chairman Con O’Brien and two other members to an afternoon meeting at Cork’s Ballyphehane Credit Union. The CEO at Ballyphehane, Mr George Cantwell, said Mr Heffernan attended as part of a group from Kilmallock. ‘We had representatives from Kilmallock attending our credit union to review an IT system,’ he said. . But the MoS has been told that Mr Heffernan – though not a direct employee of the credit union – is fulfilling the role of risk and compliance officer on a self-employed basis. A Central Bank spokesman – which regulates the sector – said it could not comment on individual credit unions.
http://www.newsscoops.org/? p=1624 Sean FitzPatrick trial told investigators used 'unlawful' practices when taking witness statements The jury was shown versions of the document with new sections inserted, other sections crossed out or deleted. Jan 31st 2017,
INVESTIGATORS INTO ALLEGED crimes by former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean Fitzpatrick used “unlawful” practices when taking witness statements, his trial has
heard. Lawyers for FitzPatrick (68), who is accused of misleading auditors about multi-million euro loans, have said that statements from witnesses from the auditors were produced as a result of coaching and cross-contamination between witnesses. On day 72 of the trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury saw a draft statement from Vincent Bergin, the audit manager for Anglo, with numerous changes, including insertions and deletions of entire paragraphs, suggested by investigators. The evidence emerged during the fourth day of defence cross-examination of Kevin O’Connell, a legal advisor with the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), who dealt with witnesses from EY (formerly Ernst & Young), Anglo’s auditors from 2002 to 2008. The document titled “draft statement by Vincent Bergin” and dated 1 November 2010, was circulated to a number of people in the ODCE, including O’Connell and his then boss, Paul Appleby, the director of corporate enforcement. These people suggested changes to the document and O’Connell said he then distilled or synthesised “the shared viewpoint” that was finally settled on. The jury was shown various versions of the document with new sections inserted, other sections crossed out or deleted, and others marked with the words “drop” or “delete”. Bernard Condon SC, defending, compared the process of producing the statement to the “hokey cokey”. “It goes in and it goes out. The statement is just shaken out. A meeting of bits going in and bits going out,” he said. O’Connell agreed the process was wrong and inappropriate. Condon told the court that rulings by Judge Mary Ellen Ring during the first trial in May 2015 and by Judge John Aylmer during the current trial found that it was an unlawful practice. He said it was unlawful because it meant the jury never get to hear what the witness might have said in an unvarnished statement and not produced after they had being coached.
FitzPatrick of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007. The trial continues.
http://www.thejournal.ie/seanfitzpatrick-trial-8-3215641Jan2017/ Gardai to investigate alleged credit union fraud Niall O'Connor – 29 May 2012 04:00 PM
GARDAI have been called in to investigate suspected largescale fraud at a Dublin credit union. It'semergedthatalleged"financialirregularities"involvingasixfiguresumhavebeenuncoveredat theinstitutioninFinglas,NorthDublin. Officerswerecalledintoinvestigateafterstaffatthecreditunionuncoveredwhattheysuspectis "irregularities"inthebranch'saccounts. ThediscoverywasmadeinrecentdaysatthebranchlocatedattheSeamusEnnisRoad. Thecredituniontodayconfirmedthataprobeisunderwaybeforereassuringcustomersthatsavingsare secure. Theagency'sbossescontactedlocalgardaiwhohavebeenworkingcloselywithdetectivesfromthe nationalbureauoffraudinvestigation.
Secure TheHeraldunderstandsthattheprobeisatanearlystagewithnoarrestsmadesofar. It'sunderstoodthatofficerssuspectthattheallegedfraudcouldinvolveasixfiguresum.
Aspokespersonforthecreditunionsaid:"DuetotheongoinginvestigationbyAnGardaSiochana,we arenotinapositiontocommentontheinvestigationatthemoment.However,wewouldliketotake thisopportunitytoassuremembersthattheirsavingsaresafeandsecureandarenotaffected." Gardaiconfirmedaninvestigationwaslaunchedthisweek.
Garda probe into Dublin rent fraud Updated / Monday, 23 Sep 2002 21:31
AGardainvestigationisunderwayaftertwomentrickedmorethan50peopleoutofaround€46,000 byfalselyagreeingtorentouthomestotheminDublin. ThefraudinvolvedahouseinPortobelloandanotheroneinBeaumontinDublin.Themenbehindthe illegalschemehavegonemissing. Gardaíhavereleasedfootageofamantheywanttointerviewinconnectionwiththescams. GardaíinKevinStreetinDublinhavesetupanincidentroomtoinvestigatetherentalfraud. Telephone016669432.
Seven men who allegedly abused child will not face prosecution Garda interview of child alleging sexual abuse was ‘abusive’ and ‘relentless’ May 31, 17
Fiona Gartland
A clinical psychologist told a District Court child care hearing he was not
surprised there would be no prosecution for sexual abuse, because the veracity of the child’s evidence had been undermined in garda interviews. File photograph: iStockPhoto
Seven men who allegedly sexually abused a child were not prosecuted because of the manner in which interviews with the child were carried out by gardaí. A clinical psychologist told a District Court child care hearing he was not surprised there would be no prosecution for sexual abuse, because the veracity of the child’s evidence had been undermined in garda interviews. Gardaí had asked the girl to recall inappropriately specific details from when she was very young, that were not within her ability, the expert said. He described the garda interviews as “abusive” and “relentless”, but he was clear that the substance of the child’s evidence was authentic. The quality of the interviewer’s training was questioned during the case, as well as the lack of ongoing training. The case has been published on the website of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, led by Dr Carol Coulter, and is separate from an audit carried out by Prof Geoffrey Shannon on Garda emergency care cases which was published earlier this week V V V
Vast majority of calls to Childline placed out of hours Child allegedly sexually abused was taken from filthy home Taoiseach ‘upset’ by child-protection failings
The child, now in care, was interviewed 11 times, by gardaí and by a child sexual abuse therapy unit she was referred to by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. She told gardaí she was abused by men who had been drinking with her mother and at times, her mother was present during her abuse. She also alleged her mother made her pose naked for photos and the photos were shown to the men before they abused her. And she gave evidence of neglect, and emotional and physical abuse.
The child’s mother denied the allegations and said her daughter was a liar and was coached.
A District Court child care hearing was told by a clinical psychologist he was not surprised there would be no prosecution for sexual abuse, because the veracity of the child’s evidence had been undermined
Six interviews – two a day – were carried out by a garda child specialist interviewer. Some were up to an hour and 20 minutes long. Interviews were also carried out by the therapy unit, the first of which involved a credibility assessment. However, the unit failed to complete their assessment because Tusla, then the HSE, decided the garda child specialist interviews should begin instead. As a result, the unit could not reach a definitive conclusion about the child’s allegations.
‘Unprecedented’
Giving evidence, the garda child specialist interviewer said she had received four weeks’ training and had not had any updated training since then, though she did receive supervision from garda college trainers. She said the number of interviews she did with the child was “unprecedented” and she would take on board the
opinion of the expert. In interviewing a child who has suffered multiple abuse, it was difficult to establish a timeline, which was why there were so few prosecutions, she said. Making a full care order in the case, to the age of 18, the presiding judge said on the balance of probabilities, while in the care of her mother, the child suffered physical abuse, neglect, emotional and sexual abuse. The judge criticised the lack of co-ordination between gardaí and the therapy unit, which she said was contrary to best practice. She said there was no evidence of a “comprehensive co-ordinated response and a joint agency approach”, and no evidence of “consideration of joint interviewing”. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-andlaw/courts/district-court/seven-men-who-allegedlyabused-child-will-not-face-prosecution1.3102125#.WS6WApFDddI.facebook Austerity created this disaster. Inadequate training in such a delicate area Ireland no longer cherishes the child. The State certainly does not. RIP Mary Boyle. ‘Unprecedented’ "Giving evidence, the garda child specialist interviewer said she had received four weeks’ training and had not had any updated training since then, though she did receive supervision from garda college trainers. She said the number of interviews she did with the child was “unprecedented” and she would take on board the opinion of the expert". The full transcripts of the Medical Council inquiry into Dr Moira Woods which said inquiry involved the giving of sworn evidence by a large number of social workers and other so-called child savers, should be in the public domain in the public interest. When several of the High court civil actions against Ireland, the state, the attorney general, the minister for health, the HSE, the rotunda hospital and Dr Moira Woods were settled one third of the costs and compensation was picked up by Woods insurers while two thirds was picked up by the HSE. Woods sent the bullets and the HSE pulled the triggers and nothing has changed because of the secrecy surrounding the Moira Woods inquiry. The other named defendants walked. Fred Lowe was a senior clinical psychologist with the HSE and he with his partner in crime Dr Moira Woods fucked up left, right and centre for decades and we still have un-named clinical psychologists repeating the same mantra as Woods and Lowe.
Dáil may finally end water charges saga before recess
1 Mr Coveney has taken credit for settling the water issue Cormac McQuinn
May 31 2017 The Government has approved the priority drafting of legislation that will abolish water charges, except in cases of excessive use. Refunds to households that paid their water bills will also be provided for, though the details on how this will happen have yet to be finalised.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney brought a memo to Cabinet seeking to have the legislation prioritised so it can be passed before the Dáil's summer recess. The planned bill will implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas committee on the future funding of domestic water services. Under the planned legislation the water charges brought in by the former Fine Gael-Labour government are to be discontinued. Unpaid bills and late payment charges previously applied to households are to be scrapped. There is to be provision for a new levy for domestic customers that use water excessively, with the threshold for such charges to be set at 1.7 times the average usage. Certain households, including those with special medical needs, will get waivers. It's also understood the legislation will allow for refunds for households that paid water charges. However, the details for how this will happen are still being worked out by Mr Coveney's department, Irish Water and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The bill is to be published and introduced to the Oireachtas next month with a view to having the legislation passed by both houses before the summer recess. advertisement Advertisement 00:29 The issue of water has arisen during the Fine Gael leadership race. Mr Coveney's rival Leo Varadkar last week said he wanted to see water charge refunds issued to those who paid by the end of the year. Mr Coveney said a date could not be set without agreement with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, who will have to find Exchequer funds for the payouts.
Mr Coveney took credit during the leadership hustings for "settling the water issue once and for all" after it "dogged" Fine Gael for years. What a heap of gobbledegook! Those neanderthals will keep hounding poor misfortunes for money to pay for water until a really serious bomb is placed under their collective arse. Only the power of the people on the streets, in huge numbers, in serious protest (but no dangerous missiles like water balloons) will force them to do what should have been done years ago. SCRAP THAT STUPID QUANGO: The Government are fooling nobody with their blatherskite smoke-screen: even the dogs on the street know that the WATER QUANGO is a privately funded scheme to line the pockets of the INVESTORS.
http://www.independent.ie/iris h-news/politics/dil-may-finallyend-water-charges-sagabefore-recess-35773490.html * Irish Water will STILL exist. * The later ability to reintroduce recharges, will STILL exist. * The bullied in usage of meters, will STILL exist. * The legislation that will allow privatisation, STILL exists. * It's all STILL not answerable to the National Ombudsman Yippee...! With one swipe of the pen, all our water problems will be solved, in this country...! No more rusted pipes, no more polluted water going into our lakes, rivers or seas.. The whole water charges affair will be like one bad dream... and all because of one wave of a magic wand.! It's so exciting..! Why didn't we think of it before We really need to be vigilant about water privatisation. The recent "result" in relation to charges is over estimated. Once there is a "charging" element then there is a very strong possibility that privatisation will happen. Under CETA and with the current arrangements with Veolia and other water service providers privatisation is a given. Rejecting CETA would go a long way towards slowing down the privatisation agenda. WATER IS NOT EXCLUDED FROM CETA.
"CETA Article 1.9 makes it look like water is outside the CETA. However, Article 1.9(3) says CETA does apply to water, “If a Party permits the commercial use of a specific water source”. The EU (through the treaties and ECJ rulings) insists that if any fee is charged for a service then it is a commercial service which must be opened up to competition even if it is a government monopoly. Involving private companies in the maintenance, testing, fixing and delivering of water services also puts water services squarely under the remit of CETA."
Government to sell off a 25% stake in AIB AIB shares will be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and on the London Stock Exchange. May 31, 17
FINANCE MINISTER MICHAEL Noonan has announced plans for the government to sell off a 25% stake in AIB. The government currently has a 99.9% ownership of Allied Irish Banks. AIB received the biggest bailout of all the Irish banks still trading, with the government injecting €21 billion into the bank during the financial crisis. Analysts say the sale could raise up to €3 billion for the state. The government will publish price ranges at which the shares are expected to be sold in mid-June. The sale is expected to be the largest initial public offering (IPO) in Europe this year and one of the largest in the UK Main Market over the last 20 years. AIB shares will be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and on the London Stock Exchange. Following the publication of an approved prospectus in connection with the IPO, members of the public in Ireland and the United Kingdom may apply to purchase shares in the IPO, through what is called an intermediary offer, through participating intermediaries subject to certain conditions. Announced his intention to float 25%, Noonan stated that
“the strong progress made by AIB and current market conditions” mean that now is the right time to commence the process of the Irish State reducing its ownership. The Government’s long-held policy is that the state should exit its banking investments in a measured and prudent manner, returning ownership to the private sector over time. “Today’s decision is a significant step in the continued normalisation of the state’s involvement in Ireland’s banking system and reaffirms the government’s commitment to recovering its investment in AIB for the benefit of the Irish people.” http://www.thejournal.ie/noonan-government-sell-aib-stake-3417705-May2017/
Treason pure and simple.. Cop on lads they are all robbers and liars that's putting it mildly So lets talk about the Irish Constitution and rights. Watch out for the terms; "Rights may be derived or implied" Herein lies the clue. You have limited rights, and the State know this "The Constitution recognises and declares that people living in Ireland have CERTAIN fundamental personal rights. These rights are natural human rights and are confirmed and protected by the Constitution. Not EVERY fundamental right that you possess is set out in the Constitution - you have many personal rights that are NOT specifically stated in the Constitution. These rights may be DERIVED or IMPLIED from the Constitution. For example, the Constitution does NOT specifically state a right to privacy but the courts recognise that the personal rights in the constitution imply the right to privacy. Fundamental rights are NOT absolute - they can be LIMITED or RESTRICTED by the Oireachtas on the grounds, for example, of the common good or public order" Noonan continues with irelands fire sale to the Vulture funds Selling Ireland beneath our feet Right - regarding the sale of A.I.B. .. First step is to put the President , the Chief Justice , the Comptroller General and the Secretary Generals of the Departments of Finance and Taoiseach on notice of being complicit in treason - all this bailout is based on a "bOMB
THREAT " - AN ACT OF WAR .... Secondly .... commence the paperwork on lodging an injunction application ..... The Hub might help out here - based in Dublin after all
This will be the parting legacy on minister Noonan. A smack in the face to everyone in Ireland He should be prevented from doing so. But who will stand up and be counted the only ones capable of doing this right now are FF. The silence is deafening.
The High Court has squashed a bid to stop the state's €3bn AIB share sale A judge called the attempt ‘frivolous, vexatious and bound to fail’.
BY AODHAN O'FAOLAIN
MAY 26TH 2017 4 MIN READ
THE HIGH COURT has struck out a businessman’s bid to prevent the sale of shares held by the government in AIB bank. In his judgment today, Justice Paul Gilligan said he was satisfied proceedings brought by Vincent O’Donoghue to prevent the sale of the shares could not succeed. In proceedings against AIB, the Minister for Finance, the government, Ireland and the attorney-general, O’Donoghue, who represented himself, sought a declaration that the proposed sale is contrary to the common good and is unlawful. In his ruling the judge said a court should rarely dismiss claims at an early stage. However allowing O’Donoghue’s action proceed would “constitute an abuse of process of the court.” The claims, the judge added, were frivolous, vexatious and bound to fail. The court also said it was satisfied to strike out O’Donoghue’s application for an injunction
preventing the defendants from taking any steps to dispose all or any parts of the state’s shareholding in AIB pending the final outcome of his action. The state parties had opposed the injunction application and had brought preliminary motions seeking to have O’Donoghue’s proceedings dismissed. In his claim, O’Donoghue said AIB’s “long and sorry history of catastrophic governance failures” demonstrates that the bank is “incapable of operating in a lawful, responsible and complaint manner”. He gave examples of AIB’s past difficulties, including: ICI in the 1980’s, rogue trader John Rusnak, non-resident deposit accounts, foreign exchange overcharging and the state’s 2009 €21.8 billion bailout. He claims that if returned to private ownership AIB will “only serve one master” and have the sole focus of “relentlessly pursuing profits” for mostly foreign shareholders. In dismissing the application for the injunction, the judge said that no claim had been made
out against AIB, which he said had no direct influence on whether the minister sells the shares or not. While AIB supports the proposed sale of 25% of the company, it does not have any control over it.
A complex IPO O’Donoghue, of Church Street, Dublin 7, had failed to show any legal impediment requiring the state to hold on to its current level of shareholding with AIB. The court could not entertain an issue such as the sale of the government’s shares in AIB. It
was not open to the courts to entertain a case which related matters of “political economy”, the judge said. The state currently owns more than 99% of the bank – recently valued at €11.3 billion. To date, the state has recouped €6.6 billion of the money put into AIB. It is the government’s policy to return AIB to private ownership. Evidence was given that the minister might sell up to 25% of his shareholding before the end of 2018, the judge noted. It is proposed to sell part of the shareholding by way of an IPO on the Irish and London stock exchanges. Evidence was given that preparation for this is a complex and not something that one can “stop and start”, the judge said. If the orders sought by O’Donoghue were granted, the judge said it was the defendant’s belief “a potential optimal market window would be lost” and a “very considerable amount of the public money will have been spent on an abortive process”. The defendants argued that “capital markets
appear to be currently receptive to an IPO and it was imperative that the minister for finance maintains the utmost flexibility to begin and execute an IPO in the first possible window of May-June 2017″. The judge said O’Donoghue had claimed he was making an argument in the interests of the common good. However he had not produced any evidence to support his claim that it is for the common good that the sale of the Minister’s shares should not proceed. To grant the reliefs sought by O’Donoghue, the judge added, would run completely contrary to the restructuring arrangements in place between the government and the European Commission. O’Donoghue was not at any financial risk from the proposed sale, while the defendants said they would suffer damages that might range from between extreme and incalculable if the injunction was granted. The matter was adjourned for four weeks to allow the sides consider the judgment.
https://fora.ie/aib-share-sale-court-3411303-May2017/
Concern at breaches of bank rules May 31 2017
1 Fianna Fáil spokesman on Finance Michael McGrath Concern has been expressed about a new outbreak of rule-breaking in Irish banks. It comes after Bank of Ireland became the third retail bank to be fined in eight months by regulators over its failure to observe regulations. Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath called on Finance Minister Michael Noonan to address what he said was a chronic lack of regulatory compliance. Bank of Ireland was fined €3.2m by the Central Bank for failing to have proper systems in place to counteract money laundering.
Ulster Bank and AIB were rcently fined millions for similar breaches. Bank of Ireland was reprimanded for 12 breaches. The fact that three of the State's main retail banks have been fined in the past eight months suggests a serious problem in the sector in implementing antimoney laundering and terrorist financing compliance measures, Mr McGrath said.
http://www.independent.ie/iris h-news/politics/concern-atbreaches-of-bank-rules35773507.html Ireland's AIB Sees 'Very Significant' Investor IPO Appetite By REUTERSMAY 31, 2017,
Reality Check. It appears to be a benign dictatorship Even the 'generals' are losing heart. He calls for Dail Reform. I cannot say what I call for, as I would be arrested. "The action hy the Government today begs the question what are we doing putting down motions and spending time debating them in the Dail if the Government ignores them anyway? It means in effect that the will of the Dail and the elected
representatives of the people are being completely blanked by the Government which is very disheartening and undemocratic. In light of this action today it would be better for public representatives to stay in their constituencies and work on behalf of the people rather than wasting their time travelling to Dublin and putting down motions that will be ignored even if they are passed. Real Dail reform will have to take place if this unsatisfactory situation is to change anytime soon. The way things stand it's a farce". Today it was announced by the Government and Minister Michael Noonan that they are to proceed with the sale of 25% of AIB Bank despite the Dail passing a motion two weeks ago to oppose any such sale until a guarantee could be secured that the funds from any such sale should be spent on infrastructure. The action hy the Government today begs the question what are we doing putting down motions and spending time debating them in the Dail if the Government ignores them anyway? It means in effect that the will of the Dail and the elected representatives of the people are being completly blanked by the Government which is very disheartening and undemocratic. In light of this action today it would be better for public representatives to stay in their constituencies and work on behalf of the people rather than wasting their time travelling to Dublin and putting down motions that will be ignored even if they are passed. Real Dail reform will have to take place if this unsatisfactory situation is to change anytime soon. The way things stand it's a farce.
What they are saying in the REAL WORLD! " Byrne sought to play down the risk that the prospect of political deadlock in Britain could rattle investors. "The UK market will value bank stocks based on the markets they operate in, so I think that positive will remain," he said. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Davy Stockbrokers and Deutsche Bank are global coordinators, while Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Goodbody Stockbrokers, JPMorgan and UBS are bookrunners on the IPO. Their fees are expected to be between 10 and 13 million euros, a spokesman for the finance department said" Allied Irish Banks is attracting very significant investor interest as Ireland begins returning the bank it rescued almost a decade ago to private ownership, its chief executive said on Wednesday. One of Ireland's two dominant banks, AIB has been profitable for each of the last three years and is the largest provider of mortgages in the fast-recovering Irish economy. Against this backdrop the Irish government launched its long-awaited initial public offering of AIB on Tuesday,
offering a 25 percent stake in what is set to be one of Europe's largest bank listings since the 2008 financial crisis. Dublin, which rescued the bank in a 21 billion-euro (£18.3 billion) taxpayer bailout that began almost a decade ago, has been considering partly cashing out of its 99.9 percent stake for more than a year and the bank has been meeting investors since then. "The combination of a strong Irish economy with a growing European economy as a backdrop and a strong franchise here means that there is very significant investor appetite," AIB chief executive Bernard Byrne told national broadcaster RTE. While a chronic lack of housing could hold lending back, Byrne said investors see AIB's forecast that the overall Irish market will almost double to 10 billion euros in the medium term as an attractive selling point. Byrne said he anticipated that the stake would be sold to a wide variety of institutions who would take a long term view. Irish Finance Minister Noonan declined to say how much Dublin expected to raise, adding this could "give investors traction to push the value down" ahead of the publication of a price range in mid-June Analysts say it could raise around 3 billion euros, based on the bank's book value of 11.3 billion euros at the end of last year and the fact that it has continued to generate capital and resumed dividend payments since. DealBook delivers the news driving the markets and the conversation. Delivered weekday mornings and afternoons.
Based on the number of shares outstanding, and allowing for an improvement in the bank's finances in 2017, the price is likely to come in below 5 euro per share, IFR, a Thomson Reuters publication, estimated. Noonan said the price could be "driven up a little" if Britain's ruling Conservative party wins a strong majority in a June 8 election. But a poll published shortly after his comments showed they could in fact lose their majority. Byrne sought to play down the risk that the prospect of political deadlock in Britain could rattle investors. "The UK market will value bank stocks based on the markets they operate in, so I think that positive will remain," he said. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Davy Stockbrokers and Deutsche Bank are global coordinators, while Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Goodbody Stockbrokers, JPMorgan and UBS are bookrunners on the IPO. Their fees are expected to be between 10 and 13 million euros, a spokesman for the finance department said. (Editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith)
https://www.nytimes.co m/reuters/2017/05/31/b usiness/31reuters-aib-
ipo.html?smid=fb-share
Supporters in both camps back minister's property
tax proposal
Fine Gael leadership candidate Leo Varadkar Councillors supporting both Fine Gael leadership candidates have backed Leo Varadkar's proposal to keep the property tax for use in the council areas where it is collected. Mr Varadkar's proposal would change the current situation where councils set aside 20pc of their Local Property Tax (LPT) take for redistribution to those with a smaller tax base. Poorer councils would instead see top-ups from central government, costing around €140m a year. Clare councillor Paul Murphy is a Simon Coveney supporter, but is in favour of Mr Varadkar's proposal. His council currently sets aside €3.5m for redistribution to other local authorities. Mr Murphy believes LPT income should be retained by the council where it's raised, saying: "There's no shortage of projects that money can be put to good use on." Fingal County Council sees €26.7m of its LPT take redistributed." 20 percent = €26.7 m , 10 percent is €13.35 m so the council Lpt take in fingal alone is €133.5 million. Just in fingal!
But he said Mr Varadkar's LPT idea is not an issue he'd change his vote over. Roscommon councillor Michael Creaton is a Fine Gael representative on a local authority that relies on the equalisation fund for 69pc of its property tax allocation. Also a Coveney supporter, he's not opposed to Mr Varadkar's proposal provided there's "a guarantee" the extra money would come from the Exchequer. Fingal County Council sees €26.7m of its LPT take redistributed. Cllr Eithne Loftus, who supports Mr Varadkar, backs his plan, saying her council could do with "more into its coffers". She said the area had a lot of homeless people to house. Donegal County Council received €16.5m this year from the equalisation fund. Its Cathaoirleach Terence Slowey is a Varadkar supporter, but says he'd prefer to leave the LPT system the way it is. He said he accepted Mr Varadkar's word that central government would provide funds, but raised concern that such funding may be reduced in the event of another downturn. Advertisement 00:24
Fine Gael parliamentary party endorsements for leader The Fine Gael parliamentary party makes up 65pc of the total electorate. That makes each of the 73 members' votes worth 0.9pc of the total ballot. Of the remaining electorate, 230 party councillors account for 10pc, while the remaining 25pc is rank and file members.
New judge 'was not a farewell gift to Kenny' Ross
1 Judge Eoin Garavan, former Castlebar Fine Gael councillor Cormac McQuinn May 31 2017 The nomination of a barrister with strong Fine Gael links to the Circuit Court was not a "farewell gift" for Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the Independent Alliance has said.
Transport Minister Shane Ross, who has railed against the existing system for selecting new judges, did not object when the Cabinet signed off on a number of appointments last week. Among them was Eoin Garavan, a former Fine Gael town councillor, from Taoiseach Enda Kenny's native Castlebar. Mr Ross insisted it was a "Cabinet decision" when asked if he was aware of Mr Garavan's Fine Gael background. "It was certainly not a farewell gift of any sort to the Taoiseach." Mr Ross said. He did not discuss the matter with Mr Kenny "at any stage". Mr Ross said he had agreed that judges could be appointed under the old system provided that the new Judicial Appointments Bill is published and goes to the Dáil.
He said he agreed to the appointments so that the courts wouldn't be "clogged up" due to vacancies. Asked about Mr Garavan's appointment, Mr Kenny's spokesman insisted "All appointments are made based on qualification and ability". The Cabinet yesterday approved the Judicial Appointments Bill that will establish an independent commission to nominate individuals to be appointed as judges. Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald brought the proposals to Cabinet. The commission is to be chaired by a non-legal professional, will have a lay majority, and will be limited to providing Cabinet with three recommendations per judicial vacancy advertisement
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Mr Ross described the Bill as "historic and radical" and said it "virtually removes completely the appointment of judges from the political arena". The Bill will come before the Dáil in the coming weeks but Mr Ross has not been given a definitive timeline for when it will become law. Mr Ross said he would like a new chief justice, due to take office later this year, to be appointed under the new system. Let's see if this one will consider 'white collar' crime criminal.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/new-judge-was-not-afarewell-gift-to-kenny-ross-35773506.html
Good news in one sense. "Earlier today, the Judicial Appointments Bill, which will remove the role of government in the appointment of judges, was approved by Cabinet. Currently, the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board identifies candidates and makes recommendations to government – with Cabinet ministers having the final say. Instead, it will be the responsibility of a judicial appointments commission that will make the decision, which will be made up of a lay majority".
Soon the appointment of judges will be removed from the political arena' - Ross The Judicial Appointments Commission will have a majority of lay people. May 31, 17
THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS Bill, which Minister Shane Ross states will “virtually remove the appointment of judges from the political arena”, was approved by Cabinet. Currently, the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board identifies candidates and makes recommendations to government – with Cabinet ministers having the final say. Instead, it will be the responsibility of a judicial appointments commission to make recommendations of appointments to government, which will be made up of a lay majority. The bill will also reduce the number of recommendations to three, as opposed to the minimum of seven under the current system. Transport Minister Shane Ross said the Bill was one of the keystone commitments needed in order for the Independent
Alliance to enter into government with Fine Gael. He has been adamant since entering government that he wanted to change the way judges were appointed and at one stage blocked any further appointments from being made under the current system. However, he faced opposition due to judicial vacancies arising from some retirements, which then could not be filled due to the block on new appointments, leading to backlogs and resentment in the court system. New appointments The Irish Times reported that a number of recent new appointees have links with the Fine Gael party – however, the minister would not be drawn on any specific cases today. In addition to some current vacancies being filled, a number vacancies that will not occur until later in the year were also approved. Speaking to reporters today, he said he did not agree with the way in which judges have been appointed up until now. I do not like the way they are appointing judges at the moment, that they have been appointing judges under the old system while I have been in government. I made it a condition at one stage that they didn’t appoint anymore. We then came to an agreement that they could appoint more judges because there was a case being made by many that they system was being clogged up and we didn’t want to see justice being deprived by anybody. Last week’s appointments were just that pattern… It is that sort of old system that gives rise to the argument where people automatically assume that because they have been politically appointed, they are politically connected, and therefore they are appointed for that reason. Ross also said he did not ask if any of the appointees had any political links at today’s Cabinet meeting. “I had agreed there would be judges appointed under this system provided that this Bill [the Judicial Appointments Bill] was published and went to the Dáil – that was the deal,” said Ross, adding: I wasn’t misled at all. He said he was given no assurances by anyone that the
appointments were “non-contentious”. The minster said it was not the case that he was forced to approve the judges in order to get his Bill approved today. Ross said the new judicial appointments commission will provide transparency in the selection of judges and ensure they are appointed on merit. The new commission will have an “enormous impact” in ensuring the public have confidence in future appointments. It is understood the judicial appointments bill will come before the Dáil on 20 June. Ross said he wants the Bill to be enacted as soon as possible. http://www.thejournal.ie/judges-appointments-3417006-May2017/
Pregnant pause of Irish gov’s gift of maternity hospital to nuns John Spain May 12, 2017
The decision by the government to gift the new National Maternity Hospital it plans to build to an order of nuns has been causing waves of outrage here for the past few weeks. And much of this outrage, particularly from those who support a liberal, secular Ireland, has included demonizing the unfortunate nuns involved.
But however unwise the government's decision was (and it was extremely stupid), much of this criticism has been lazy and facile. The truth is that this situation is not particularly the fault of the nuns. Our politicians are much more to blame. It's the way things have been done here for so long, with the state abdicating responsibility for running large parts of our
health and education services to religious orders. It has suited the state to do this for decades, in fact ever since the foundation of the Irish Republic. It has been a handy way for the state to avoid providing and paying for the services, which was helpful in the cash-strapped newly independent Ireland. It also fitted in with the beliefs of so many of our politicians who regarded the Catholic ethos as an essential part of these services and, indeed, of the new state itself.
5
Nuns overseeing childcare at a Mother and Baby Home.
That background probably explains how the government blithely blundered into this situation without foreseeing the difficulty it would cause. It's the way things were always
done here, after all. Of course these days we are in a new, modern Ireland and the Catholic Church has lost the esteem it once enjoyed. But even being aware of this, the outrage caused by the decision seems to have come as a surprise to the politicians. The decision probably had looked like a practical, sensible solution. The existing 200-year-old National Maternity Hospital in the center of Dublin, where over 9,000 babies are born annually, has barely been coping for a long time. Apart from chronic overcrowding, the old building is unsuitable for a modern maternity service. A new maternity hospital is needed, one co-located with an existing general hospital so that wider medical services are available when required in complicated cases. Co-location is regarded internationally as best practice these days, and that requirement narrowed down the number of possible sites for the new maternity hospital. So when the Sisters of Charity, who own and run St. Vincent's Hospital on the south side of Dublin, offered a site on their complex it seemed to make sense. St. Vincent's is one of the major teaching hospitals in Ireland and has a high reputation for the quality of care it provides.
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Statue of the Virgin Mary at the entrance to St. Vincent's Hospital.
The nuns would provide the site. The state would build the maternity hospital. What could be wrong with that? Well, for a start it is going to cost the state at least €300 million to build the new hospital, and because the nuns would retain ownership of the site the hospital would have to be given to them. Giving away that much state money to a religious order was bad enough, critics said. Even more worrying was that nuns controlling the new hospital could mean a continuation of the old Catholic ethos, which would mean that some services that modern maternity hospitals provide would not be allowed. At present, even vasectomies and female sterilization are not carried out in St. Vincent’s. Would those basic services, as well as legal abortion, IVF or gender realignment, all of which are contrary to the nuns’ beliefs
and those of the Catholic Church, be provided in the new maternity hospital?
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Midwives protest Sister of Charity Maternity Hospital.
Although the proposed board of the new hospital would be only 50 percent nominated by the nuns and the government was going to have a so-called "golden share" to retain control, no one could say for certain what the day to day situation would be. The board of the existing National Maternity Hospital strongly supports the move with the master, Dr. Rhona Mahony, saying the new hospital would be independent and would provide all services and that the proposed structure gives a triple lock to allow this. But the former master, Dr. Peter Boylan, is so worried about the structure that he has publicly opposed what is being done. He was supported by a former master of The Coombe, another major maternity hospital in Dublin, who
said that the National Maternity Hospital move would inevitably lead to conflicts between doctors and the Catholic Church. To have one leading obstetrician opposing the move was bad enough; two was a disaster. As public opposition mounted and became more vitriolic and derisive, particularly in relation to the nuns, the government scrambled to rescue the plan. The young Minister for Health Simon Harris, looking more out of his depth than ever, has made reassuring noises and appealed for calm while he considers how he can guarantee absolute medical independence in the new hospital. Read more: Irish need a referendum to right absurd blasphemy law And that's where we are now, although no one seems to have much confidence that he can do so this under the proposed deal. The situation has not been helped by the nuns who have said they cannot make a judgment now on concerns about how their ownership of the hospital might influence the medical care provided in the future. Even more unhelpful was the statement by a Catholic bishop who flatly insisted that, like anywhere else around the world, any clinical practices that would take place in a facility on land owned by the Catholic Church would be subject to Canon law as well as state law relating to modern maternity practices. Boylan, probably the most highly regarded obstetrician in the country, agreed. He said that if the guarantees of independence given so far were accurate, the new hospital would be the only one in the world owned by a
Catholic order and run by a Catholic order that allowed IVF, abortion, sterilization and gender realignment. “It would be unique in the world if that happened,” Boylan said. Among the solutions to this mess proposed by the government are that the nuns should either gift ownership of that section of the St. Vincent's campus to the state, or that the state should take a very long lease on the site. But it has now emerged that both of these options may be legally impossible because the nuns mortgaged the entire complex when they built the St. Vincent's private hospital beside the big public hospital there some years ago. That debt probably would have to be paid off before the nuns can gift or lease the site, assuming they wanted to do so. Which brings us back to the whole question of money, something that has been at the root of this mess from the beginning. Getting a suitable site from the nuns for free was no doubt part of the government's thinking. Having the nuns involved and having the new hospital run partly on a charitable basis also reduces running costs to the state, even if the state builds the hospital.
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New Maternity Hospital Project Chief Operating Officer Kay Connolly, Minister for Health Simon Harris, and Dr Rhona Mahony.
As we said above, it's all part of the system we developed here over decades which allowed the state to reduce the direct cost of providing services, particularly in health and education. We now know that this came at a terrible price, having learned about what went on here in orphanages, mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries and industrial schools (reformatories) which were run by religious orders on behalf of the state. We also know, of course, that Irish society in general was complicit in this shameful history, banishing pregnant daughters and hiding away other problems. The Sisters of Charity, who own the St. Vincent's complex, have a record in this that is just as bad as that of other religious orders. They ran some of the notorious Magdalene laundries and other institutions. And so far they have failed to come up with €3 million of
the €5 million they agreed to pay 10 years ago under the redress scheme for victims of institutional child abuse. The fact that there are not much more than a hundred Sisters of Charity left, and most of them are elderly, may have something to do with it. You would imagine that this situation gives them the perfect opportunity to pay this debt by gifting the site to the state, but as explained above it's not as simple as that. In fairness, it has to be said that the nuns do not deserve all the vitriol that has been poured on them in recent weeks. Like other religious orders here, the Sisters of Charity made an immense contribution to the country over many years, with their selfless hard work. Despite the abuse that was perpetrated by some sisters in some places decades ago, that remains true for the majority of the sisters over the years. It is also true that in a republic like Ireland the religious beliefs of all must be protected, and that includes Catholics. Similarly, Catholics should have the right to run their own schools and hospitals and other institutions, if they want to and can fund it themselves. But in any republic worth the name, there has to be a complete separation between church and state. In the peculiar republic that was created after Irish independence, of course, that was never the case. The Catholic Church was given a favored position and our politicians were forever falling to their knees before the Catholic bishops and asking for their guidance on legislation.
We're supposed to be way past all that now. But this clash over the new National Maternity Hospital would make you wonder. Unraveling the legacy of the past is far from easy.
Gardaí investigating €700,000 missing from Dublin credit union GARDAÍ IN NORTH Dublin have been called in to investigate a north county Dublin credit union. The investigation comes as reports of at least €700,000 missing from the accounts of Rush Credit Union, which also serves the town of Lusk.
© Sam Boal Photocall Ireland Gardaí today confirmed that they are investigating reports of financial irregularities at the credit union. The Central Bank has also confirmed that it is investigating and working with the credit union. A report on the matter is being prepared for the board, however it is believed there are other serious issues at the credit union, which has over 10,000 members.
Cash-in-transit van held up at gunpoint in south
Dublin
Two men in balaclavas made off with a cash box from the scene.At about 11.15am this morning, two men wearing balaclavas approached a cash-in-transit van in the car park of Leopardstown Shopping Centre in south Dublin. Statutory reserves have fallen to 2%, well below the 10% demanded by legislation. “The board of Rush Credit Union Limited has appointed an external firm of accountants to carry out an independent financial review on behalf of the Board. “The Central Bank is aware that the review is taking place and is working with the credit union,” a Central Bank statement said. Members, whose savings will be covered by the government’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme should “continue to use the credit union normally”, the Central Bank says. However, a letter sent to members is asking them to check their balances. Rush-Lusk Credit Union has two offices across the two north Dublin towns and around €30 million in assets. http://uk.francais-express.com/news/world/ireland/-8281-gardaiinvestigating-700-000-missing-from-dublin-credit-union/
Damaging revelations against University of Limerick in tonight's RTE Investigates
UL PAID ALMOST $100,000 FOR DOCTORATES OF TWO SENIOR MANAGERS Anne Sheridan 25 May 2017
Former UL president Don Barry at the Public Accounts FURTHER damaging revelations against the University of Limerick will be broadcast this Thursday night in a special RTE Investigates documentary. Following months of probing financial accounts in a number of third level institutions, the RTE Investigations Unit has discovered several payments by UL which will be subject to further scrutiny at the Public Accounts Committee. Members of the PAC – who have seen the broadcast in advance – said they have been “shocked” by the revelations, after questioning former UL president Don Barry and UL’s director of finance John Field at a hearing in March. The PAC is now taking legal advice on representations made to them, and will be calling representatives of UL to a further hearing.
Yawn. More fodder for 'the great unwashed!' The State takes care of its own. How many kids missed out on a college place over this 'mismanagement" of taxpayers money?
And yet universities regularly 'lock' students out of accessing courses and results etc. due to non-payment in time, to include late fee punishments. You beginning to understand?
http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/251706/damagingrevelations-against-university-of-limerick-in-tonight-s-primetime.html#.WSdhVIEocok.facebook
President of University of Limerick concedes failures in
financial regulation at PAC hearing DON BARRY REJECTS 'ANY STATEMENT THAT THERE WAS ANY CORRUPTION GOING ON IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS' Anne Sheridan at Leinster House 30 Mar 2017
THE PRESIDENT of the University of Limerick has told the Public Accounts Committee that he accepts personal responsibility for any failures in the financial control systems at the university, which has led three whistleblowers from the finance department to make allegations regarding inappropriate expenses. One of those employees has since left the university, while two
others remain suspended for nearly two years with pay, with costs to the State amounting to over €200,000 to date, including suspension payments and the costs of two independent reports commissioned by the Higher Education Authority. However, at the hearing this Thursday afternoon in Leinster House, president of UL, Professor Don Barry, said he rejected “any statement that there was any corruption going on in the university in the strongest possible terms.” He did not accept that there was any wrongdoing or abuse of the expenses system, but accepted that there were financial control failures.
In relation to the payment of expenses to UL staff while on sabbatical, specifically one staff member and a spouse in Sydney at a cost of €15,000, he told the committee that UL staff were not “going off sunning themselves in the Bahamas”, but to strengthen links with other universities overseas. However, he conceded that their sabbatical policy at the time was “wrong” and that it has since been revised. Deputy leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald, a graduate of UL, said at the hearing that there were an “astonishing amount of
complaints” in relation to expenses in what could be described as a “VIP system”. At worst, it represented corruption within the system,” she said.
She said Person A – Leona O'Callaghan, the original whistleblower in the case – found it almost impossible to get management to sign off on what she described as “fraudulent expense claims.” She said that Ms O'Callaghan exercised “due diligence” in her role in the finances department but “hit a brick wall” in finding a “system that showed favouritism” to some senior staff members. In relation to the seven sample expense claims which Ms O'Callaghan brought to the PAC in 2012 – which did not go to a public hearing at that time – Ms McDonald said the employee was “left to hang out to dry in respect of these claims.” President Barry said Ms O'Callaghan, who was not named in the hearing but earlier identified herself as Person A, “was not ignored or blanked..and was a key member of the department.” He added that she did correctly identify improvements to be made in the processing of expenses claims. He said that Ms O'Callaghan went on sick leave for a time and accepted an early retirement package from UL.
“But she was leaned on for having the temerity in coming forward,” said Ms McDonald. “She got sick as a consequence of all of that...she was punished and kicked to the curb.” President Barry said that his understanding of the case and Ms McDonald's “would be miles apart.” She put it to him that if expense claims for spa treatments were actually processed by Ms O'Callaghan, who was presented with them, “they would set Limerick alight among the chattering classes.” “I see a cultural problem of people being leaned on, not supported, possibly people getting sick as a result of the stress of that,” she said. She said the fact that three of 38 people in the finance department made complaints against the university was “quite a high percentage”. “I'm left with the sinking feeling that all was not well, or is not well, to have three people fall foul of the system. For you to say it's not the fault of the university is quite extraordinary. There's more to this than meets the eye,” said Ms McDonald. She told the PAC that the highest standard of governance must be applied to public monies, and put it to president Barry “that has not been the case on your watch”. Prof Barry said he did not accept that statement and that as a result of the Mazars review into the processes and procedures employed by UL in dealing with the case of three whistleblowers, 12 of 15 recommendations have been implemented. The three remaining recommendations to be implemented include changes to be made to UL's grievance procedure, which is awaiting formal approval with the trade union; the selection of the disciplinary panel to include independent, external members, and the criteria for suspending staff. Some of these will necessitate changes to be made under the Universities Statute, under the 1997 Act, and UL is addressing these with its legal advisors.
Prof Barry, who is due to step down next month after a ten-year term in office, could not give a specific time-frame in which these remaining recommendations would be implemented. Ms McDonald said an independent agency should have been employed to conduct a full investigation into the claims of all three female whistleblowers, citing the narrow terms of the Mazars' report, which was commissioned by the HEA. “It would have been a more credible approach to things,” she added. The recently appointed new chief executive of the HEA, Dr Graham Love, agreed that a “wider probe was needed.” John Field, director of finance in UL, said that Persons B and C in the Mazars report identified 69 specific transactions, which differed from Person A. Person A was replaced by Person B in the finance department. Both the roles of Persons B and C, who remain suspended with pay for two years this June, have been filled, UL confirmed. Chairman of the PAC, Fianna Fail deputy Sean Fleming said: “If this was a private company, with people's own money involved, people would have taken a very different approach.” Deputy Fleming said that in no private company would four people be paid to do the work of two people. He said there appears to be “no incentive to conclude this on any side to bring a resolution. It can go on indefinitely with the taxpayer paying the bill.” President Barry said that UL wishes to “bring it to the conclusion as rapidly as possible.” President Barry also confirmed that Mr Field's predecessor in the role of director of finance – following an interim 12-month vacancy – also received a severance package from UL, but he denied that this was offered on the basis of that person raising questions in relation to capital expenditure. - More to follow in next week's editions of the Limerick Leader
http://www.limerickleader.ie/ne ws/home/242826/president-ofuniversity-of-limerickconcedes-failures-in-financialregulation-at-pac-hearing.html
University of Limerick whistleblowers 'totally vindicated' by HEA report Anne Sheridan 9 Feb 2016
'Total vindication' for UL whistleblowers THE three whistleblowers who spoke out regarding irregular financial practices at the University of Limerick - as first revealed by the Limerick Leader last September have been "totally vindicated" by the findings of a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority, according to two local TDs. The report states that instances of irregular claims by staff occurred in the university, and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has now expressed concerns "that there may have been, or may still be, a culture in the university of inappropriate claims being made, until challenged”. However, it adds that this view was "strongly rejected by the university". In a statement, UL said it "welcomes the fact that the report is consistent with the university's position that no financial mismanagement or wrongdoing took place". UL said it would be seeking clarification from the HEA on certain aspects of the authority's response, in particular the suggestion by the HEA that a culture of inappropriate expense claims may have existed or may still exist. UL said it regarded this suggestion as "offensive to past and present staff of the university". When the Leader reported the story, UL issued High Court proceedings against the paper and its editor, Alan English. UL said it had been left with no choice but to sue when the Leader refused to retract the allegations and issue an apology. The Leader story stated that both employees had been offered severance packages amounting to two years' salary, or nearly €60,000 each, in return for the termination of their employment, and the signing of confidentiality agreements. The UL offer also stated that they would be obliged to withdraw the complaint they made under the 2014 Protected Disclosures Act.
This severance agreement, which was drafted by Dublin solicitors Arthur Cox, is not mentioned in the 42-page report by Mazars, and neither is it addressed in the statement issued by UL today. Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins said legal action against the Limerick Leader and its editor should now be dropped, while Deputy Willie O'Dea said the two complainants who have been suspended should be reinstated in their positions, given the report's findings. "Given comments of the HEA following receipt of the Mazars report is very clear that the actions of the whistleblowers have been totally vindicated. The HEA have acknowledged quite clearly that the whistleblowers' concerns were both merited and genuine and furthermore that UL's handling of these was totally inadequate," Deputy Collins told the Leader. There was no reference in the UL statement to the university's legal actions. Nor is there any reference to the employment status of the two suspended whistleblowers. Deputy O'Dea also said the whistleblowers had been "completely vindicated". "I am very happy for the women, because they have been vindicated, and they were branded as troublemakers. That view has been found to be completely and totally wrong. As far as I am concerned they are 100% vindicated, and I think the Limerick Leader is 100% vindicated for bringing this to public attention." "Why is there such a culture of resistance in UL if someone makes a complaint and an automatic assumption that they were a troublemaker, or someone with a vendetta against management or the university? Those are bigger questions that have to be raised and have to be asked in the Dail," he added. The Minister for Education, Jan O'Sullivan, said: "I welcome the report, and for the people who did come forward, it certainly does establish that they were of merit and it was appropriate that they brought their concerns forward. The HEA will be working closely with UL to ensure that any poor practices or lack of procedures are identified and addressed. I think that will be a positive for UL in the longer term." Welcoming the report, one of the whistleblowers told the Leader today: "We never wanted to harm the university and it's reputation, we just tried to do what was right. Even though this has been the most horrible time, my hope is that it will somehow make me a better person and change UL for the better, so that other people don't have to go through what we went through. We just want the truth to finally be told and for lessons to be learned from this." A second whistleblower added: "I wouldn't have wished this on my worst enemy. I got 18 sessions of counselling in 18 months to help get me through this. The review was unnecessary in one sense - UL should have listened to us. We were hands on in our jobs, we knew what was right and what was wrong. We would never had gone through half of what we went through if they had just sat us down and said 'What's wrong? How can we help?' We used to love going in to work." Limerick Leader editor Alan English said: "In reporting this story, we were extremely mindful of the human cost involved to the whistleblowers. We have stressed from the very beginning that we all believe that UL has brought great pride to the people of Limerick throughout its history, but as a newspaper we have a responsibility to hold
public institutions to account. We believe the Leader's decision to highlight these matters so prominently has now been entirely vindicated." The review by independent consultants Mazars establishes that irregular claims were appropriately identified and challenged at the time by the staff, namely Persons A, B and C in the finance department. It also shows that the instances were ultimately appropriately dealt with by the university and that the university did follow the correct formal processes and put appropriate actions, policies and procedures in place in response where needed. While the review team conducted extensive interviews with the whistleblowers and examined documentation provided by them, the report by Mazars also relied on the university's own internal inquiry process in respect of the financial allegations raised by the whistleblowers, which established five recommendations for improvement. Mazars stated that "adequate evidence is available to support the inquiry process followed by the university and further noted the independence of that process". The complainants raised concerns regarding a number of financial practices, including in the areas of expenses, and their treatment by senior management and human resources as a result of highlighting concerns. The report has been welcomed by the three complainants who brought these issues to public attention, as well as the two deputies who raised concerns regarding the treatment of these employees in the Dail. The women - all staff and former staff of UL's finance department - have now been praised by the HEA for the "public service" they have helped to achieve, "in bringing these matters to attention". In light of the report, which contains more than a dozen action points for UL to address, the HEA has also expressed its concerns in relation to a number matters raised. Among the action points is that an investigation should take place, within the shortest possible time-frame, into "whether financial issues identified are indicative of wider practices within the institution when any such issues are raised". "The report instances the difficulty in establishing the facts around the alleged refusal of more senior staff to sign off or give direction to Person A in particular but also to Persons B and C in circumstances where their requests for such direction appears not only reasonable but reflected a very responsible approach to claims where a doubt arose. "The HEA is not satisfied by the response of the University that as all the people directly involved are now unavailable the matter cannot be more fully examined and determined. "On a more general level, the HEA has a concern at the absence of policies in relation to key financial transactions at the time that they occurred in UL (while noting that the situation has been addressed in the meantime); the weaknesses identified, and acknowledged by the university, in areas including sabbatical expenses,
procurement of equipment, travel and subsistence; failures in the management approach to, and application of, HR policies around management of the absence of Persons A, B and C, and the processes relating to return to work of staff on sick leave." UL's decision to take legal action against the Leader was heavily criticised by Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and a number of politicians, who stated that the university could have aired its grievance through other avenues, such as the Press Council and Press Ombudsman. Deputies Collins and O'Dea raised the matter in the Dail, urging that a review be undertaken of the allegations raised. The HEA also thanked Mazars for their "thorough and forensic approach" to the review into the processes employed by UL to inquire into allegations made by Persons A, B and C. Person A has since left UL, after bringing her concerns to the Public Accounts Committee in 2012. Those concerns were only made public last year. Persons B and C remain suspended by UL and are not allowed on campus as part of their suspension, unless they receive written permission. They were both suspended in June 2015. - See the weekend editions of the Limerick Leader for comprehensive coverage of and reaction to this story
http://www.limerickleader.ie/ne ws/home/202428/University-ofLimerick-whistleblowers-totally.html
REVEALED: Terms of reference for new inquiry into University of Limerick NEW UL PRESIDENT INFORMS STAFF OF UPCOMING PRIME TIME PROGRAMME Anne Sheridan 12 May 2017
MINISTER for Education Richard Bruton has outlined the terms of reference of a new independent inquiry into affairs at the University of Limerick. The inquiry follows the claims by two female whistleblowers in the finance department - first revealed by the Limerick Leader - who remain suspended on full pay for two years this June.
A third, former UL employee, Leona O'Callaghan, also made public her concerns regarding inappropriate claims she was asked to process in the same department. The new inquiry follows an earlier review by independent consultant Mazars, which were appointed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It found that three women in the finance department raised legitimate concerns in relation to inappropriate expenses they were asked to process, and that ultimately they were not paid as a result of the women flagging them as inappropriate. These included expense claims for a spa treatment while in South Africa, the delivery of a fitted kitchen under the university's relocation policy, and sabbatical expenses in Australia. Minister Bruton said that the inquiry, at the request of UL and his department, following consultation with the Higher Education Authority (HEA), will review governance, HR and financial practices and procedures at UL. He said that this decision arises from a number of protected disclosures and other complaints received from employees and former employees of the university. Mr Bruton has also met individually with the whistleblowers to receive their cases, describing them as "very genuine". Dr Richard Thorn, President Emeritus of Sligo Institute of Technology, will oversee the independent review. On the basis of information received, a report will make recommendations in relation to governance, HR, financial and administrative processes, as well as overall organisational culture. It will also examine the application of wider HR policies and processes in the university. This will cover the governance arrangements and practices around the use of severance payments. The review will include "details of the allegations from the disclosers and any other persons who feel that there are matters of concern or of public interest relating to the University of Limerick that need to be addressed." It is expected that the review will be completed by September 30, and if not, an interim report will be provided. It is estimated that the review will take 20 to 25 working days to complete.
The department has outlined that Dr Thorn will "determine whether the allegations require further examination and whether, on the balance of probabilities, the allegations are well-founded." He will consult with the Department and HEA as required and provide regular updates to them, and present his final report, including any findings or recommendations, to all parties. “All parties will collaborate fully with the review and respond promptly and in full to requests from the reviewer for information, documents and other records,” outlined the department. Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has urged that other whistleblowers within UL should feel “absolutely safe” in being allowed to come forward to inform a new inquiry. However, she said they must receive “an absolute assurance that their careers won’t be damaged” as a result. Ms McDonald, a Masters graduate of UL in European integration in law, economics and politics, said it could be argued that some €70,000 spent to date on other facilitation processes, including two reports by the HEA, “might be money down the drain.” “Money will have to be spent by the State because we can’t tolerate a situation where bad practices are left undetected,” she said. She said the inquiry needs to be “thoroughly and expeditiously investigated”. “There is no doubt that it [the inquiry] is absolutely necessary; that became very apparent at the hearing at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).” Ms McDonald said it’s “indefensible that this matter has been allowed to fester for two years.” “Of course this isn't just a story or a set of headlines. There are real people caught up in the middle of all of this. Things can drift, that’s a fact of life, but when things drift for two years, perhaps it represents an unwillingess or an inability to deal with the issues in question. “It certainly demonstrates that the appetite to get to the facts was not very sharp by those who were trusted with investigation. “There are no doubts there are flaws [within UL] and in some cases malpractice, and employees at the university have gone through a very hard time and been personally and professionally damaged, and we certainly can’t have that. “Public confidence is at the heart of all of this and I look forward to the day when we can meet at committee and say hand on heart that all is well in Limerick. That’s not the case at the moment and we have to face up to that reality. “We're not going to be fobbed off with another process that's narrow or deficient. The terms of reference need to be robust, they need to be fully encompassing and they
need to reach into all of the concerns and the malpractice in the university. Narrow terms of reference or half measures won't cut it. We need a full and proper investigation.” Ms McDonald said this is not a “a witch-hunt” against UL, “nor about punishing, or even a blame game. This is about getting things right and facing the facts.” Meanwhile, the new president of UL has informed staff to prepare for further revelations regarding the institution, which are due to be disclosed in an upcoming broadcast of Prime Time in the coming weeks. Dr Desmond Fitzgerald has held a series of “town hall” meetings with the campus community this week, following which he said he felt “encouraged by the UL spirit.” -------------------------------------Terms of Reference The terms of reference of the review are as follows: The reviewer will receive details of the allegations from the disclosers and any other persons who feel that there are matters of concern or of public interest relating to the University of Limerick that need to be addressed. Where appropriate, the reviewer will interview or consult with the disclosers, other persons and relevant members of staff in the University in relation to the matters identified. The reviewer may revert to any party if further clarification or information is required. On the basis of the information received, the reviewer will: · Determine whether the allegations require further examination and whether, on the balance of probabilities, the allegations are well-founded; · Where allegations have been determined as well-founded, prepare a report that shall make findings or recommendations on the steps to be taken by the University including governance, HR, financial and administrative processes as well as overall organisational culture; · Examine the application of wider HR policies and processes in the University. This will cover the governance arrangements and practices around the use of severance payments. · Consider specifically and report on the recommendations in the Mazars report which have yet to be implemented. The reviewer will consult with the Department and HEA as required and provide regular updates to them. The reviewer will present his/her final report, including any findings or recommendations, to all parties (the disclosers and other persons, the University, the Department and the HEA). Approach to the Review The HEA will oversee the review and will commission an appropriate independent
external reviewer to conduct the exercise. It is estimated that the review will take 2025 working days to complete. The HEA Executive will support the reviewer in general administration, analysis of material and gathering of relevant data as required. All parties will collaborate fully with the review and respond promptly and in full to requests from the reviewer for information, documents and other records. Timeframe It is expected that the review will be completed by 30th September 2017. In the event that it is not practicable to make a final report within this timeframe, an interim report will be provided.
http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/249621/university-oflimerick-president-warns-staff-of-upcoming-prime-timeprogramme.html
The design for the new hospital on land owned by the Sisters of Charity
Irish Health Minister demands nuns allow Illegal abortion in hospital on their land ABORTION, CATHOLIC CHURCHFri Apr 21, 2017
Abortion , Catholic , Ireland , Simon Harris
April 21, 2017 (SPUC) -- The Irish Health Minister has called on an order of nuns to agree on contracts allowing abortion and contraception in the new National Maternity Hospital being built on their land. Irish Health Minister Simon Harris has intervened in a row about ownership and control of the proposed new National Maternity Hospital in south Dublin where the new 300 million euro facility is planned next to St Vincent's Hospital. The decision by the government to "hand over" control of the new hospital to a religious order has caused a furore in the Irish press, and thousands have signed a petition opposing it. The outrage is centred around historic allegations of child abuse by the order, as well as fears that the nuns would prevent abortion and other practices contrary to Catholic teaching taking place on the premises.
"Making valuable land available...at no cost" However, few of the articles mention that the Sisters own the land where the badly needed new hospital is being built and are not making any profit from the arrangement. As the Health Minister explained: "The St Vincent's Healthcare Group is making available very valuable land at no cost to the State, to facilitate the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital. In doing so, they have foregone the opportunity to put this land to alternative use. Let me be very clear: there will be no financial gain to any religious order from the development of this hospital."
Abortion "care"
Four of the nine people on the board of the new hospital will be nominated by St Vincent's Hospital Group, which is owned by the Sisters of Charity. Dr Peter Boylan, a former Master at Holles Street Hospital, said that is is "inappropriate for a hospital to have a strong religious influence, particularly from the Catholic Church", questioning whether access to "care" such as IVF and terminations would be affected by the nuns religious beliefs. Click "like" if you are PRO-LIFE! Despite the fact that there was previous agreement on the issues following a mediation process Health Minister Harris has belatedly intervened and has announced that he is trying to establish three conditions, including that "The hospital must have clinical, operational and financial independence, with no question of religious interference. The Minister for Health will have the power to guarantee this to ensure all relevant and legal healthcare must be available."
Anti-life agendas Pat Buckley, SPUC's UN and Ireland consultant, said: "Ireland has, without recourse to abortion, one of the lowest levels of maternal mortality in the world. Abortion and IVF are not healthcare, and it is with great sadness that I see anti-life agendas being pushed even to the extent of forcing nuns to permit them to take place on land they own, which they have freely made available to the state." https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/irish-health-minister-demandsthat-nuns-allow-abortion-in-hospital-on-their
Colette Brown: Public protest only reason nuns won't own maternity hospital
1 Colette Browne May 30 2017
St Vincent’s University Hospital in south Dublin, where the new National Maternity Hospital will be built. Photo: Niall Carson/PA ThedecisionbytheOrderoftheSistersofCharitytorelinquishcontroloftheStVincent'sHealthcare Group(SVHG)isavictoryforprotestersandanindictmentoftheGovernment. HealthMinisterSimonHarrisyesterdaydubbedthedecisionbytheordertocuttiestothehospital groupitsetupnearly200yearsagoas"trulyhistoric",andhewasright. ButtheGovernmentwasn'tanactorinthemakingofthishistory.Infact,itwasperfectlycontentwith thestatusquo.Instead,themainprotagonistsinthisseismicdecisionwerethetensofthousandsof ordinarymenandwomenaroundthecountrywhoreactedwithvisceralangertotheblasé announcementtheStatewasabouttogiftanorderofnunsownershipofanew€300mmaternity hospital. Colette and her liberal colleagues in the media always like to play to the gallery in having a go at everything connected with religion and in particular the Catholic Church. Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, the most vulnerable in society, is the greatest human killer in the modern world. In the USA alone 60 million abortions have taken place in the forty years since abortions was legalised there by the Supreme Court in Roe v Wade. In recent weeks evidence of interviews given by doctors attached to Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in the USA on how they operate to circumvent the laws on partial birth abortions and market body parts of aborted babies, have come into the public domain. The Irish media will never highlight this type of activity as it does not suit their agenda.
Illiberal liberals focus on vocal minorities when it suits their agendas yet they ignore opinion polls where a significant majority disagree with them.
Will Colette Browne pen an opinion piece highlighting last week's opinion poll showing that only 23% are in favour of abortion available on request?
Answer on a postcard.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/colettebrowne/colettebrownpublicprotestonly reasonnunswontownmaternityhospital35769210.html
Archbishop seeks own removal from chair at Holles Street System of automatically appointing archbishop as chair of board is ‘anachronistic’ Thu, Apr 27, 2017, 01:00
Patsy McGarry
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin: requested ministers to change the structures so that he is no longer chair. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, considers it is “anachronistic” for holders of his post to be appointed automatically as chair of the board of governors of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH). A spokeswoman for the archdiocese pointed out that under the NMH Charter Amendment Act of 1936, the Archbishop of Dublin is also designated as chairman of the hospital’s executive committee. She added: “Archbishop Diarmuid Martin considers this situation anachronistic, and he has requested two ministers for health to change the structures so that he is no longer chair.” She said Archbishop Martin does not attend or chair board meetings and the deputy chairperson has acted in that role for several years. V V V
St Vincent’s group clarifies reporting structures for NMH master John McManus: State should split St Vincent’s or risk creating a monster St Vincent’s hospitals to drop Catholic guidelines
Among other ex-officio members appointed to the board of governors at the NMH are three local parish priests:
Fr Fachtna McCarthy, administrator at Haddington Road parish; Fr Enda Cunningham, administrator at St Andrew’s parish, Westland Row; and Fr John McDonagh, parish priest in Sandymount.
Current nominees
Neither Fr McCarthy nor Fr Cunningham could be contacted while Fr McDonagh said he has a policy of not talking to the media due to a bad experience of dealing with a journalist some time ago. The remaining ex-officio appointees to the NMH board of governors are the hospital’s master, Dr Rhona Mahony, and Dublin Lord Mayor Cllr Brendan Carr. Two councillors are nominated to the board by Dublin City Council. They are currently Sinn Féin’s Micheál MacDonncha and Claire Byrne of the Green Party.The current nominees of the Minister for Health are Patricia O’Shea and Pamela Fay. Among the 75 elected members of the board are 35 life members, including former master Dr Peter Boylan. The NMH executive committee has 28 members, its finance committee nine members, its house committee 15 members, its ethics committee nine members, the nominations committee six members, and its risk committee nine members. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-andbeliefs/archbishop-seeks-own-removal-from-chair-at-holles-street1.3062640 Irish Ban on Asylum Seekers Working Unconstitutional: Court
DUBLIN — A ban on asylum seekers working in Ireland is unconstitutional, the country's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, and it gave lawmakers six months to consider how to address a law it said damages the self-worth of those seeking refugee status. Ireland is one of two European Union countries - along with Lithuania - that explicitly prohibits employment during the asylum procedure, according to campaigners. With no limitation on application times, the procedure can last years.
Before a decision on their application, asylum seekers in Ireland are required to live in state-provided accommodation known as direct provision centers, where adults are provided with an allowance of 19 euros per week. The Supreme Court's unanimous ruling involved a Burmese native who arrived in Ireland almost a decade ago. He spent eight years in the system before being granted refugee status and subsequently joining the workforce. "In my view, the point has been reached when it cannot be said that the legitimate differences between an asylum seeker and a citizen can continue to justify the exclusion of an asylum seeker from the possibility of employment," Justice Donal O'Donnell said in the judgment. "The damage to the individual's self worth, and sense of themselves, is exactly the damage which the constitutional right seeks to guard against ... If this provision were applied to a citizen, it would be difficult if not impossible to justify." Irish support for asylum seekers has been heavily criticized in recent years, and the government is implementing a series of recommendations made two years ago by a judgeled review of the direct provision system. The review found that most of the near 8,000 residents in direct provision in 2015 did not have access to cooking facilities and that the financial allowance was inadequate to cover essential items such as health care costs, prescription charges and clothing, including school uniforms. The government has increased the additional allowance per child to 15.60 euros from 9.60, still only half the rate recommended by the review. The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the ruling was "unqualified good news" and would remove a key barrier to the integration of asylum seekers in Ireland. "The impact of the work ban goes much further than simply being denied the right to get a job. It affects self-esteem, mental health, their children, limits them to a life lived in poverty and affects their opportunity to integrate into Irish society," Immigrant Council of Ireland CEO Brian Killoran said, (Editing by Larry King) The State got caught. The Irish Constitution was challenged.
And rightly so. The taxpayer will pay for this 'cock up' "The review found that most of the near 8,000 residents in direct provision in 2015 did not have access to cooking facilities" Nor do the residents who are living in B&Bs. Interesting times ahead. Deregistrar from the revenue for the avoidence of fraud Ms Feehily you hhave some serious questions to answer now, we know why you were moved to Justice and Why Pheonix,and Devil accidently slipped a database of names to a Vulture fund, New Beginnings and tartgeted Investments and Ray Halls unit was set up and the fixers and Masonics who set up a so called help rescue organisations, who have quitly gone to ground the false butterlyfly now turned into a thieving caterpillar for all thieves involved this is worse than the bankcrash or should I say the final chapter of Ripp Of Irish sovereign people but the war has just begun and it will be done privately where it hurts and devils dont get to make or steal any more taxpayers money.. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/05/30/world/europe/30reuter s-ireland-asylum.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0
Lay off people on social welfare – they are stigmatised enough The biggest problem with the social protection budget is that recipients of social welfare are not paid enough Sun, May 28, 2017,
Jacky Jones
Leo Varadkar launched the controversial campaign.
The new Department of Social Protection’s (DSP) antifraud campaign, “Welfare Cheats, Cheat us all”, has
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provoked controversy and debate. Media commentary, most of it ill-informed, has ranged from “it’s a witchhunt against the most vulnerable”, and “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut” to “it’s time to deal with the spongers”. The campaign cites a figure of €506m for 2016 which includes, according to the DSP, combined “control and anti-fraud savings”. Using this figure is misleading and gives the impression that there is a huge amount of fraud when there is not. In fact, only €41m relates to “deliberate, intentional fraud by people claiming benefits they are not entitled to”. Social welfare recipients are stigmatised enough without the DSP running a campaign that will drive a wedge between us (workers) and them (idlers). Even pensioners, most of them on a contributory pension, meaning they have paid into the system, are often portrayed as a burden on younger, working, people. The €41m actual fraud is just 0.2 per cent of the nearly €20bn DSP budget. Of the €506m, €46.7m was paid to claimants who provided inaccurate or incomplete information or failed to report a change in circumstances but did not deliberately intend to defraud the DSP. Also included in the overall figure are “estate overpayments” which arise when relatives forget to cancel pensions or other allowances following a death and €20m “estate overpayments” were made in 2016. Most of this has already been repaid in full. Will my son be disadvantaged because we are older parents? Classroom pets: when animals are let loose in schools I'm off the booze – but I'd murder a summer pint
The DSP made €2.3m administrative errors in 2016 when benefits were paid incorrectly. According to the Department, “some level of error is expected given the scale of the Department’s work involving some 1.2
million payments each week”. Out of the €506m, €396m was not fraud but money saved as a result of “control” measures taken by the DSP in 2016. This can be interpreted as making it as hard as possible for claimants to access their entitlements.
The biggest problem with the social protection budget is that recipients of social welfare are not paid enough. A report from the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice – Minimum Essential Standard of Living 2016 – shows that social welfare provides an inadequate income for most households in receipt of allowances and pensions. Researchers from the Minimum Essential Budget Standards Research Centre calculated the amount of weekly income required (excluding housing, childcare, and the effect of secondary benefits, such as a medical card) to have a minimum essential standard of living (MESL) for 12 types of households. For example, two parents with one child need €431.24 if living in an urban area and €520.81 if in a rural area. Two parents with two children, including one teenager, need €565.67 in an urban area and €653.70 in a rural area. Single adults of working age need €242.37 in an urban area and €291.60 in a rural area. Social welfare rates do not provide a MESL for any of these households. Pensioner couples living in social housing, or with the mortgage paid off, are the only people with an adequate income. Families with adolescent children are worst off but people of working age without dependent children also experience income inadequacy. Although social welfare rates increased slightly in 2017 most households living on social welfare still have an inadequate income. Two parents with two children now get €380.60 (excluding housing) which is far short of the MESL budget needed of €483.29 if living in an urban
area or €573.32 if in a rural area. So although fraud must be eliminated as far as possible, nobody on social welfare is well off. Income is a huge determinant of health, along with housing, education, and employment. Income inequality is a growing global problem. Eight men now hold the same wealth as four billion of the world’s poorest people. Aosdána pays 148 “full-time practising artists” a Cnuas of €17,180 whereas jobseeker are expected to survive on €10,036. Are artists worth more than unemployed people? Several recent studies have highlighted the strong association between low socioeconomic status and health. According to a US study published in the Lancet last month, “Without interventions to decouple income and health, or to reduce inequalities in income, we might see the emergence of a 21st century health-poverty trap and the further widening and hardening of socioeconomic inequalities in health.” This will happen in Ireland unless something radical is done about it. What the country needs is more fairness. Increasing child benefit for teenagers would be a good start. What the State does best Divide and conquer A hate campaign is all it is. Do not be fooled. Social welfare recipients are stigmatised enough without the DSP running a campaign that will drive a wedge between us (workers) and them (idlers). Even pensioners, most of them on a contributory pension, meaning they have paid into the system, are often portrayed as a burden on younger, working, people. The €41m actual fraud is just 0.2 per cent of the nearly €20bn DSP budget.
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/lay-off-peopleon-social-welfare-they-are-stigmatised-enough-1.3091904#.WS3GquELZV.facebook
Cork 96 FM interview with Gary Delaney on Eircode not being used by An Post. May 31sy 2017
eircode not used by An Post. have a listen
Cork Gary Eircode Gary Delaney of Loc8code on Cork FM 29/05/2017 Save SOUNDCLOUD.COM
https://soundcloud.com/cado-bell/cork-gary-eircode You really, really, really ......... couldn't make it up like if I recall correctly didn't you send 2 letters 1 via Eircode the other via An Post to yourself, the question is how long did it take to get the Eircode letter or was it ever delivered?
Thanks to the SLIGO CHAMPION for getting on board with the ANTI CORRUPTION TASKFORCE and to all the people who are joining us in our noble quest .Together we will stop corruption in Ireland !! A special thanks to Korena O Hara for organising and taking the chair in Sligo WANTED Irish Citizens to join in a court case to prevent the sale of A.I.B. Close your AIB accounts while you can
Lets create a run on the AIB bank, currently the Irish people own 100% of AIB following the bankers bailout, AIB was bailed out to the sum of €21.8 billion, we will never see the full repayment of that debt if AIB is allowed to reprivatise, but we can stop this, AIB will not have enough funds if we take our money out and close our accounts and the firesale will be halted.
The only Welfare fraud Cheats Varadkar was Talking About is Multinationals Like Apple, Starbucks, Denis O Brien, Mc Donalds, Tayto Park, Coca Cola, Whiskey, Guiness which wrre all Bought and privatised along with more, Facebook, Microsoft, and Yahoo, Google, Companies and Businesses who refused to pay there taxes in Ireland And The Irish Government turns a blind Eye
Sinn Féin has called on the government to end this “dishonest welfare fraud campaign”.
Leo's department say there was only one identity fraud case this year but there's actually been 11 Sinn Féin has called on the government to end this “dishonest welfare fraud campaign”. May 31, 17
THE DEPARTMENT OF Social Protection has said there have actually been 11 cases of suspected identity fraud recorded this year, after earlier telling Sinn Féin that there had only been one case. After it had been reported in the media that only one case had been recorded this year, Minister Leo Varadkar came
under criticism for his ’Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All’ campaign which had promised savings for the taxpayer. This afternoon, a spokesperson for the Department confirmed that the figures provided to Sinn Féin were actually incorrect and that there have been 11 such cases this year.
Figures as provided to Sinn Féin
Updated figures from Department of Social Protection
The advertising campaign, which cost €165,988, is designed to encourage the reporting of suspected or known social welfare fraud. Sinn Féin TD John Brady had said that the solitary case so far this year, as had been originally stated, shows that Leo Varadkar used the campaign as ”nothing more than an opportunity to launch his leadership bid at the expense of some of the most vulnerable people in society”. The breakdown of how many people were suspected of identity fraud came from a number of parliamentary questions from Sinn Féin deputies to Minister Varadkar. Since 2013, 155 cases of suspected identity fraud have been recorded. In 2015, there were a total of 58 cases. Last year, there were 46. By clarifying the true number to April 2017 is 11, it brings the figures more in line with recent years. While Varadkar had said that reports of suspected social welfare fraud had doubled since launching the campaign, this mostly referred to allegations of working while claiming, cohabiting with a partner who is making a financial contribution, or claiming while living abroad.
The Sinn Féin questions specifically referred to cases where fraud had been attempted by means of a disguise to claim someone else’s benefits. The facial recognition software used, however, does not record instances where a suspected fraudster used a disguise, the department said. Exaggerating the impact? The advertising campaign has come in for heavy criticism from the opposition benches in the Dáil, and on the airwaves, with opponents saying that the campaign targeting welfare fraudsters is disproportionate and that the Minister has exaggerated the problem. Varadkar has also faced criticism as he campaigned to become Fine Gael leader for the promise that he would be a Taoiseach for people “who get up early in the morning”. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke , Bernadette Gorman said she has been involved with the Department of Social Protection for 30 years and has never come across the level of fraud that was claimed by the campaign. “Fraud would come up from time-to-time but I have to say it was always very miniscule,” she said. First and foremost I want to speak about how I was trained in the department because I don’t like where the department is going. I do think Leo Varadkar was on some sort of solo run but I don’t know what his officials were doing allowing it. Despite this criticism, the idea behind the campaign appears to have strong public support. A Claire Byrne Live/Amarach Research poll found that 64% of people agree that it’s a good idea for the government to ask people to report welfare cheats, despite the backlash it has received. “The vast majority of people receiving payments from the Department of Social Protection are fully entitled to those payments and are compliant with the conditions. However, we take fraud very seriously and have a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that people receive what they are entitled to,” the minister said when launching the campaign. While Varadkar claimed that the department had achieved
savings of €506 million as a result of control and anti-fraud measures in recent years, Sinn Féin had said that only one case of identity fraud shows that the scheme will not generate the amount of future savings promised. TD John Brady added: “So far this year, there has been one suspected case of identity fraud identified by the Department of Social Protection. This hardly amounts to the millions of euro in savings Minister Varadkar talked of achieving through this campaign. The party called on the government to end this “dishonest welfare fraud campaign”.
http://www.thejournal.ie/leo-welfare-cheats-3418436May2017/?utm_source=facebook_short
Not Only Had There Been No Overpayment… She Was Entitled To A Refund’ Bodger at 2:02 pm May 31, 2017
Ombudsman Peter Tyndall launching his annual report for 2016 in Dublin this morning This morning. Ombudsman Peter Tyndall launched his annual report for 2016. In it, he deals with the matter of complaints to his office from people in receipt of social welfare payments who’ve been notified that they were overpaid and that they owe the Department of Social Protection money. In his report, Mr Tyndall writes: During 2015 and 2016, I noticed an increase in the number of complaints to my Office from people who had been, or who were currently, in receipt of social welfare payments and who had received notice from the Department of Social Protection that they had been overpaid. The Department was demanding repayment from them. The periods during which the overpayments accrued ranged from relatively recently to over 20 years ago. The amounts also ranged from €1,000 to over €100,000. An examination of these complaints raised significant concerns so I decided to initiate a systemic examination of the Department’s processes in raising and collecting overpayment debts from claimants. My Office examined local overpayment files held in two Dublin Intreo Offices. In October 2016, I sent a report of our findings to the Department for its consideration and response. During 2016, my Office examined other individual complaints received from overpaid social welfare claimants. A total of 55 overpayment complaints have been examined. 25 have been finalised and closed. Of those closed, I upheld 15 (60%) and the overpayments were written off by the Department. In one case study, Mr Tyndall explains how one woman, who was told she owed the Department of Social Protection €19,900, ended up receiving a €700 refund from the department. Mr Tyndall writes:
A woman complained to the Ombudsman after she wrote to the local office of the Department of Social Protection and failed to receive a response. The woman had received correspondence from her local office saying that an overpayment of €19,900 had been made to her. The woman was unaware of how this debt arose and had written to the Department for an explanation. The Ombudsman contacted the Department’s local office and asked it to respond to the woman’s correspondence. While responding to the Ombudsman the Department also reviewed the woman’s social welfare payments. It discovered that her application had not been processed correctly. The woman’s income had been recalculated a number of times resulting in different outcomes, while in considering her husband’s income the Department had failed to take account of an illness that reduced his income. Following the review, Department discovered that not only had there been no overpayment but that the woman was entitled to a refund of approximately €700.
Report to the Oireachtas
I hereby submit the Annual Report of the Office of the Ombudsman to the Dáil and Seanad pursuant to the provisions of Section 6(7) of the Ombudsman Act 1980 (as amended). This is the 33nd Annual Report submitted in relation to the work of the Office of the Ombudsman since it was established in 1984.
Peter TyndallOmbudsman June 2017
Ms Jacqui McCrumDirector General October 2015 to present
https://www.ombudsman.ie/en/Publications/AnnualReports/2016Annual Report/media/ombudsman_annual_report_2016.pdf
Welfare chasing woman for €20,000 overpayment turns into refund. #Rat4leo
Varadkars vendetta against those on those relying on welfare payments have created a culture of fear and loathing. The Obudsman tells of one case of a woman hounded only to find she is entitled to a refund #Rat4leo http://www.broadsheet.ie/…/not-only-had-there-been-noover…/
The head of the gardaí’s internal audit unit has said his “direct superiors” tried to block a probe into the Garda college scandal, “withheld” information and tried to “undermine” his position when the inquiry began. The claims will be made by Niall Kelly today at a meeting in which it will also be alleged a senior officer urged Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to investigate whistleblower John Barrett because his private record-keeping of what happened may have breached the Official Secrets’ Act. Documents seen by the Irish Examiner are due to be discussed at a special daylong Dáil public accounts committee meeting today.""
Most people support Leo Varadkar's welfare fraud campaign - poll Former social welfare inspector Bernadette Gorman called Varadkar’s latest policy a “solo run” and “hate campaign”. May 31, 17
Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
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MOST IRISH PEOPLE agree with Leo Varadkar’s campaign to clamp down on social welfare fraud, a recent poll has indicated. A Claire Byrne Live/Amárach Research poll found that 64% of people agree with the Minister for Social Protection’s latest policy decision, despite some of the backlash it’s received. The poll asked: Are government campaigns that ask people to report welfare cheats a good idea? Yes: 64%
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No: 22% Don’t know: 14% The Claire Byrne Live/Amarách Research Panel consists of over 1,000 Irish adults, all aged over 18. Since the launch of the ‘Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All’ campaign Varadkar has claimed that reports of suspected social welfare fraud have doubled compared to the same period last year. A former social welfare inspector previously called it “a hate campaign”. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke earlier this month, Bernadette Gorman said she had never come across the level of fraud claimed by the campaign. Gorman said that from her experience investigating welfare claims, “complex human stories” rather than conscious fraud are often behind welfare rules being broken. Over 70% of these payments are going to OAPs and disabled people, now maybe Leo Varadkar thinks that these people don’t have a vote but I can tell you OAPs do have a vote and it is a hate campaign and the statistics are incorrect. Varadkar, who is running for the Fine Gael leadership, has been accused of targeting vulnerable recipients of social welfare, and being a representative of the elite. This was sparked by the social welfare campaign, but also comments that he made in which he promised to be a Taoiseach for people “who get up early in the morning”. He later clarified that these were people who worked hard, who might travel long distances to get to work or carers who look after relatives. http://www.thejournal.ie/social-welfare-fraud-6-3416796-May2017/
Leo Varadkar's welfare fraud measures labelled as 'a solo run' and 'a hate campaign' The claims were made by a former department inspector today. May 15th 2017,
Minister Leo Varadkar launching the campaign. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie
A FORMER SOCIAL welfare inspector has likened the campaign against welfare fraud fronted by Minister Leo Varadkar as “a hate campaign”. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke this morning, Bernadette Gorman said she has been involved with the Department of Social Protection for 30 years and has never come across the level of fraud been claimed by the campaign. “Fraud would come up from time-to-time but I have to say it
was always very miniscule,” she said. First and foremost I want to speak about how I was trained in the department because I don’t like where the department is going. I do think Leo Varadkar was on some sort of solo run but I don’t know what his officials were doing allowing it. Gorman said that from her experience investigating welfare claims, “complex human stories” rather than conscious fraud are often behind welfare rules being broken. “Over 70% of these payments are going to OAPs and disabled people, now maybe Leo Varadkar thinks that these people don’t have a vote but I can tell you OAPs do have a vote and it is a hate campaign and the statistics are incorrect,” Gorman said. She added that in her opinion “it is all about his own bid to become leader”. The ‘Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All’ campaign encourages people to report others who they suspect of committing social welfare fraud. The department also hopes to publish a list of proven welfare fraudsters as part of the overall crackdown. An advertising campaign worth €165,988 is backing the campaign, with Varadkar previously stating that such antifraud measures are important. “The vast majority of people receiving payments from the Department of Social Protection are fully entitled to those payments and are compliant with the conditions. However, we take fraud very seriously and have a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that people receive what they are entitled to,” the minister said when launching the campaign. http://www.thejournal.ie/welfare-fraud-campaign-3391240-May2017/
Reports of suspected social welfare fraud double after launch of advertising campaign Leo Varadkar’s department made €41 million in overpayments due to customer fraud in 2016. May 5th 2017,
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar launching the campaign
REPORTS ABOUT POTENTIAL welfare fraud made to the Department of Social Protection have doubled in the aftermath of the recently launched ‘Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All’ publicity campaign. According to figures provided by the Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar, “some 500 reports” of suspected social welfare fraud were received by his department in the first week after he launched the campaign on 18 April.
In a written Dáil reply to deputies Roisín Shortall, Clare Daly and Denise Mitchell, Varadkar stated: “This represents more than double the number of reports received in the same week in 2016 and a 70% increase in the number received in the first week of April this year.” Confirming the €165,988 cost of the advertising campaign, Varadkar said: “The delivery of the campaign will achieve a balance of coverage across all demographics and regions and incorporate print, national and regional radio stations, digital and outdoor advertising. “The national and regional radio, print and outdoor advertising will run for a period of two weeks, with a longer timeframe of four to six weeks for digital/online advertising.” Varadkar said the cost of the campaign is design and advertising related, noting: “No additional costs arise in staff resources, website development or the provision of the telephone reporting facility.” He said the ‘Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All’ campaign is designed to encourage reporting of suspected or known social welfare fraud, stating: “The direct marketing element of the campaign appeals to the public to report fraud and makes is easier for them to do so.” The department has used facial recognition software since 2013 as part of its measures to combat customer fraud and Varadkar added: “As of 25 April 2017, 155 suspected cases of identify fraud have been referred to the Special Investigation Unit and/or An Garda Síochána.” These cases are at various stages of investigation. Successful prosecutions have been finalised in court in 21 cases, with 18 people receiving custodial sentences. Declining figures The amount the department has paid out in overpayments due to customer fraud has declined in recent years. Last year, the department made €41 million in overpayments due to customer fraud in 16,225 cases – a decline on the €49 million paid out in 2015 in 21,407 cases of customer fraud.
The department paid out €52 million in overpayments in 2014 in relation to 27,437 cases and €61.9 million in 2013 in relation to 27,489 cases. In 2016, the department made 160 referrals to the gardaí concerning suspected fraud – an increase on the 151 referrals in 2015 and the 115 referrals in 2014. In his reply to the TDs, Varadkar also stated: “In 2016, the Department achieved overall savings of €506 million as a result of control and anti-fraud measures. This reflects nearly 950,000 reviews of individual claims undertaken by the Department last year to determine on-going entitlements.” Total overpayments for last year amounted to €110 million, with ‘customer error’ contributing €46.7 million to the amount. Varadkar said his department recovered €82 million in overpayments last year.
Welfare cheats cheat us all': New campaign wants public to blow the whistle on welfare fraud It’s estimated that last year suspected fraud overpayments of Jobseeker’s Allowance cost €14 million. Apr 18th 2017,
Source: Shutterstock/Africa Studio
A NEW HARD-HITTING campaign is being launched to encourage members of the public to blow the whistle on welfare fraud. Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar is launching the campaign today.
The adverts are designed to confront people with the reality of welfare fraud and aim to persuade people to report any knowledge they have about specific cases to the Department of Social Protection. It’s estimated that last year suspected fraud overpayments of Jobseeker’s Allowance cost €14 million. Minister Varadkar said today: The vast majority of people receiving payments from the Department of Social Protection are fully entitled to those payments and are compliant with the conditions. However, we take fraud very seriously and have a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that people receive what they are entitled to. Nothing upsets people more than someone else cheating the system at their expense. That’s why we are launching a new campaign to encourage members of the public to report suspected or known cases of welfare fraud. He said that last year some 20,800 allegations of alleged social welfare fraud were dealt with by the Department. “These are investigated and where warranted, payments are reduced or stopped and, in some cases, claimants are prosecuted,” he said. “Overall, a range of anti-fraud and control measures in the Department of Social Protection saved taxpayers over €500 million last year.” The majority of public reports in 2016 concerned Jobseekers Schemes, Supplementary Welfare Allowance and One Parent Family Payments. The most common reports allege issues such as working while claiming, cohabiting with a partner who is making a financial contribution, or claiming while living abroad. The Department estimates that approximately one in three reports results in a payment being reduced or stopped. Last year, the Department’s Prosecution Service considered some 300 cases of which 194 were referred to the Chief State Solicitor’s Office for proceedings to issue. A further 160 cases were referred for prosecution to the DPP by the Department’s Special Investigations Unit. Minister Varadkar said that the Department of Social Protection has the single biggest budget of any Government Department, spending €19 billion every year.
“Last year, 1.4 million people received a weekly social welfare payment. Even with a budget of this size, there are still many positive changes I would like to make but have been unable to do so due to budgetary constraints,” he said. “That’s why savings are so important. And that’s why the public has a vital role in ensuring that we only target resources at those who most need them.”
Source: Department of Social Protection
(Can’t see, click here) The Department of Social Protection has rolled out new initiatives to tackle welfare fraud such as the introduction of a modern debt management system. A special investigation unit, consisting of trained inspectors and Garda officers, also operate in the department, tasked to identify more serious breaches. Varadkar said his department has also deployed identity and analytics software and other intelligence systems to reinforce its fraud prevention work.
New advert to be used in welfare fraud campaign. Source: Department of Social Protection
The new advertising campaign asks questions such as: ‘Would you report a welfare cheat?’ The adverts are designed to make people sit up and think about the issue, and take action if they do have information, said a department spokesperson. The minister said members of the public play an important role in supporting anti-fraud activities, with concerned citizens making 19,000 reports in 2016. Every year thousands of allegations of welfare fraud are made to the department. Some of these transpire to be genuine cases and result in payments being suspended. The payments are recovered if the case is genuine and some cases also merit prosecution.
Source: Department of Social Protection
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(Can’t see, click here) Confidential reports can be made using: A confidential facility on-line on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie/cheats where concerns can be reported The dedicated telephone facility 01 673 45 45 staffed by trained personnel Reports by letter are also welcomed and encouraged (Fraud Reports, Central Control Division, DSP, Shannon Lodge, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim). Reports can also be made to any of the Department’s offices nationwide. Overall, the department conducts around one million claim reviews annually. Varadkar said the continued roll-out of the Public Services Card, which gives people access a range of public services, has considerably reduced the potential for identity fraud.
The minister said he wants to strengthen the legislative provisions to deter abuse of the social welfare system, including publishing the names of persons who are prosecuted for social welfare fraud He also aims to apply interest on overpayments resulting from fraud. http://www.thejournal.ie/welfare-cheats-varadkar-3344251-Apr2017/
Read Apple's letter to Europe on Irish tax decision Tim Cook says European Commission decision will have 'profound and harmful effect' across Europe by Amar Toor@amartoo Aug 30, 2016
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Apple CEO Tim Cook has published an open
letter to customers in Europe, after the European Commission ruled that Ireland gave preferential tax treatment to the tech company. Earlier Tuesday, the Commission ordered Ireland to collect up to $14.5 billion in unpaid taxes from Apple, ruling that the Irish government's tax deals gave the company "a significant advantage" over other businesses, in violation of EU law. In the letter, published on Apple's website, Cook described the Commission's decision as "unprecedented," adding that it will have a "profound and harmful effect" on investment and jobs in Europe. Apple and Ireland have already said that they plan to appeal the decision. Read Cook's full letter below. A Message to the Apple Community in Europe Thirty-six years ago, long before introducing iPhone, iPod or even the Mac, Steve Jobs established Apple’s first operations in Europe. At the time, the company knew that in order to serve customers in Europe, it would need a base there. So, in October 1980, Apple opened a factory in Cork, Ireland with 60 employees. At the time, Cork was suffering from high unemployment and extremely low economic investment. But Apple’s leaders saw a community rich with talent, and one they believed could accommodate growth if the
company was fortunate enough to succeed. We have operated continuously in Cork ever since, even through periods of uncertainty about our own business, and today we employ nearly 6,000 people across Ireland. The vast majority are still in Cork — including some of the very first employees — now performing a wide variety of functions as part of Apple’s global footprint. Countless multinational companies followed Apple by investing in Cork, and today the local economy is stronger than ever. The success which has propelled Apple’s growth in Cork comes from innovative products that delight our customers. It has helped create and sustain more than 1.5 million jobs across Europe — jobs at Apple, jobs for hundreds of thousands of creative app developers who thrive on the App Store, and jobs with manufacturers and other suppliers. Countless small and medium-size companies depend on Apple, and we are proud to support them. As responsible corporate citizens, we are also proud of our contributions to local economies across Europe, and to communities everywhere. As our business has grown over the years, we have become the largest taxpayer in Ireland, the largest taxpayer in the United States, and the largest taxpayer in the world. Over the years, we received guidance from Irish tax authorities on how to comply
correctly with Irish tax law — the same kind of guidance available to any company doing business there. In Ireland and in every country where we operate, Apple follows the law and we pay all the taxes we owe. The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe, ignore Ireland’s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process. The opinion issued on August 30th alleges that Ireland gave Apple a special deal on our taxes. This claim has no basis in fact or in law. We never asked for, nor did we receive, any special deals. We now find ourselves in the unusual position of being ordered to retroactively pay additional taxes to a government that says we don't owe them any more than we've already paid. The Commission’s move is unprecedented and it has serious, wide-reaching implications. It is effectively proposing to replace Irish tax laws with a view of what the Commission thinks the law should have been. This would strike a devastating blow to the sovereignty of EU member states over their own tax matters, and to the principle of certainty of law in Europe. Ireland has said they plan to appeal the Commission’s ruling and Apple will do the same. We are confident that the Commission’s order will be reversed. At its root, the Commission’s case is not about how much Apple pays in taxes. It is about which government collects the money.
Taxes for multinational companies are complex, yet a fundamental principle is recognized around the world: A company’s profits should be taxed in the country where the value is created. Apple, Ireland and the United States all agree on this principle. In Apple’s case, nearly all of our research and development takes place in California, so the vast majority of our profits are taxed in the United States. European companies doing business in the U.S. are taxed according to the same principle. But the Commission is now calling to retroactively change those rules. Beyond the obvious targeting of Apple, the most profound and harmful effect of this ruling will be on investment and job creation in Europe. Using the Commission’s theory, every company in Ireland and across Europe is suddenly at risk of being subjected to taxes under laws that never existed. Apple has long supported international tax reform with the objectives of simplicity and clarity. We believe these changes should come about through the proper legislative process, in which proposals are discussed among the leaders and citizens of the affected countries. And as with any new laws, they should be applied going forward — not retroactively. We are committed to Ireland and we plan to continue investing there, growing and serving our customers with the same level of passion
and commitment. We firmly believe that the facts and the established legal principles upon which the EU was founded will ultimately prevail. Tim Cook
OPEN LETTER TO CHAIR OF THE OIREACHTAS HEALTH COMMITTEE FROM MUM OF FORGOTTEN GIRL
#investigateNOW #informedconsent #HPVvaccine Dear Chair of the Oireachtas Health Commitee, In response to the email sent on your behalf, received on the 26th May, I am disappointed to learn that parents' testimonials are not taken into consideration in current, or future Joint Health Committee presentations, on matters relating to the HVP vaccination program.This, regardless of Parents and chronically ill girls of REGRET's repeated requests that our voices be heard in this debate. Observing the contents of the committee's recent public presentation on the HPV vaccine, via Oireachtas TV, it is reasonable to conclude that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health have been instructed by the HSE to present one side of this issue only. Please find attached, a picture of my daughter during her most recent hospital admission, following a seizure on the road side. She suffers daily seizures after one shot of the HPV vaccine in 2012, and at this stage we know the ambulance paramedics by first name, as she needs to be brought to hospital on a weekly basis, due to collapsing in seizures. I am now putting you on notice that, due to the continued policy of ignoring the plight of the HPV vaccine injured girls, such as Carol Ann, I hold the Department of Health, directly responsible for my daughter's survival, including any brain damage caused by these frequent seizures. 400 girls in Ireland (represented by us parents as the support group REGRET) have suffered a cluster
of debilitating symptoms after receiving the HPV vaccination. Their parents made the connection after seeing all of these symptoms listed as possible side effects, in the Manufacturer's risk information; https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_ circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_ppi.pdf The HSE deny that there is any link, consistently pointing at a 2015 EMA study of two conditions POTS and CRPS, claiming that there is no increase in the instances of these illnesses. This study has been publicly challenged by one of the most respected, independent medical foundations in the world; The Nordic Cochrane Centre. The main concern (aside from conflicts of interest) is that the EMA study was over-reliant on the manufacturer's own data and reassurances, and it did not address the cluster symptoms suffered by previously healthy girls and boys worldwide, following the HPV vaccination. This was also reinforced in a recent WHO study that recommended further investigation is carried out on post HPV cluster symptoms: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article s/PMC5209415/ Meanwhile, instead of engaging respectfully with the parents, our experience has been the opposite; Public attacks from the Minister of Health, calling parents disgusting for speaking out, and labeling the girls as 'Fake Stories'. The Irish Cancer Society accusing us publicly of 'Fake News' and labeling our daughters as having mental or emotional issues. Censoring of National Radio, TV and printed media,
abusing anyone who dares to speak out. Numerous manufactured committee meetings and 'HPV Conferences' designed only to give headlines to the HSE message, that 'its all perfectly safe' (we have been requesting a committee hearing for months but parents and girls have been denied a voice). In addition, parents are forced to go abroad with their very sick daughters (at huge cost), searching for medical treatments with a view to alleviating their daughters suffering. As regards the HSE's so-called "Care Plan", which was evidently designed for 12,000 Chronic Fatigue /ME sufferers, we have since discovered that this 'capture' program has never been offered to the CFS/ME community for whom it was intended, which leads us to believe that it was designed as an attempt to corral parents of REGRET, and cover up any possible link between our daughters' illnesses and the HPV vaccine. This is clearly not a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome issue, considering the many girls both in Ireland, and worldwide suffering with seizures, neurological symptoms, failing immune systems, Pancreatitis, and Premature Ovarian Failure, following the HPV vaccination, in addition to the cluster symptoms outlined in the PIL, as possible side effects. At a meeting with the HSE in May 2016, they went on record stating; "We can't include the Patient Information Leaflet in the school pack as the uptake rates would plummet” All that parents in REGRET ever asked for was this:
That the manufacturers Patient Information Leaflet was included in the school pack so it could be read by ALL parents as per the manufacturers instructions. That an INDEPENDENT investigation was carried out to study the girls and establish any link or causal chain between the vaccine and the illnesses from which they suffer. Help in getting our, now over 400 previously healthy daughters, chronically ill post HPV vaccination, well again. Is this too much to ask for, in the circumstances which our girls now find themselves in, trusting the reassurances of their own Health Department? As you can see this clearly warrants an Independent Investigation NOW, with over 400 Irish girl's lives at risk and with more children injured with each HPV vaccination round. Furthermore I would like to ask how the HSE, or the Department of Health think it is okay to have a budget within the framework of its practices to spend money promoting the HPV vaccine in print, and online media, such as videos and other campaigns. This is a medical product and should not be promoted as if it is a commercial interest. This is misleading to the public. Active promotion is contrary to laws which prohibit advertising medical products per IMO regulations. In my own daughter case it is only a matter of time before she hits her head so hard, during a collapse,
that there is no point of return. Clearly her life does not matter, as she has been denied a meeting with the Minister for Health consistently, along with all the other girls in our support group. Yours in deepest despair, Ann Fitzpatrick
Open Letter to Minister for Health Simon Harris TD #informedconsent#investigateNOW Dear Minister Harris, This is my 19 year old girl who got three jabs of the HPV vaccine as a 12 year old. She was hospitalised last Thursday with an acute infection and stayed in hospital nine days. This is one of many hospital stays, where she has been admitted with very serious symptoms, and life threatening conditions, such as Pancreatitis. In between her life revolves around medication, doctors and consultant appointments. Six years on, she suffers daily headaches, muscle fatigue, joint pains, short term memory loss, chronic pain, systemic inflamation, compromised immune system, chronic inter cellular bacterial and viral infections, ongoing nausea, extreme tiredness, noise and light sensitivity, and very low mood due to her debilitating post Gardasil illness.
We came home at midnight, and I was sitting up until the early hours full of emotions. This time we got a real fright. We both thought she was dying, and it brought home how unprotected she is without a fully functioning immune system. My daughter is your constituent and now she needs your help. How can you dismiss our 400 daughters so readily as "fake stories"? Don't you remember the battle you fought for your brother Adam? Where is your Duty of Care now? My daughter is a fighter. She held onto her education by her finger tips and it wasn't easy. She can't always get out of bed due to chronic pain and fatigue, but when she does, as most girls her age, she makes an effort to look the best she can. She is a teenager, who loves make up and movies. An aspiring actress with an enormous determination. She is my hero, but now she is broken and I can't fix her. She asks me if she will eventually die from this "unexplained illness" she contracted right after the third shot of the HPV vaccine, and you know what the worst thing is? It was me who put my signature on the consent form which arrived home with the glossy HSE brochure, reassuring me that "there are no side effects" from this drug, but only "on the day reactions". The manufacturers Patient Information Leaflet listing 25 possible side effects begs to differ. Now I am left without answers to her questions. Her immune system is not functioning properly, and we all know what that means. The next infection or
illness could be the last. We are getting really scared now. Our daughters are getting worse. We need you to stand up and be accounted for and investigate our girls. They are our "pride and joys" and it's deeply unfair to hold them ransom for a target uptake rate which has been agreed with the manufacturers of this vaccine. We are pleading with you to investigate our daughters post HPV vaccine illnesses, and to ensure that parents are given the PIL in the information pack sent home from the schools. These are very reasonable requests. Our girls need to see that they matter. They want you to find out who is susceptible to side effects, prior to receiving the HPV vaccine, so that other girls (and boys) don't have to go through what they are going through. Please take the time to meet with, and listen to, "The forgotten girls" - our daughters. They are losing hope, and they need you to steer this debate in a respectful manner. They are an open target, and are finding it hard to cope with the incessant harassment both online and in the media, at the back of your bold public statements. There is nothing fake about their day-to-day struggles and I think you need to apologise for this latest headline also. Yours in despair, Mum of one of the forgotten girls
Vaccine aluminum adjuvant causation of neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism- Page 2
Vaccine aluminum adjuvant causation of neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism- Page 2 This is enough information and from Suzanne Humphries should be in itself enough to shut down the entire CDC directed infant vaccination schedule. But you know that again they will ignore it; and because not to would obviously finish them entirely. Suzanne Humphries, MD - Neonatal Immunity: The first 3 years of life: (the above video) “Nothing should interfere with the immunologic programming, especially during the first three years.” Normal brain development depends on the baby maintaining a non-inflammatory state. Vaccines drive excessive inflammation and can derail normal brain development: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL8srdLw4c0 Dr. Suzanne Humphries Has A Lot To Say About Aluminum In Vaccines
“By the age of 18 months, that infant has already received 4,925 micrograms (mcg) of aluminum, 100 percent of which is absorbed since it’s given intramuscularly. In the 1980s the amount of aluminum you got when following the childhood vaccination schedule amounted to 1,120 mcg, and importantly, it was given in more mature babies, not newborns. Today, American children end up getting a grand total of 6,150 mcg of aluminum if they get all of their recommended vaccines.” Read more: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/04/20/dr-suzanne-humphries-has-alot-to-say-about-aluminum-in-vaccines/ Dr Suzanne Humphries. Aluminum is toxic to all life forms: The case against aluminum in vaccines. (the above video) https://youtu.be/LZe99K12740 Vaccination: The Neurological Poison So Common Your Doctor Probably Pushes It http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/11/vaccinationimpact-on-childrens-health.aspx Dr. Paul Offit’s Aluminum Deceptions and Academic Misconduct (one very important article, to read) http://vaccinepapers.org/dr-paul-offits-aluminum-deceptions-academicmisconduct/ The Defense of Aluminum Adjuvant, Debunked http://vaccinepapers.org/rigorous-defense-al-adjuvant-wrong/ Part 1: Immune Activation and Autism http://vaccinepapers.org/rigorous-defense-al-adjuvant-wrong/ See all posts on Immune Activation Part 1: Immune Activation and Autism Part 2: Interleukin-6 and Autism Part 3: Monkey Experiments Part 4: (Coming Soon) Prenatal vs. Postnatal Immune Activation http://vaccinepapers.org/immune-activation/ Scientific Papers Library Immune Activation http://vaccinepapers.org/scientific-papers-library/ A More Rigorous Defense of Al Adjuvant, and Why it is Wrong http://vaccinepapers.org/rigorous-defense-al-adjuvant-wrong/ VRM: The Problem With Vaccines Part 2 – Synergistic Effect of Heavy
Metal Toxicity On The Body http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=6097 The Mechanisms of Vaccine Injury and Via Cytokine Storm http://www.vacfacts.info/the-mechanisms-of-vaccine-injury-and-via-cytokinestorm.html Vaccination toxicity: The Zeta phase of MASS and “blood sludging” http://www.vacfacts.info/vaccination-toxicity-the-zeta-phase-of-mass-andldquoblood-sludgingrdquo.html Unvaccinated Children Will Be Healthiest Among Future Generations Studies and Surveys Predict
http://www.fhfn.org/unvaccinated-children-will-be-healthiest-among-futuregenerations-studies-and-surveys-predict/ Journal of Toxicology- Aluminum Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 532640, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/532640 Published Research Aluminum Vacciune Adjuvants Mercury - Neurological and Immune Development http://www.cmsri.org/published-research/ J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2010 Nov;20(7):598-601. doi: 10.1038/jes.2009.64. Epub 2009 Dec 16. Infants' exposure to aluminum from vaccines and breast milk during the first 6 months. Dórea JG1, Marques RC. Abstract The success of vaccination programs in reducing and eliminating infectious diseases has contributed to an ever-increasing number of vaccines given at earlier ages (newborns and infants). Exposure to low levels of environmental toxic substances (including metals) at an early age raises plausible concerns over increasingly lower neuro-cognitive rates. Current immunization schedules with vaccines containing aluminum (as adjuvant) are given to infants, but thimerosal (as preservative) is found mostly in vaccines used in non-industrialized countries. Exclusively, breastfed infants (in Brazil) receiving a full recommended schedule of immunizations showed an exceedingly high exposure of Al (225 to 1750 μg per dose) when compared with estimated levels absorbed from breast milk (2.0 μg). This study does not dispute the safety of vaccines but reinforces the need to study long-term effects of early exposure to neuro-toxic substances on the developing brain. Pragmatic vaccine safety needs to embrace conventional toxicology, addressing especial characteristics of unborn fetuses, neonates and infants exposed to low levels of aluminum, and ethylmercury traditionally considered innocuous to the central nervous system.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20010978 Tox-Guide For Aluminum-Al http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-22.pdf Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2011 Mar 8;2011:276393. doi: 10.4061/2011/276393. Link between Aluminum and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease: The Integration of the Aluminum and Amyloid Cascade Hypotheses. Kawahara M1, Kato-Negishi M. Abstract Whilst being environmentally abundant, aluminum is not essential for life. On the contrary, aluminum is a widely recognized neurotoxin that inhibits more than 200 biologically important functions and causes various adverse effects in plants, animals, and humans. The relationship between aluminum exposure and neurodegenerative diseases, including dialysis encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism dementia in the Kii Peninsula and Guam, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been suggested. In particular, the link between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease has been the subject of scientific debate for several decades. However, the complex characteristics of aluminum bioavailability make it difficult to evaluate its toxicity and therefore, the relationship remains to be established. Mounting evidence has suggested that significance of oligomerization of β-amyloid protein and neurotoxicity in the molecular mechanism of AD pathogenesis. Aluminum may play crucial roles as a cross-linker in β-amyloid oligomerization. Here, we review the detailed characteristics of aluminum neurotoxicity based on our own studies and the recent literatures. Our aim is to revisit the link between aluminum and AD and to integrate aluminum and amyloid cascade hypotheses in the context of β-amyloid oligomerization and the interactions with other metals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21423554 Review Article Aluminum-Induced Entropy in Biological Systems: Implications for Neurological Disease 5. Conclusions Aluminuminducesentropyinlivingorganismsbydisrupting all levels of structure from water molecules through all biosemiotic systems. Entropy-inducing cascades, feedback loops (positive and negative) within and across levels, can damage DNAs, RNAs, proteins, cells, tissues, and whole organ systems. As a result of cellular damage caused by an Al compound, injured and dying cells will release proteases, excitatory amino acids, and ions (e.g., potassium, calcium), disrupting biosemiosis at many levels. Toxic effects of Al and its compounds thus tend to proliferate. Interactive results involving immune functions, for instance, make the impact
worse than if only one system were involved. Of course, the dose-response of Al and its compounds must be considered, but even at low doses, especially with repeated exposures, Al can have cumulative deleterious effects that can be extreme and even fatal. For that reason, a repeated low dose exposure may prove more damaging than a single larger dose. Al and its compounds can cross biosemiotic levels, damaging genetic systems, proteins, cells, and all systems up through the CNS. While higher doses may rapidly affect multiple levels, as in dialysis-associated encephalopathy (DAE), low doses over time, for example, from vaccines, can degrade metabolism and disrupt repair and defense systems and can spiraloutofcontrolasinASIA.Aladjuvantsinvaccinesmay hyperdrive the immune functions of the body but they also directly disrupt biosemiotic systems. Sound theory, empirical research, and reasonable inferences from sources cited here show that Al and its compounds damage biological systems. Such conclusions warrant considerations at a policy level to limit human exposure to Al and its compounds Read more: http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/Shaw_et_al_JOT_2014.pdf Treatment Manual for HPV Vaccine Injured http://vaccineimpact.com/2015/treatment-manual-for-hpv-vaccine-injured/ Mass Vaccine Brainwashing Campaign Exposed https://www.youtube.com/watch? feature=player_detailpage&v=S9HwpHDHFWo&app=desktop How To Recognize the Signs And Symptoms of Vaccine Reactions http://www.nvic.org/Downloads/4507NVIC11x17HIRES.aspx Is Aluminum The New Thimerosal?
http://sarahjmuma.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/aluminum-new-thimerosalsears.pdf Research Article The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels Abstract This study investigated the relationship of children's autism symptoms with their toxic metal body burden and red blood cell (RBC) glutathione levels. In children ages 3–8 years, the severity of autism was assessed using four tools: ADOS, PDD-BI, ATEC, and SAS. Toxic metal body burden was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of toxic metals, both before and after oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). Multiple positive correlations were found between the severity of autism and the urinary excretion of toxic metals.
Variations in the severity of autism measurements could be explained, in part, by regression analyses of urinary excretion of toxic metals before and after DMSA and the level of RBC glutathione (adjusted of 0.22–0.45, in all cases). This study demonstrates a significant positive association between the severity of autism and the relative body burden of toxic metals. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jt/2009/532640/ (full study) Aluminum Induced Immunoexcitotoxicity in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders Russell L. Blaylock* Visiting Professor Biology Belhaven University Theoretical Neurosciences Research, LLC Ridgeland, Mississippi, USA Abstract A great deal has been learned about the neurotoxicity of aluminum over the past two decades in terms of its ability to disrupt cellular function. Newer evidence suggests that a more central pathophysiological mechanism may be responsible for much of the toxicity of aluminum and aluminofluoride compounds on the brain. This mechanism involves activation of the brainâ € ™ s innate immune system, primarily the microglia, with a release of neurotoxic concentrations of excitotoxins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and immune mediators. A large number of studies suggest that excitotoxicity plays a significant role in the neurotoxic action of a number of metals, including aluminum. Recently, researchers have found that while most of the chronic neurodegenerative effects of these metals are secondary to prolonged inflammation, it is the enhancement of excitotoxicity by the immune mediators that is responsible for most of the metalâ € ™ s toxicity. This enhancement occurs via a crosstalk between cytokine receptors and glutamate receptors. The author coined the name immunoexcitotoxicity to describe this process. This paper reviews the evidence linking immunoexcitotoxicity to aluminums neurotoxic effects. http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/documents/Aluminum-Blaylock.pdf
Aluminum Induced Immunoexcitotoxicity in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders http://chiropractorwestpalmbeach.net/2013/06/27/aluminum-inducedimmunoexcitotoxicity-in-neurodevelopmental-and-neurodegenerative-disorders/
Raising A Vaccine Free Child, by Wendy Lydall http://www.vaccinefreechild.com/
Fight Autism and Win! By parents for parents! (the Andy Cutler chelation protocol) http://www.fightautismandwin.com/#sthash.XITmXJsq.dpbs http://www.amazon.com/Fight-Autism-Win-BiomedicalTherapies/dp/0615582095 Autism, ADD, ADHD: 2014
“What’s Really Working?” Featuring Amy Derksen, ND With bonus lecture by Dietrich Klinghardt, MD. PHD http://www.klinghardtacademy.com/images/stories/event/autism_add_adhd_w hats_working_today.pdf J Inorg Biochem. 2013 No;128:237-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.07.022. Epub 2013 Jul 19. Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. Shaw CA1, Li Y, Tomljenovic L. Abstract Our previous ecological studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has demonstrated a correlation between increasing ASD rates and aluminium (Al) adjuvants in common use in paediatric vaccines in several Western countries. The correlation between ASD rate and Al adjuvant amounts appears to be dose-dependent and satisfies 8 of 9 Hill criteria for causality. We have now sought to provide an animal model to explore potential behavioural phenotypes and central nervous system (CNS) alterations using s.c. injections of Al hydroxide in early postnatal CD-1 mice of both sexes. Injections of a "high" and "low" Al adjuvant levels were designed to correlate to either the U.S. or Scandinavian paediatric vaccine schedules vs. control saline-injected mice. Both male and female mice in the "high Al" group showed significant weight gains following treatment up to sacrifice at 6 months of age. Male mice in the "high Al" group showed significant changes in light-dark box tests and in various measures of behaviour in an open field. Female mice showed significant changes in the light-dark box at both doses, but no significant changes in open field behaviours. These current data implicate Al injected in early postnatal life in some CNS alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology of ASD. © 2013. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23932735 Exposure to Mercury and Aluminum in Early Life: Developmental Vulnerability as a Modifying Factor in Neurologic and Immunologic Effects Abstract: Currently, ethylmercury (EtHg) and adjuvant-Al are the dominating interventional exposures encountered by fetuses, newborns, and infants due to immunization with Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs). Despite their long use as active agents of medicines and fungicides, the safety levels of these substances have never been determined, either for animals or for adult humans—much less for fetuses, newborns, infants, and children. I reviewed the literature for papers reporting on outcomes associated with (a) multiple exposures and metabolism of EtHg and Al during early life; (b) physiological and metabolic characteristics of newborns, neonates, and infants relevant to xenobiotic exposure and effects; (c) neurobehavioral, immunological, and inflammatory reactions to Thimerosal and Al-adjuvants resulting from TCV
exposure in infancy. Immunological and neurobehavioral effects of Thimerosal-EtHg and Al-adjuvants are not extraordinary; rather, these effects are easily detected in high and low income countries, with co-exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) or other neurotoxicants. Rigorous and replicable studies (in different animal species) have shown evidence of EtHg and Al toxicities. More research attention has been given to EtHg and findings have showed a solid link with neurotoxic effects in humans; however, the potential synergic effect of both toxic agents has not been properly studied. Therefore, early life exposure to both EtHg and Al deserves due consideration. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/2/1295/htm Journal of American Nutraceutical Association 6: 21-35, 2003.
Interaction of Cytokines, Excitotoxins, and Reactive Nitrogen and Oxygen Species in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Russell Blaylock, MD* Medical Director, Advanced Nutritional Concepts Ridgeland, Mississippi ABSTRACT There is growing and compelling evidence that excessive peripheral as well as central immune activation of brain microglia can result in alterations in brain growth and connectivity during rapid brain growth, the so-called "brain growth spurt." A considerable amount of evidence, presented in this paper, demonstrates the deleterious effects of immune factors, such as cytokines, chemokines, and excitotoxins, when present in excess. The interaction between excitotoxicity, ROS and RNS injury and immune dysfunction is discussed. It is concluded that excessive activation of the brain's immune system during critical growth periods can occur when vaccines are given as combination vaccines, using schedules that are too close together or by the use of certain live viruses in the vaccines. http://www.nutrimedical.com/news.jhtml?method=view&news.id=1084 Recent Changes In Vaccines "They’ve been increasing the amount of aluminum in vaccines quite systematically particularly over the last 10 years,” says Dr. Stephanie Seneff, senior scientist at MIT who has been conducting research for over three decades. She is considered the leading expert on sulfur and how it functions in the body. She is an electrical engineer, a computer science specialist who then converted into the biological sciences with a biology degree as well as a food and nutrition specialty. “They’ve been increasing the number of vaccines as well. I’m deeply disturbed by what I’m seeing,” she says. The root of her worry is, “They add the aluminum in order to get the child to react enough. If the child has a strong immune system and you just give them a vaccine of some dead microbe, the body’s going to slough it off – they won’t actually be resistant to the disease. They have to put something else in the vaccine to make you react more. They’ve discovered that aluminum works really well.” At the same time it’s
causing all the trouble. Read more: http://nourishingplot.com/2014/06/27/recent-changes-in-vaccines/ The Mechanisms of Vaccine Injury and Via Cytokine Storm http://www.vacfacts.info/the-mechanisms-of-vaccine-injury-and-via-cytokine-storm.html
Although this next study does not involve vaccines; if you follow the studies on these pages, you will realize how similar the same type of vaccine injury is, to traumatic brain injury; and it clearly involves the same or similar physiological and biological systems. Surg Neurol Int. 2011; 2: 107. Published online 2011 July 30. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.83391 PMCID: PMC3157093 Immunoexcitotoxicity as a central mechanism in chronic traumatic encephalopathy—A unifying hypothesis Published online 2011 July 30. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.83391 PMCID: PMC3157093 Russell L. Blaylock* and Joseph Maroon1 Abstract Some individuals suffering from mild traumatic brain injuries, especially repetitive mild concussions, are thought to develop a slowly progressive encephalopathy characterized by a number of the neuropathological elements shared with various neurodegenerative diseases. A central pathological mechanism explaining the development of progressive neurodegeneration in this subset of individuals has not been elucidated. Yet, a large number of studies indicate that a process called immunoexcitotoxicity may be playing a central role in many neurodegenerative diseases including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The term immunoexcitotoxicity was first coined by the lead author to explain the evolving pathological and neurodevelopmental changes in autism and the Gulf War Syndrome, but it can be applied to a number of neurodegenerative disorders. The interaction between immune receptors within the central nervous system (CNS) and excitatory glutamate receptors trigger a series of events, such as extensive reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species generation, accumulation of lipid peroxidation products, and prostaglandin activation, which then leads to dendritic retraction, synaptic injury, damage to microtubules, and mitochondrial suppression. In this paper, we discuss the mechanism of immunoexcitotoxicity and its link to each of the pathophysiological and neurochemical events previously described with CTE, with special emphasis on the observed accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157093/ Download PDF: Immunoexcitotoxicity as a central mechanism in chronic traumatic encephalopathy-A unifying hypothesis http://www.surgicalneurologyint.com/downloadpdf.asp?issn=21527806%3Byear%3D2011%3Bvolume%3D2%3Bissue%3D1%3Bspage
%3D107%3Bepage%3D107%3Baulast%3DBlaylock%3Btype%3D2 Session 22, The Vaccine Safety Conference: Dr. Russell Blaylock, MD, CCN THE CENTRAL ROLE OF IMMUNOEXCITOTOXICITY IN ALUMINUM AND MERCURY-CONTAINING ADJUVANT-TRIGGERED NEURODEVELOPMENTAL AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9DkcpEEBPI Dr. Russell Blaylock, MD, CCN, video presentation -(same video as above, for an alternate source). http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/videos.html#BlaylockVideo How Vaccines Harm Child Brain Development - Dr Russell Blaylock MD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QBcMYqlaDs Vaccination and brain inflammation http://www.heartmdinstitute.com/prevention/immunity/vaccinations/167vaccines-depression-neurodegeneration-after-age-50-years?showall=& Danger of live virus vaccines http://www.heartmdinstitute.com/prevention/immunity/vaccinations/167vaccines-depression-neurodegeneration-after-age-50-years?showall=& A Mechanism of Toxicity of Aluminium-based Adjuvants? Consumer Summary | by Chris Exley http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/exley Exley & House (2011) Aluminium in the human brain. Monatsh Chem (In press) http://www.springerlink.com/content/9550512205128414/ Aluminum as a Neurotoxin: The Evidence from Cell Culture, In Vivo, & Human Studies http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/pdf/Shaw/Shaw_PPT.pdf Study Reveals Children are Being Vaccinated With Toxic Levels of Aluminium Causing Neurological Damage & Autism A recent study conducted by Canadian scientists Professor Christopher Shaw and Dr. Lucija Tomljenovic revealed that the more vaccines that children receive containing the adjuvant aluminum, the greater their chance is of developing autism, autoimmune diseases and neurological problems in the future. In 2013, in their paper, published by Springer Science+Business Media, titled Aluminum in the Central Nervous System: Toxicity in Humans and Animals, Vaccine Adjuvants, and Autoimmunity, they revealed that during a 17-year period, the rates of autism had increased significantly in countries that had the most vaccinations containing the adjuvant aluminum.
A Highly Significant Correlation The researchers compared the number of vaccines recommend by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the period from 1991 – 2008 and the changes in the autism rates during the same period. They wrote: “The data sets, graphed against each other, show a pronounced and statistically highly significant correlation between the number vaccines with aluminum and the changes in autism rates. Further data showed that a significant correlation exists between the amounts of aluminum given to preschool children and the current rates of autism in seven Western countries. Those countries with the highest level of aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines had the highest autism rates.” [1] (own emphasis) Read more: http://www.thelibertybeacon.com/2014/06/23/study-reveals-children-arebeing-vaccinated-with-toxic-levels-of-aluminium-causing-neurologicaldamage-autism/ Dr. Chris Shaw discusses the toxic side effects of Aluminum in Vaccines. Oct-21-2009, (very informative) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsAKoRx60xs Review of Vaccine Induced Immune Overload and the Resulting Epidemics of Type 1 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, Emphasis on Explaining the Recent Accelerations in the Risk of Prediabetes and other Immune Mediated Diseases Abstract There has been an epidemic of inflammatory diseases that has paralleled the epidemic on iatrogenic immune stimulation with vaccines. Extensive evidence links vaccine induced immune over load with the epidemic of type 1 diabetes. More recent data indicates that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other components of metabolic syndrome are highly associated with immunization and may be manifestations of the negative feedback loop of the immune system reacting to the immune overload. The epidemic of diabetes/prediabetes appears to be accelerating at a time when the prevalence of obesity has stabilized, indicating that the negative feedback system of the immune system has been over whelmed. The theory of vaccine induced immune overload can explain the key observations that have confounded many competing hypothesis. The current paper reviews the evidence that vaccine induced immune overload explains the disconnect between the increase in prediabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver at a time when the obesity epidemic is waning in
children. http://vaccines.net/vaccine-induced-immune-overload.pdf Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? Lucija Tomljenovic a, Christopher A. Shaw a,b http://pop.1796kotok.com/pdfs/Aluminum_autism.pdf DR. CHRIS SHAW: ALUMINUM IN THE BODY - ONE MORE GIRL EXCERPTS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfTo35UrFPA Abstract for talk: Aluminum as a neurotoxin: the evidence from cell culture, in vivo, and human studies http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/pdf/Shaw/Shaw_CS.pdf Autism Spectrum Disorders and Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants Lucija Tomljenovic, Russell L. Blaylock, Christopher A. Shaw Abstract Impaired brain function, excessive inflammation, and autoimmune manifestations are common in autism. Aluminum (Al), the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant Al has the necessary properties to induce neuroimmune disorders. Because peripheral immune stimuli in the postnatal period can compromise brain development and cause permanent neurological impairments, the possibility that such outcomes could also occur with administration of Al vaccine adjuvants needs to be considered. In regard to the risk of adjuvant toxicity in children, the following should be noted: (i) children should not be viewed as “small adults” as their unique physiology makes them more vulnerable to toxic insults; (ii) in adult humans Al adjuvants can cause a variety of serious autoimmune and inflammatory conditions including those affecting the brain, yet children are routinely exposed to much higher amounts of Al from vaccines than adults; (iii) compelling evidence has underscored the tight connection between the development of the immune system and that of the brain. Thus, it appears plausible that disruptions of critical events in immune development may also play a role in the establishment of neurobehavioral disorders; (iv) the same immune system components that play key roles in brain development appear to be targeted for impairment by Al adjuvants. In summary, research data suggests that vaccines containing Al may be a contributing etiological factor in the increasing incidence of autism. http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-47887_89 Alzheimers
Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;2012:914947. doi: 10.1155/2012/914947. Epub 2012 Jul 30. Cognitive deterioration and associated pathology induced by chronic low-level aluminum ingestion in a translational rat model provides an explanation of Alzheimer's disease, tests for susceptibility and avenues for treatment. Walton JR. Abstract A translational aging rat model for chronic aluminum (Al) neurotoxicity mimics human Al exposure by ingesting Al, throughout middle age and old age, in equivalent amounts to those ingested by Americans from their food, water, and Al additives. Most rats that consumed Al in an amount equivalent to the high end of the human total dietary Al range developed severe cognitive deterioration in old age. High-stage Al accumulation occurred in the entorhinal cortical cells of origin for the perforant pathway and hippocampal CA1 cells, resulting in microtubule depletion and dendritic dieback. Analogous pathological change in humans leads to destruction of the perforant pathway and Alzheimer's disease dementia. The hippocampus is thereby isolated from neocortical input and output normally mediated by the entorhinal cortex. Additional evidence is presented that Al is involved in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plaques, granulovacuolar degeneration, and other pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The shared characteristics indicate that AD is a human form of chronic Al neurotoxicity. This translational animal model provides fresh strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of AD. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22928148 NEW STUDY REVEALS CHILDREN BEING VACCINATED WITH TOXIC LEVELS OF ALUMINUM CAUSING NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE AND AUTISM In their landmark 2013 paper, Canadian scientists Professor Christopher Shaw and Dr. Lucija Tomljenovic show that the more children receive vaccines with aluminum adjuvants, the greater their chance is of developing autism, autoimmune diseases and neurological problems later in life. A demonstrated neurotoxin, Aluminum is the only approved adjuvant in the US. Its use presents the risk of brain inflammation, autoimmunity and other adverse health consequences. http://www.fhfn.org/new-study-reveals-children-being-vaccinated-with-toxiclevels-of-aluminum-causing-neurological-damage-and-autism/ Immunol Res. 2013 Jul;56(2-3):304-16. doi: 10.1007/s12026-013-8403-1. Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23609067
Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes C.A. Shawa,b,c, ⁎, Y. Li a , L. Tomljenovic a Abstract: Our previous ecological studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has demonstrated a correlation between increasing ASD rates and aluminium (Al) adjuvants in common use in paediatric vaccines in several Western countries. The correlation between ASD rate and Al adjuvant amounts appears to be dose-dependent and satisfies 8 of 9 Hill criteria for causality. We have now sought to provide an animal model to explore potential behavioural phenotypes and central nervous system (CNS) alterations using s.c. injections of Al hydroxide in early postnatal CD-1 mice of both sexes. Injections of a “high” and “low”Al adjuvant levels were designed to correlate to either the U.S. or Scandinavian paediatric vaccine schedules vs. control saline-injected mice. Both male and female mice in the “high Al” group showed significant weight gains following treatment up to sacrifice at 6 months of age. Male mice in the “high Al” group showed significant changes in light–dark box tests and in various measures of behaviour in an open field. Female mice showed significant changes in the light–dark box at both doses, but no significant changes in open field behaviours. These current data implicate Al injected in early postnatal life in some CNS alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology of ASD. © 2013 Elsevier Inc http://myofasciite.fr/Contenu/Divers/201307_CAShaw_YLee_LTomljenovic.pdf PRESENTATIONS http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/presentation.html Study RESOURCES - Dr Russell Blaylock http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/resources.html The Danger of Excessive Vaccination During Brain Development The Case for a Link to Autism Spectrum Disorders By Russell L. Blaylock, M.D. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/14/the-danger-ofexcessive-vaccination-during-brain-development.aspx Immune-Glutamatergic Dysfunction as a Central Mechanism of the Autism Spectrum Disorders http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download? doi=10.1.1.317.7642&rep=rep1& http://www.utdallas.edu/~mxa049000/lessons/research/literature/Autism/new/ Blaylock%20autism%20rev%20CMC%2009.pdf Chronic Microglial Activation and Excitotoxicity Secondary to Excessive Immune Stimulation: Possible Factors in Gulf War Syndrome and Autism
The Role of Excitotoxicity Page 47. Damage to neuronal mechanisms is not limited to direct cytokine effects. The excitotoxicity initiated by microglial activation is even more important. In cases of HIV-1 dementia, it is known that brain quinolinic acid, an excitotoxin secreted by activated microglia, can increase more than 300fold. In addition, glutamate is released in concentrations that are known to destroy neurons and/or synaptic connections. Because glutamate can also activate microglia and enhance cytokine-induced neurodegeneration, a vicious cycle is created in which immune cytokines can stimulate release of glutamate, and glutamate in turn enhances cytokine production and release. Moreover, cytokines inhibit glutamate transporters, which play a critical role in removal of excess extracellular glutamate. Intimately linked to excitotoxicity is the generation of destructive free radicals, especially the reactive nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite and nitrosoperoxycarbonate. Much of the injury to dendrites, synapses and neurons, by both cytokines and excitotoxicity, is caused by free radicals. The Role of Vaccines, page 49 Read more: http://www.jpands.org/vol9no2/blaylock.pdf Entropy 2012, 14(8), 1399-1442; doi:10.3390/e14081399 Review The Initial Common Pathway of Inflammation, Disease, and Sudden Death Robert M. Davidson 1,* and Stephanie Seneff Abstract: In reviewing the literature pertaining to interfacial water, colloidal stability, and cell membrane function, we are led to propose that a cascade of events that begins with acute exogenous surfactant-induced interfacial water stress can explain the etiology of sudden death syndrome (SDS), as well as many other diseases associated with modern times. A systemic lowering of serum zeta potential mediated by exogenous cationic surfactant administration is the common underlying pathophysiology. The cascade leads to subsequent inflammation, serum sickness, thrombohemorrhagic phenomena, colloidal instability, and ultimately even death. We propose that a sufficient precondition for sudden death is lowered bioavailability of certain endogenous sterol sulfates, sulfated glycolipids, and sulfated glycosaminoglycans, which are essential in maintaining biological equipose, energy metabolism, membrane function, and thermodynamic stability in living organisms. Our literature review provides the basis for the presentation of a novel hypothesis as to the origin of endogenous bio-sulfates which involves energy transduction from sunlight. Our hypothesis is amply supported by a growing body of data showing that parenteral administration of substances that lower serum zeta potential results in kosmotropic cationic and/or chaotropic anionic interfacial water stress, and the resulting cascade.
http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/8/1399 (Also view full text from that link by clicking full study) Warning to Pregnant Mothers - Toxic Dose of Aluminum in the Tdap, Pediatrician Paul Thomas (same video as at the top of page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoY6vXEMsU8 Aluminum in Vaccines | A Pediatricians Warning To All Parents (same video as at the bottom of page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee70I5bm3-k The Initial Common Pathway of Inflammation, Disease, and Sudden Death, (full study source) Pay particular attention to reading pages, Page 414-415 in regard to vaccine aluminum adjuvants, and as well pages 419-420 in regard to Gardasil. Excerpted: Page 414-415 The respiratory and auditory centers [218,219] in the brainstem are vulnerable to microvascular ischemic stress. So too is the pancreas [220–225]. Watershed and terminal vascular distributions are particularly susceptible to microvascular ischemic stress [223–225]. These vascular distributions would be predicted to be highly susceptible to pathologic inflammatory stimulation and thrombohemorrhagic phenomena [3] induced by zeta potential-lowering and interfacial water stress-inducing properties of cationic kosmotropic electrolytes and polyelectrolyte surfactants. Dr Mohammed Al-Bayati’s histopathologic analyses of SIDS [220–222] and so-called Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) victims [226] are most informative. Al-Bayati’s work provides strong support for the view that microvascular ischemia plays a central role in the pathophysiology of SIDS and, by inference, all SDS events [220–222]. Surfactant induced water stress [29,40,43,45,54,174,178,211,212] especially that associated with polycationic surfactants, is an important determinant of risk. Risk factors for SDS are synergistic and cumulative. Expressed most simply, anything that perturbs the ZP toward less negative values and/or induces cationic kosmotropic or anionic chaotropic water stress represents a step in the direction of enzyme inhibition, protein dysfunction, cellular dysfunction, flocculation, gelation, coagulation, microvascular ischemia, cellular anoxia, infarction, and death. Transcytosis, both endocytosis and exocytosis, membrane potentials [219,227], and ion channels are all profoundly disrupted by polycationic surfactants [31,89,228–231]. A very relevant example is aluminum (Al3+), a kosmotropic trivalent cation, which is a potent and irreversible blocker of voltage activated calcium channels in mammalian neurons [31,228]. CaATPase, protein kinase C and calmodulin (CaM) are biological systems known to be disrupted by aluminum [37,87,178,232]. Another very relevant
example is mercury (Hg2+), a kosmotropic divalent cation. It has been shown in infant monkeys that the ethylmercury in thimerosal is more readily stored as inorganic mercury (Hg2+) in the brain than is orally-delivered ethylmercury and that inorganic mercury tends to linger longer in the tissues [231]. Thus, the sudden death syndrome can now be defined as an acute disruption of the colloidal stability of the vascular system, which triggers a cascade of events [97–100,229,230] leading to death, whenever compensatory mechanisms to maintain colloidal stability of the blood are insufficient. If compensatory mechanisms are sufficient, the cascade can instead lead to a new equilibrium. Mucopolysaccharides, also known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), contribute to the inflammatory state of the Shwartzman phenomenon [233–236]. Upon exposure to systemic stress, increases in sulfomucopolysaccharide incorporation occur throughout the body, and this is designated as the “universal nonspecific mesenchymal reaction” [3]. Gardasil Page 419-420 2.9. Acute Shock and Role of Endothelial NOS-derived NO in SDS Anaphylactic shock is a sudden, life-threatening allergic reaction associated with severe hypotension. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is implicated in the cardiovascular dysfunctions occurring in various shock syndromes, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock is especially associated with quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which contains aluminum hydroxide. Based on the number of confirmed cases, the estimated rate of anaphylaxis following quadrivalent HPV vaccine was significantly higher than identified in comparable school-based delivery of other vaccines [282]. In this review, we have described several of the adverse biophysical properties associated with cationic surfactants, Al3+ salts, and non-ionic surfactants. The U.S. CDC VAERS database provides considerable evidence of life threatening anaphylactic shock and anaphylactoid events associated with HPV vaccine, as well as with all of the aluminum (3+) containing vaccines, some of which resulted in sudden death. The U.S. CDC Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary states, “Excipients are inactive ingredients of a drug product necessary for production of a finished pharmaceutical formulation.” In the February 2012 update, the CDC disclosed that excipients in U.S. HPV vaccine include amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, polysorbate 80, and sodium borate (from the manufacturer’s package insert of March, 2011). The relevance to SDS is apparent from reports of unexplained deaths of some women attributed to HPV vaccines in the CDC VAERS database, some of which were described variably as death during sleep or while bathing. A reasonable question should be raised as to the purported safety and alleged biologic inactivity of the ingredients in the HPV vaccine, particularly aluminum,
polysorbate 80, and sodium borate. Moreover, a further reasonable question should be Entropy 2012, 14 1420 raised as to the purported safety and alleged biologic inactivity of all of the aluminum and polysorbate 80 containing vaccines. This question may be further explored by analysis of the CDC VAERS database. For example, CDC VAERS report ID: 337242 states “my daughter had her 3rd GARDASIL vaccine in Sept. She was a very healthy young lady, she went to take a shower and died. Autopsy report states undermined [undetermined] death. There was no sign of trauma to the body to indicate a fall. She had pointed the shower head away from her and she got down on her knees and put her head on the edge of the tub and passed away.” Sources: http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/8/1399 http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/Entropy/Entropy1_downloaded.pdf Stephanie Seneff http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/pers/hy/s/Seneff:Stephanie.html Gardasil: New Study Brings More Safety Questions to Light By Norma Erickson, President Excerpts: Why were HPV-16 L1 DNA fragments detected in post mortem samples taken six months after Gardasil vaccination and not the other vaccine-relevant types? Dr. Sin Hang Lee, of Milford Hospital and Milford Molecular Laboratory, may have provided an answer in his most recently published paper entitled, Topological conformational changes of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA bound to an insoluble aluminum salt – A study by low temperature PCR.[1] His findings suggest that non-B-conformational changes in HPV L1 gene DNA fragments bound to the AAHS adjuvant may be genotype related, in other words specific to HPV-16. In September 2011, SaneVax Inc. informed the FDA that despite all claims stating Gardasil contained ‘no viral DNA’ Dr. Lee had discovered there were indeed fragments of HPV-11, HPV-16 and HPV-18 L1 DNA firmly attached to Merck’s proprietary aluminum adjuvant in 100% of the samples he tested, but all were lacking a region amplifiable by an MY09 degenerate primer.[2] The FDA was quick to confirm that Gardasil does contain residual HPV L1 gene DNA fragments,[3] but that these fragments posed no health risk. The FDA completely ignored a request for further investigations put forth by the SaneVax Team.[4] In light of the FDA statement corroborating Dr. Lee’s previous findings, the presence of HPV DNA fragments of vaccine origin in the bodies of recipients might be anticipated after intramuscular injections of Gardasil. However, finding HPV-16 L1 DNA fragments in post-mortem blood samples of a teenager who died six months after completion of 3 Gardasil injections without
finding any other vaccine-relevant fragments was a surprise.[5] Obviously, further investigations were necessary. At the request of SaneVax Inc., Dr. Lee agreed to use PCR amplification followed by direct DNA sequencing to try and determine what was going on. What he discovered is stated clearly in the conclusion of the above referenced paper. It says: Where does this leave the average medical consumer? Unfortunately, it leaves them with the following unanswered questions: Once injected, how long will the HPV-16 L1 DNA fragments attached to aluminum remain in my body? Are the non-B conformation HPV fragments in Gardasil potentially harmful? Will the non-B conformation DNA fragments in Gardasil induce autoimmune disorders? Will the non-B conformation DNA get integrated in the genome causing mutagenesis and/or cancer? The scientific community needs to investigate these potential risks immediately. Medical consumers need to know the risks as well as any potential benefits before they decide if Gardasil is right for them. In the interest of public health and safety, the FDA needs to rescind approval for Gardasil until satisfactory answers are provided to the four questions above. The time for poke and hope is long since passed. Medical consumers need proof this vaccine is safe. Read more: http://sanevax.org/gardasil-new-study-brings-more-safety-questions-to-light/ Death after Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination: Causal or Coincidental? Conclusions: Our study suggests that HPV vaccines containing HPV-16L1 antigens pose an inherent risk for triggering potentially fatal autoimmune vasculopathies. http://www.rescuepost.com/files/ltshaw-death-after-quadrivalent-hpvvaccination-pharma-reg-affairs-2012.pdf The Potential Significance of Aluminum/DNA Compounds in Gardasil on Health http://sanevax.org/the-potential-significance-of-aluminumdna-compounds-ingardasil-on-health/ The persistence of HPV DNA fragments and adverse effects in HPV shot
recipients http://www.examiner.com/article/the-persistence-of-hpv-dna-fragments-andadverse-effects-hpv-shot-recipients Gardasil: Are you paying for your own bullet? The temperature of the heated controversy concerning Gardasil was recently raised even more when Dr. Bernhard Dalbergue (France), former pharmaceutical industry physician with Merck, recently predicted that the vaccine will become the greatest medical scandal of all times. In an interview in the April 2014 issue (no. 66) of the magazine Principes de Santé (Health Principles), Dr. Dalbergue, who has worked for over twenty years with the industry, describes the widespread corruption and his concern that the health of patients is sacrificed on the altar of profitability. Dr. Dalbergue stated: I predict that Gardasil will become the greatest medical scandal of all times because at some point in time, the evidence will add up to prove that this vaccine has absolutely no effect on cervical cancer and that all the very many adverse effects which destroy lives and even kill, serve no other purpose than to generate profit for the manufacturers. According to Dr. Dalbergue the pharmaceutical industry has hardened considerably during the last decade, as shown by increased violations of ethics, manipulation of clinical trial data, widespread corruption, gross conflicts of interest and generally less emphasis on pharmacovigilance. Read more: http://sanevax.org/gardasil-paying-for-your-own-bullet/ Why is neurotoxic aluminum in vaccines, (Over 600 mcg in all three shots of Gardasil. The brand name Cervarix now showing equally as harmful, with its new APo4 adjuvant). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervarix Excerpt: Aluminum hydroxide is a neurotoxic poison This form of aluminum is a protoplasmic poison and a potent neurotoxin that is completely unnatural to the biochemical process of any life form on earth. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that aluminum is now being implicated as interfering with a variety of cellular and metabolic processes in the nervous system and other tissues. Aluminum toxicity is known to cause encepthalitis, bone disease and anemia. “Aluminum hydroxide is used in vaccines to increase the body’s production of antibodies, though no one knows how it works,” says Purdue researcher Stanley Hem, professor of industrial and physical pharmacy.
Antigens are protein molecules that stimulate the immune system. Antibodies are protein molecules made by the immune system to defend against foreign substances. In the 1930’s, vaccine researchers tested a number of ingredients to see what would effectively bring antigens into the body so the immune system of the individual would produce antibodies. Aluminum was proved to be an effective adjuvant or substance that irritates the immune system and causes antibody production. Read more: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/vaccine_dangers/toxic_aluminum.html Gardasil-The Real Truth http://www.vacfacts.info/gardasil---the-real-truth.html 09 Andrew Moulden En 07 de 11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hUOVChsJ9w 09 Andrew Moulden En 06 de 11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58KLLm1q0_Y Vaccination toxicity: The Zeta phase of MASS and “blood sludging” http://www.vacfacts.info/vaccination-toxicity-the-zeta-phase-of-mass-andldquoblood-sludgingrdquo.html TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR ALUMINUM http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp22.pdf ---------------Crit Rev Toxicol. 2014 Oct;44 Suppl 4:1-80. doi: 10.3109/10408444.2014.934439. Systematic review of potential health risks posed by pharmaceutical, occupational and consumer exposures to metallic and nanoscale aluminum, aluminumoxides, aluminum hydroxide and its soluble salts. Willhite CC1, Karyakina NA, Yokel RA, Yenugadhati N, Wisniewski TM, Arnold IM, Momoli F, Krewski D. Abstract Abstract Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al.
(2007) . Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of "total Al"assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al(+3) to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2) (H2O4)(+2) and Al(H2O)6 (+3)] that after complexation with O2(•-), generate Al superoxides [Al(O2(•))](H2O5)](+2). Semireduced AlO2(•) radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 (•-) and OH(•). Thus, it is the Al(+3)-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25233067 Immunotherapy. 2014;6(10):1055-71. doi: 10.2217/imt.14.81. Are there negative CNS impacts of aluminum adjuvants used in vaccines and immunotherapy? Shaw CA1, Li D, Tomljenovic L. Abstract In spite of a common view that aluminum (Al) salts are inert and therefore
harmless as vaccine adjuvants or in immunotherapy, the reality is quite different. In the following article we briefly review the literature on Al neurotoxicity and the use of Al salts as vaccine adjuvants and consider not only direct toxic actions on the nervous system, but also the potential impact for triggering autoimmunity. Autoimmune and inflammatory responses affecting the CNS appear to underlie some forms of neurological disease, including developmental disorders. Al has been demonstrated to impact the CNS at every level, including by changing gene expression. These outcomes should raise concerns about the increasing use of Al salts as vaccine adjuvants and for the application as more general immune stimulants. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25428645 Biotech Histochem. 2015 Feb;90(2):132-9. doi: 10.3109/10520295.2014.965277. Epub 2014 Oct 14. A histological study of toxic effects of aluminium sulfate on rat hippocampus. Çabuş N1, Oğuz EO, Tufan AÇ, Adıgüzel E. Abstract Aluminium has toxic effects on many organ systems of the human body. Aluminium toxicity also is a factor in many neurodegenerative diseases. We investigated changes in numbers of hippocampal neurons in rats exposed to aluminium using an optical fractionator and we investigated aluminiuminduced apoptosis using the transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Twenty-four female rats were divided equally into control, sham and aluminium-exposed groups. The control group received no treatment. The two treatment groups were injected intraperitoneally with 1 ml 0.9% saline without (sham) and with 3 mg/ml aluminium sulfate every day for two weeks. Following the treatments, the brains were removed, the left hemisphere was used for hippocampal neuron counting using an optical fractionator and the right hemisphere was investigated using hippocampal TUNEL assay to determine the apoptotic index. The number of neurons in the stratum pyramidale of the hippocampus was significantly less in the aluminium group than in the control and sham groups; there was no significant difference between the control and sham groups. The apoptotic index also was significantly higher in the aluminium group than in the other two groups. We quantified the toxic effects of aluminium on the rat hippocampus and determined that apoptosis was the mechanism of aluminium-induced neuron death in the hippocampus. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25314162 Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2011 Mar 8;2011:276393. doi: 10.4061/2011/276393. Link between Aluminum and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease: The Integration of the Aluminum and Amyloid Cascade Hypotheses. Kawahara M1, Kato-Negishi M. Abstract Whilst being environmentally abundant, aluminum is not essential for life. On
the contrary, aluminum is a widely recognized neurotoxin that inhibits more than 200 biologically important functions and causes various adverse effects in plants, animals, and humans. The relationship between aluminum exposure and neurodegenerative diseases, including dialysis encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism dementia in the Kii Peninsula and Guam, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been suggested. In particular, the link between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease has been the subject of scientific debate for several decades. However, the complex characteristics of aluminum bioavailability make it difficult to evaluate its toxicity and therefore, the relationship remains to be established. Mounting evidence has suggested that significance of oligomerization of β-amyloid protein and neurotoxicity in the molecular mechanism of AD pathogenesis. Aluminum may play crucial roles as a cross-linker in β-amyloid oligomerization. Here, we review the detailed characteristics of aluminum neurotoxicity based on our own studies and the recent literatures. Our aim is to revisit the link between aluminum and AD and to integrate aluminum and amyloid cascade hypotheses in the context of β-amyloid oligomerization and the interactions with other metals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21423554 J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2012 Oct;26(4):291-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.02.005. Epub 2012 Mar 15. Aluminium overload after 5 years in skin biopsy following postvaccination with subcutaneous pseudolymphoma. Guillard O1, Fauconneau B, Pineau A, Marrauld A, Bellocq JP, Chenard MP. Abstract Aluminium hydroxide is used as an effective adjuvant in a wide range of vaccines for enhancing immune response to the antigen. The pathogenic role of aluminium hydroxide is now recognized by the presence of chronic fatigue syndrome, macrophagic myofasciitis and subcutaneous pseudolymphoma, linked to intramuscular injection of aluminium hydroxide-containing vaccines. The aim of this study is to verify if the subcutaneous pseudolymphoma observed in this patient in the site of vaccine injection is linked to an aluminium overload. Many years after vaccination, a subcutaneous nodule was discovered in a 45-year-old woman with subcutaneous pseudolymphoma. In skin biopsy at the injection site for vaccines, aluminium (Al) deposits are assessed by Morin stain and quantification of Al is performed by Zeeman Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Morin stain shows Al deposits in the macrophages, and Al assays (in μg/g, dry weight) were 768.10±18 for the patient compared with the two control patients, 5.61±0.59 and 9.13±0.057. Given the pathology of this patient and the high Al concentration in skin biopsy, the authors wish to draw attention when using the Al salts known to be particularly effective asadjuvants in single or repeated vaccinations. The possible release of Al may induce other pathologies ascribed to the well-known toxicity of this metal. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22425036
---------------Etiology: An Editorial on the Prevention of Communication Disorders Excerpt: In the field of communication disorders, perhaps the most neglected area in the scope of practice of speech-language pathologists and audiologists is prevention [5]. Yet to prevent disorders it is necessary first and foremost to seek out their causes. Let this editorial serve as a call for papers seeking out causes with a view toward prevention. The work can be guided in part, at least, by the sure knowledge that all disorders, disease conditions, and even death itself involve breakdowns in the biological control systems that enable health and well-being. Understanding the disruptive factors that cause such breakdowns [6] will go a long way toward enabling their prevention. Also we know now for a certainty that certain environmental toxins are causally involved [7]. http://www.esciencecentral.org/journals/etiology-an-editorial-on-theprevention-of-communication-disorders-JCDSHA.e101.php?aid=15245 Michigan doctor reveals plan to stop autism April is National Autism Awareness Month and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now estimates that one in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The rates have increased 30% since the reported estimate of one in 88 two years ago. The rate was one in 10,000 in 1970. A physician, Dr. Marvin Anderson, has been treating children with ASD in his clinic at Abba’s Place since 2009. He has written a book entitled Autism Prevention, Care and Management. In his book, Dr. Anderson describes his experiences helping children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and he proposes a positive and hopeful solution to ending the autism epidemic that is spreading throughout the world. His treatment for ASD and ADHD is primarily directed to the digestive tract, including the liver. Animal studies have shown an intriguing connection between inflammation in the intestinal tract and inflammation in the brain. Autism also can involve impairments in the body’s detoxification pathways. Dr. Anderson’s program includes identifying contaminants that are present in his patients and creating a detoxification plan for their safe and efficient removal. Inflammation elsewhere in the body, including the brain, is also addressed. An important part of this plan involves care of the liver using the principles of liver cleansing advanced by Dr. Sandra Cabot in her best-selling book, The Liver Cleansing Diet. Dr. Anderson has discussed his plan for ending the autism epidemic in detail with state of Michigan Representative Ray Franz. The plan consists of enacting three laws by the state legislature. I. Require that all newborn infants receive an autism prevention screening test prior to receiving any vaccinations. The “one size fits all” approach to
vaccinations is no longer working. According to Dr. Gregory Poland et al. in Vaccinomics and Personalized Vaccinology, included in the 2012 Jordan Report, Accelerated development of vaccines, “...significant individual variation exists in risk of adverse events and in immune response to a given vaccine. Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/michigan-doctor-reveals-plan-to-stop-autism THE BOOK: Autism Prevention Care and Management Written by a physician with 10 year’s experience caring for children with this calamity – summarizes the problem and solution to the epidemic of autism that is spreading throughout the world. http://www.autismatabbasplace.com/book.html Phenotypic expression of autoimmune autistic disorder (AAD): A major subset of autism Vijendra K. Singh, PhD Brain State International Research Center, Scottsdale, AZ, USA BACKGROUND: Autism causes incapacitating neurologic problems in children that last a lifetime. The author of this article previously hypothesized that autism may be caused by autoimmunity to the brain, possibly triggered by a viral infection. This article is a summary of laboratory findings to date plus new data in support of an autoimmune pathogenesis for autism. METHODS: Autoimmune markers were analyzed in the sera of autistic and normal children, but the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of some autistic children was also analyzed. Laboratory procedures included enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and protein immunoblotting assay. RESULTS: Autoimmunity was demonstrated by the presence of brain autoantibodies, abnormal viral serology, brain and viral antibodies in CSF, a positive correlation between brain autoantibodies and viral serology, elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute-phase reactants, and a positive response to immunotherapy. Many autistic children harbored brain myelin basic protein autoantibodies and elevated levels of antibodies to measles virus and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Measles might be etiologically linked to autism because measles and MMR antibodies (a viral marker) correlated positively to brain autoantibodies (an autoimmune marker) —salient features that characterize autoimmune pathology in autism. Autistic children also showed elevated levels of acute-phase reactants—a marker of systemic inflammation. CONCLUSION: The scientific evidence is quite credible for our autoimmune hypothesis, leading to the identification of autoimmune autistic disorder (AAD) as a major subset of autism. AAD can be identified by immune tests to
determine immune problems before administering immunotherapy. The author has advanced a speculative neuroautoimmune (NAI) model for autism, in which virus-induced autoimmunity is a key player. The latter should be targeted by immunotherapy to help children with autism. https://www.aacp.com/Pages.asp?AID=7937 Is Encephalopathy a Mechanism to Renew Sulfate in Autism? Stephanie Seneff 1,*, Ann Lauritzen 2 , Robert M. Davidson 3 and Laurie Lentz-Marino 4 Entropy; Jan2013, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p372 ABSTRACT This paper makes two claims: (1) autism can be characterized as a chronic lowgrade encephalopathy, associated with excess exposure to nitric oxide, ammonia and glutamate in the central nervous system, which leads to hippocampal pathologies and resulting cognitive impairment, and (2), encephalitis is provoked by a systemic deficiency in sulfate, but associated seizures and fever support sulfate restoration. We argue that impaired synthesis of cholesterol sulfate in the skin and red blood cells, catalyzed by sunlight and nitric oxide synthase enzymes, creates a state of colloidal instability in the blood manifested as a low zeta potential and increased interfacial stress. Encephalitis, while life-threatening, can result in partial renewal of sulfate supply, promoting uronal survival. Research is cited showing how taurine may not only help protect neurons from hypochlorite exposure, but also provide a source for sulfate renewal. Several environmental factors can synergistically promote the encephalopathy of autism, including the herbicide, glyphosate, aluminum, mercury, lead, nutritional deficiencies in thiamine and zinc, and yeast overgrowth due to excess dietary sugar. Given these facts, dietary and lifestyle changes, including increased sulfur ingestion, organic whole foods, increased sun exposure, and avoidance of toxins such as aluminum, mercury, and lead, may help to alleviate symptoms or, in some instances, to prevent autism altogether. http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/15/1/372 Autism: A neuroepigenetic disorder, By Richard C. Deth, PhD http://www.autismone.org/sites/default/files/Deth_ASD03.pdf Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure Stephanie Seneff, Robert M. Davidson, and Jingjing Liu http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/11/2227 http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/Entropy/entropy-14-02227.pdf GLUTATHIONE Scientific Research Our findings suggest that acetaminophen administration selectively depletes
(within 2 hr) mitochondrial glutathione, and produces local toxicity by altering membrane permeability and decreasing the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. This renders mitochondria more susceptible to oxidative damage… PMID: 8937421 http://www.readisorb.com/science/glutathione_scientific_researc.html Biochem Pharmacol. 1996 Oct 25;52(8):1147-54. Effect of acetaminophen administration on hepatic glutathione compartmentation and mitochondrial energy metabolism in the rat. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8937421 Scientific Research, 2nd Page http://www.readisorb.com/science/ Tim Guilford, MD Glutathione in Health and Disease http://www.svhi.com/newsletters/2005/slf-122005.pdf Glutathione http://www.readisorb.com/ Glutathione, Tylenol, Vaccine Adverse Reactions, and ASD http://www.vacfacts.info/glutathione-tylenol-vaccine-adverse-reactions-andasd.html Neurodegenerative Diseases: Neurotoxins as Sufficient Etiologic Agents? Christopher A. Shaw and Günter U. Höglinger http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2814816/ Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Analysis of neurological disease in four dimensions: insight from ALSPDC epidemiology and animal models The causal factor(s) responsible for sporadic neurological diseases are unknown and the stages of disease progression remain undefined and poorly understood. We have developed an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism dementia complex which mimics all the essential features of the disease with the initial neurological insult arising from neurotoxins contained in washed cycad seeds. Animals fed washed cycad develop deficits in motor, cognitive, and sensory behaviors that correlate with the loss of neurons in specific regions of the central nervous system. The ability to recreate the disease by exposure to cycad allows us to extend the model in multiple dimensions by analyzing behavioral, cellular, and biochemical changes over time. In addition, the ability to induce toxin-based neurodegeneration allows us to probe the interactions between genetic and epigenetic factors. Our results show that the impact of both genetic causal and susceptibility factors with the cycad neurotoxins are complex. The article describes the features of the model and suggests ways that our
understanding of cycad-induced neurodegeneration can be used to decipher and identify the early events in various human neurological diseases. http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/yadda/element/bwmeta1.element.elsevier-a4f127e40c75-3f6d-bb32-9406a3136a76 And to realize that in any of the studies that the CDC has considered as to vaccine toxicity, none of that has been studied, and nor as well has any basic physiological science like this been addressed nor even acknowledged. They are yet by CHOICE, in the dark ages, as to their known and accepted knowledge, and of the human body, and its immune system Dr Blaylock, a Board-certified neurosurgeon, Visiting Professor of Biology at Belhaven College, Jackson, Mississippi, and member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (JANA), is the author of three books on excitotoxicity: Excitoxicity: the taste that kills, Health and nutrition secrets, and Natural strategies for cancer patients. EXCITOTOXICITY: A POSSIBLE CENTRAL MECHANISM IN FLUORIDE NEUROTOXICITY, (the fluoride and aluminum connection) by Russell L Blaylocka, Ridgeland, MS, USA SUMMARY: Recent evidence indicates that fluoride produces neuronal destruction and synaptic injury by a mechanism that involves free radical production and lipid peroxidation. For a number of pathological disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), excitotoxicity plays a critical role. Various studies have shown that many of the neurotoxic metals, such as mercury, lead, aluminum, and iron also injure neural elements in the CNS by an excitotoxic mechanism. Free radical generation and lipid peroxidation, especially in the face of hypomagnesemia and low neuronal energy production, also magnify excitotoxic sensitivity of neurons and their elements. This paper reviews briefly some of the studies that point to a common mechanism for the CNS neurotoxic effects of fluoride and calls for research directed toward further elucidation of this mechanism. http://www.fluorideresearch.org/374/files/374301-314.pdf Dr Andrew Wakefield Defends His Research, (a quite lengthy video, but puts the TRUTH front and center, all of it). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6DuBR_xGQg Vaccine Safety Conference Session 15 Dr. Andrew Wakefield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ei0QSvKdgw http://www.vaccinesafetyconference.com/videos.html#WakefieldVideo Selective Hearing: Brian Deer and the GMC http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/selective-hearing-brian-deer-and-the-gmc/ Research References, (endless, and all of it is ignored by the CDC) http://www.callous-disregard.com/research.htm
Dr Andrew Wakefield - MMR Vaccine - Truth and Reality http://www.vacfacts.info/dr-andrew-wakefield---mmr-vaccine---truth-and-reality.html
-----------Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume 280, Issues 1–2, 15 May 2009, Pages 101–108 Biomarkers of environmental toxicity and susceptibility in autism
Abstract Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may result from a combination of genetic/biochemical susceptibilities in the form of a reduced ability to excrete mercury and/or increased environmental exposure at key developmental times. Urinary porphyrins and transsulfuration metabolites in participants diagnosed with an ASD were examined. A prospective, blinded study was undertaken to evaluate a cohort of 28 participants with an ASD diagnosis for Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores, urinary porphyrins, and transsulfuration metabolites. Testing was conducted using Vitamin Diagnostics, Inc. (CLIA-approved) and Laboratoire Philippe Auguste (ISOapproved). Participants with severe ASDs had significantly increased mercury intoxication-associated urinary porphyrins (pentacarboxyporphyrin, precoproporphyrin, and coproporphyrin) in comparison to participants with mild ASDs, whereas other urinary porphyrins were similar in both groups. Significantly decreased plasma levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), cysteine, and sulfate were observed among study participants relative to controls. In contrast, study participants had significantly increased plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG) relative to controls. Mercury intoxication-associated urinary porphyrins were significantly correlated with increasing CARS scores and GSSG levels, whereas other urinary porphyrins did not show these relationships. The urinary porphyrin and CARS score correlations observed among study participants suggest that mercury intoxication is significantly associated with autistic symptoms. The transsulfuration abnormalities observed among study participants indicate that mercury intoxication was associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased detoxification capacity. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022510X08004310 Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism
Context Impaired mitochondrial function may influence processes highly dependent on energy, such as neurodevelopment, and contribute to autism. No studies have evaluated mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) abnormalities in a well-defined population of children with autism. Main Outcome Measures Oxidative phosphorylation capacity, mtDNA copy number and deletions, mitochondrial rate of hydrogen peroxide production, and plasma lactate and pyruvate. Conclusion In this exploratory study, children with autism were more likely to have mitochondrial dysfunction, mtDNA overreplication, and mtDNA deletions
than typically developing children. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive or severely restricted activities and interests.1 Limited scientific advances have been made regarding the causes of autism, with general agreement that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this disorder. Some reports have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction and altered energy metabolism may influence the social and cognitive deficits in autism24; however, most reports involved only 1 or a few isolated cases.2,5 A schoolbased study of 69 children aged 10 to 14 years with confirmed autism or ASD found mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction in 7.2%.4 Considering the limitations of elevated lactate-to-pyruvate ratios and the bias toward skeletal muscle disturbances in the study sample, some cases were likely overlooked, and the incidence in the affected population could actually be higher than reported. To our knowledge, there are no systematic studies aimed at investigating changes in mitochondrial function, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, mtDNA deletions, and oxidative stress in children with autism who have been clinically well defined. Mitochondrial function in disease often has been investigated in muscle biopsies6; however, the detection of mitochondrial defects in readily available cells from body fluids (lymphocytes and platelets7) would be valuable under the assumption that many such defects may not be confined to muscle or the brain, tissues in which mitochondrial diseases are most strongly evident. Considering that the energy requirement for lymphocytes is derived almost equally from glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation,8 we tested the hypothesis that children with full syndrome autism have dysfunctional mitochondria in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Objective To evaluate mitochondrial defects in children with autism. Read more: http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/304/21/2389.abstract Unvaccinated Children Will Be Healthiest Among Future Generations Studies and Surveys Predict http://www.fhfn.org/unvaccinated-children-will-be-healthiest-among-future-generationsstudies-and-surveys-predict/ Vaccine Truth Informational Brochures:
Do not allow all of the vaccine-injured childrens injuries to be in vain. Educate others in honor of them. Be the Voice for those who don't have one. Do not be silent. You can inform other parents. We provide multiple free brochures you can give to educate other parents. Download and print them now. http://www.educate4theinjured.org/eric/4571993523 Educate Others: (Three brochures)
http://www.educate4theinjured.org/eric/4571993523#!brochures/cee5
CURRENT VACCINE SCHEDULE- 26 DOSES BEFORE THE 1ST YEAR OF LIFE. 49 DOSES BY AGE 6. Do you have your 49 doses? Nope, NEITHER DO I, OR HER OR HIM. Look around you. Who has had the 49 doses we give our children? OUR CHILDHOOD VACCINES HAVE ALREADY WANED! SINCE AROUND 90% OF ADULTS ARE CONSIDERED UNVACCINATED, WHY ARENT WE HAVING EPIDEMICS? Are so many vaccines safe? Is Aborted Fetal DNA in Vaccines Linked to Autism? The vaccine-autism connection was first hypothesized following the introduction of a new measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to the U.S. in 1979, with complete U.S. market share by 1983, and to the UK in 1988. Autism rates began to rise in the U.S. after 1979 and rose dramatically after 1983, and likewise rose in the UK after 1988, leading physicians to suspect a link. Initially, the measles component of this vaccine, MMR II, was suspected to be the culprit. Subsequent studies have also focused on the presence of mercury in vaccines, which incidentally, the MMR II vaccine did not contain. Those studies have largely ruled out the new measles portion of the MMR II or mercury as the environmental trigger for autism. However, the compelling temporal association between this new MMR vaccine and autism cannot be ignored or explained away. What has been ignored is the fact that this new MMR vaccine introduced the use of aborted fetal cells for vaccine production. At one point, as much as 94 percent of children in the U.S. and 98 percent of children in the UK were given this vaccine. Today, more than 23 vaccines are contaminated by the use of aborted fetal cells. There is no law that requires that consumers be informed that some vaccines are made using aborted fetal cells and contain residual aborted fetal DNA. While newer vaccines produced using aborted fetal cells do inform consumers, in their package inserts, that the vaccines contain contaminating DNA from the cell used to produce the vaccine, they do not identify the cells as being derived from electively aborted human fetuses. In other words, they tell you what is in the vaccine, but they don’t fully inform you where it came from. The earliest aborted fetal cell-produced vaccines such as Meruvax (rubella) and MMR II do not even inform consumers that the vaccines contain contaminating DNA from the cell used to produce them. Furthermore, it is unconscionable that the public-health risk of injecting our children with residual contaminating human aborted fetal DNA has been ignored. How could the contaminating aborted fetal DNA create problems? It creates the potential for autoimmune responses and/or inappropriate insertion into our own genomes through a process called recombination. There are groups researching the potential link between this DNA and autoimmune diseases such as juvenile (type I) diabetes, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Our organization, [3] Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute (SCPI), is focused on
studying the quantity, characteristics and genomic recombination of the aborted fetal DNA found in many of our vaccines. Read more: http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/1758/2/ http://media.wix.com/ugd/c2b39a_6c6beca3ffbb4c249b3bb66cb55eb307.pdf ------------------“Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical science's understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences. In our opinion, the possibility that vaccine benefits may have been overrated and the risk of potential adverse effects underestimated, has not been rigorously evaluated in the medical and scientific community” Aluminum vaccine adjuvants: are they safe? [Curr Med Chem. 2011] PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21568886 BE AWARE OF THE DELAYED REACTION! HOW LONG AFTER A VACCINE DO INJURIES OCCUR? IMMEDIATELY TO YEARS LATER. OFTEN 13-19 DAYS AFTER VACCINATION. YOU KNOW THE SCREAMS Arched back. Inconsolable crying. ENCEPHALITIS. BRAIN DAMAGE. Many parents do not recognize the link between vaccination and reaction or injury because often times the reaction is delayed until after the vaccine virus incubates. Almost a month after they get their shots. This takes up to and around 3-4 weeks after the child is injected to occur. WATCH YOUR BABY AROUND THE 2ND-3RD WEEK! KEEP THEM CLOSE TO YOU! COMFORT THEM IF THEY BECOME SICK. NO TYLENOL OR ADVIL. THIS HURTS THE DETOXIFICATION PROCESS AND PUTS YOUR BABY AT GREATER RISK FOR SEIZURES. "There is insufficient evidence to support routine vaccination of healthy
persons of any age. - Paul Frame, M.D., Journal of Family Practice" "My suspicion, which is shared by others in my profession, is that the nearly 10,000 SIDS deaths that occur in the United States each year are related to one or more of the vaccines that are routinely given children. The pertussis vaccine is the most likely villain, but it could also be one or more of the others." --Dr. Mendelsohn, M.D. "The evidence for indicting immunizations for SIDS is circumstantial, but compelling. However, the keepers of the keys to medical-research funds are not interested in researching this very important lead to the cause of an ongoing, and possibly preventable, tragedy. Anything that implies that immunizations are not the greatest medical advance in the history of public health is ignored or ridiculed. Can you imagine the economic and political import of discovering that immunizations are killing thousands of babies?" --Dr. Douglass M.D. Crib death was so infrequent in the prevaccine era that it was not even mentioned in the statistics, but it started to climb in the 1950s with the spread of mass vaccination against diseases of childhood. -Harris L.Coulter, PhD." Read more: http://media.wix.com/ugd/c2b39a_03f8aac260f54057bd33359c4ec6c03c.pdf Memorial to Victims of the Silent War ~ VACCINES ~ Cease for Peace! ~ Interviews with Sallie O. Elkordy http://billiontoddlermarchforsurvival.blogspot.com/ 5 Reasons Not To Get The Flu Shot: http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=12642 VRM: The Problem With Vaccines Part 4 – Primary Aspects of Vaccine Toxicity Affecting The Body http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=8787 -------------Review of Vaccine Induced Immune Overload and the Resulting Epidemics of Type 1 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, Emphasis on Explaining the Recent Accelerations in the Risk of Prediabetes and other Immune Mediated Diseases J Barthelow Classen MD 3637 Rockdale Road, Manchester, MD 21102, USA Abstract There has been an epidemic of inflammatory diseases that has paralleled the
epidemic on iatrogenic immune stimulation with vaccines. Extensive evidence links vaccine induced immune over load with the epidemic of type 1 diabetes. More recent data indicates that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other components of metabolic syndrome are highly associated with immunization and may be manifestations of the negative feedback loop of the immune system reacting to the immune overload. The epidemic of diabetes/prediabetes appears to be accelerating at a time when the prevalence of obesity has stabilized, indicating that the negative feedback system of the immune system has been over whelmed. The theory of vaccine induced immune overload can explain the key observations that have confounded many competing hypothesis. The current paper reviews the evidence that vaccine induced immune overload explains the disconnect between the increase in prediabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver at a time when the obesity epidemic is waning in children. http://www.vaccines.net/vaccine-induced-immune-overload.pdf Vaccine-induced immune overload now affects majority of US children, study finds. Read article here: http://www.thelibertybeacon.com/?p=21474 --------------------A Parent’s Primer: Vasculitis and Vaccines, (more inflammation problems, likely due to the aluminum adjuvants, this time its in the blood vessels) http://sanevax.org/a-parents-primer-vasculitis-and-vaccines/ How the aluminum adjuvants cause this said inflammation. J Immunol. 2008 Sep 15;181(6):3755-9. Cutting edge: alum adjuvant stimulates inflammatory dendritic cells through activation of the NALP3 inflammasome. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18768827 Hypothesis Neuro-inflammation, blood-brain barrier, seizures and autism http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/8/1/168 Research The NALP3 inflammasome is involved in neurotoxic prion peptide-induced microglial activation http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/9/1/73/abstract BRAIN’S IMMUNE SYSTEM TRIGGERED IN AUTISM, (and clueless of them there is of course no mention proposed causation nor vaccines, while sitting right on the smoking gun. Same findings though, without even a thought nor mention of causation ) http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/11_15a_04.html Ann Neurol. 2005 Jan;57(1):67-81. Neuroglial activation and
neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism. Vargas DL, Nascimbene C, Krishnan C, Zimmerman AW, Pardo CA. Source: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. http://www.neuro.jhmi.edu/neuroimmunopath/pdf/4%20Neuroglial %20activation%20and%20neuroinflammation%20in%20the%20brain%20of %20patients%20with%20autism.pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15546155 A couple more examples exist below. Nanomolar aluminum induces pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic gene expression in human brain cells in primary culture http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013405001182 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15961160 Microglial Activation and Increased Microglial Density Observed in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Autism www.anthro.ucsd.edu/faculty-staff/profiles/files/Morgan_2010.pdf http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632231000497X http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20674603 Microglial Activation and Increased Microglial Density Observed in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Autism, (with a list of other related studies) http://www.journalogy.net/Publication/35542161/microglial-activation-andincreased-microglial-density-observed-in-the-dorsolateral-prefrontal Immunity, neuroglia and neuroinflammation in autism http://www.journalogy.net/Publication/6149686/immunity-neuroglia-andneuroinflammation-in-autism Blood-brain barrier flux of aluminum, manganese, iron and other metals suspected to contribute to metal-induced neurodegeneration, (and they are injecting newborn infants with hepatitis B vaccine containing an aluminum adjuvant which is recklessly for profit insane) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17119290 Nanomaterials can be transported by monocyte-lineage cells to DLNs, blood and spleen, and, similarly to HIV, may use CCL2-dependent mechanisms to penetrate the brain. This occurs at a very low rate in normal conditions explaining good overall tolerance of alum despite its strong neurotoxic potential. However, continuously escalating doses of this poorly biodegradable adjuvant in the population may become insidiously unsafe, especially in the case of overimmunization or immature/altered blood brain barrier or high constitutive CCL-2 production. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23557144 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/11/99 Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and
Acetaminophen Exposure http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/Entropy/entropy-14-02227.pdf How much proof, and as well scientific study proof, would you and should you need? Nothing would be enough, is the attitude of those in the so called medical field and regulatory fields, (and with everything to lose, the truth be known). The Vaccine Truth-Facts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0y2t01mqvI WE DON'T VACCINATE! Myth And Reality Of Vaccination Campaigns (Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2cc5J7vlOg&feature=youtu.be 10 Facts Vaccine Companies Don't Want You to Know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yqtu9TRi7A The CDC has to know this. Yet, they're trying to make you believe that if you don't vaccinate your child you're endangering the health of other children. But nothing could be farther from the truth. All the science conducted by independent researchers shows that vaccines can harm your children and grandchildren. This is not some conspiracy theory; it's scientific fact. http://www.burtongoldberg.com/vaccines.html#.VSBgIDL5Viw.facebook Dr. Chris Shaw discusses the toxic side effects of Aluminum in Vaccines. Oct-21-2009
Department of Social Protection pursued a woman for €20,000, but she was actually owed €700 The incident was included as a case study in the Office of the Ombudsman’s annual report for 2016.
THE DEPARTMENT OF Social Protection wrote to a woman saying that she had been overpaid nearly €20,000, but she was in fact owed money. The woman received correspondence from her local Social Protection Office last year saying that an overpayment of €19,900 had been made to her. The woman was unaware of how this debt arose. She wrote to the office looking for an explanation but received no response. The woman then contacted the Office of the Ombudsman who told the Department to look into the woman’s query. The Department did this and discovered that the woman’s
application had not been processed properly. The woman’s income had been recalculated a number of times. The Department took into account the woman’s husband’s income but failed to take account of an illness that reduced this. In the end, the Department discovered that not only had there been no overpayment but that the woman was actually entitled to a refund of about €700.
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Annual report The incident was included as a case study in the Office of the Ombudsman’s annual report for 2016, which was launched today. The Ombudsman deals with complaints from people who feel they have been unfairly treated by certain public bodies – for example, government departments, local authorities and publicly funded third-level education institutions. Last year, the Ombudsman Peter Tyndall received a total of 3,067 complaints to his office (down slightly on last year). Over three-quarters of these were closed within three months and 96% were closed within 12 months. Close to 1,700 of the complaints were properly examined (the others were either discontinued, withdrawn, or outside the remit of the office). Of the case, almost a quarter (23%) were fully upheld and 4% were partially upheld. Some assistance was provided for one fifth of the examined complaints. Over half (54%) were not upheld. Speaking this morning on RTÉ’s Today With Seán O’Rourke, Peter Tyndall said the role of the Ombudsman was to give assistance to people who felt they had not been properly treated by the bodies of the state. He said that in nearly half of all examined complaints the complaint was either upheld or assistance was given to the individual involved. “It’s what we’d expect really,” said Tyndall. Most public bodies do a reasonable job most of the time but when they don’t we’re there to help put it right. Of the complaints received, over 35% had to do with government departments and offices. A total of 679 complaints were against the Department of Social Protection, 129 against the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 94 against the Revenue
Commissioners, and 67 against the Department of Justice and Equality. http://www.thejournal.ie/ombudsman-report-3418214May2017/?utm_source=facebook_short Regarding the news today from the ombudsman concerning the hounding of a woman for claims of overpayments by the department of social destruction... While we are all focussed on how infrequent cases of fraud happen, we must not forget the legal mechanisms that are in place to allow a state agency to hound a citizen under the presumption of guilt without a requirement to prove her guilt in the first place. It seems it has become socially acceptable to treat citizens with suchcontempt for merely claiming a benefit that they are entitled to. It's as if once you sign on, your rights as a citizen are massively curtailed. Your right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty is taken away to the point that the citizen needs a ombudsman to carry out the very investigation that the department should have carried out before they even begun contacting the citizen in the first place. While receiving her €700 entitlement, that lady should use it to sue the state for being treated as a criminal without any proof. I am quite sure the stress of being hounded like a criminal must have taken its toll.
Over twenty years ago I was broke, ignorant and desperate. Dumb too. On multiple levels. A kid. But by then I had a real kid of my own. A boy. And when we brought him home from the hospital and lay him on the bed of my bedsit I decided he'd never lie on that damn bed again. It was time for something bold. Audacious. Drastic. And when you have no formal education, no experience, and no way of getting in the front door of anywhere, you learn to prize open the back doors. I was being investigated by the welfare. Nothing personal. They were doing it to everybody. Still horrible. They arranged for a meeting the following month where I would explain to them what it was I was doing to get off the dole. I knew nothing about anything except a little about movies. And television. And nothing about soap opera. Fair City was a long running soap opera. Still is. Incredibly successful. Some may say incomprehensibly. To each their own. But this soap opera is made by the national broadcaster, RTE, which means they have a duty to respond to whoever contacts them. Which means they were willing to audition a completely unknown lunatic
looking to do something drastic to get his boy off a dodgy mattress in a dodgy bedsit. I called the producer. This was a time when people answered their own phones. No buffers. He agreed to meet. It wasn't verified but we penciled in a bank holiday Monday a few weeks away. That day arrived and I called the number. The producer wasn't there. Understandably so. I decided to leave a message to say we had made an obvious mistake and could he call back tomorrow to arrange a more suitable time. That's what I decided to say. But somehow the words that came out were essentially go fuck yourself. Told you I was dumb. Game over. Couple of days later I get a call on the coinbox in the hallway. It's the producer's assistant. Would I come in and audition for the show. Game on. I'd never been in the RTE canteen before. This was not my world. But I kept thinking of that beautiful bastard on that bedsit mattress. My world wasn't working. I had arrived two hours early. Scared I'd miss it. Walked out to Montrose from town. Stomach sick. Found the entrance to the Fair City lot and peered through the tiny opening in the doorway. Saw a long line of actors. Waiting. Rehearsing. Vogueing. The acting community was small back then. Tight. Incestuous. I bolted. Back to the canteen. The bathroom. Puked up a breakfast I'd never eaten. Just tell the missus it's done. Pretend it already happened. Slip out of the canteen back into town. Away from RTE. Forever. Then I thought of the kid. On the bed. In the bedsit. Bastard. Without looking up from her schedule a bored woman gave me some pages with words from a scene. Sides she called them. Told me to take a seat. But all the seats were taken. And all the takers were looking up at me. Recognised some of them too. Some were big shots. Some were medium shots. No one knew me. The virgin in the whorehouse. I read the words on the pages. It was an angry scene. A threatening scene. A soap opera scene. I needed to puke again but focused on the sounds coming from the audition room instead. I read the words on the page as the actors played them inside. They were really going for it. No prisoners. Balls out. Nine on the richter scale.
It came to my turn. I told the others to go ahead. One by one they all went inside and one by one they got to the fractious part of the scene where the two characters go toe-to-toe. Everybody raised their voice on the big lines. Angry. Macho. Hate. The threat delivered. The bloke reading in for the other character was getting more confident with each reading. He was loving this shit. His day to show just how good he was. Cock-blocking the other actors. Same beats every time. Same reactions. Same everything. Eventually nobody was left. Just me. The bored woman looked at me. Time. There was a surprising number of people in the studio. Good sized crew. Lights. Decent camera. Proper sound. Real playback monitor. More than an audition. A screen test. The producer looked at me and shook hands. I wanted to apologise for the asshole message I'd left on his machine but was too busy trying to conceal the fact I hadn't a clue what I was doing. They told me to sit. And that's when I saw him. I had been listening to his voice for hours now. And his physicality was just as arrogant as his readings. The Cockblocker. I sat beside him and offered my hand. He shook it but didn't look at me. Too busy demonstrating how close he had become with the crew. Laughing loudly at a shit joke. The producer asked if I wanted a rehearsal. I understood the word. But not what it meant. I shook my head. No. The producer asked for quiet. Cockblocker got in one final guffaw, rolled his neck and, as if he was doing me a solid, he nodded yes. Action. Cockblocker began the scene as he had every other time. King of the hill. Top of the world. Made it, ma. It may have been my paranoid imagination but, if anything, he was even more arrogant. I didn't look at him. Wouldn't look at him. I kept looking at the producer. The one I had left the asshole message to. He was looking back. Confounded. Curious. He kept glancing at me then back at his monitor. Frowning. I spoke quietly. Tentatively. Cock Blocker was in his element now. The more I swallowed back the words the more he projectile vomited them out. He was on a roll and nothing was going to stop his final victory lap. It came to the big finale. The showdown. The knockout. And he went for it. I could feel his spit enter the side of my ear.
Burrowing in. Abusing my brain. He got to the highest point possible. His raging screams echoing off the studio walls. His pitch blowing the mics. His genius unquestionable. This was the greatest performance in the history of acting. He knew it. We didn't. But he did. And, now, as he waited for my response, he allowed his warm breath slap off the side of my face. I'd never had sex with a man. But this was what it must be like. The producer stared at me. It was my big moment. Where I lose it. Where I dominate. Where I show what it means to be macho. Every other actor had nailed it. On time. On cue. On the nose. The producer was about to say cut. Wrap it up. Go home. But, without looking at Cockbloker, I gently, tenderly, almost imperceptibly rested my hand on his crotch. Not a squeeze. Just an open resting palm and slight curvature of the fingers spread over his cock and balls. A deathly silence descended. This wasn't how Fair city auditions were supposed to go. Cockblocker continued speaking the scripted text. But his voice was different. He stuttered. Words weren't working. Semi-paralysis. His fingers gripped my knuckles to remove the uninvited hand. But that's the thing about force. The more relaxed my hand became the more impossible it seemed for him to prize my fingers off his rapidly retracting testes. He began shouting the words. The words that he had learned so well. The words that he had used to upstage every previous poor bastard looking for a lifesaving job. The words that were now exposing the fragility of his masculinity and betraying him. A bit like his balls. Behind the camera, the producer's shoulders rocked silently, rhythmically, up and down as he suppressed his laughter. As the crew looked to each other their faces were frozen in comical shock. Something was happening in the scene. That was certain. But what the hell it was, nobody knew. Or if it was even legal. His face now purple, Cockblocker gave up trying to remove my hand. As he continued speaking, the meaning of dialogue had entirely altered. The subtext of every statement now was a plea to stop. To unhand his undercarriage. To unfurl his underwear. To stop being a bastard. As gently as I had cupped my hand on his cotton covered
undercarriage, I now removed it and looked at him for the first time. Almost shy. I hesitated then tenderly inhaled his aroma from the tips of my fingers. The aroma was imagined. But the point was made. This was Love. Not hate. Vulnerable. Not macho. I raised the hand with the imaginary aroma and delicately touched my thumb onto his dried lips. He stopped speaking. I had cut him off slightly early but I don't think the author would have minded. I spoke to him the way you speak to an animal you love. A dog you adore. At the vet. Before he's put down. The threat delivered. I slid the tip of my thumb into his mouth. He didn't resist. He knew I was willing to kill him. Because I was. Nobody knew what to do. The text was over but the scene wasn't. I held my thumb there. In his mouth. He stared back at me. All pretence gone. I liked him now. I could finally see his potential. If he dropped the swaggering horseshit he could be a half-decent actor. No Brando. But not bad. The producer let it hang. Like all good directors do. Then he looked up from the monitor. The laughter was gone. No guffaws left. Game over. I ran out of the Fair City lot. Out of RTE. Out of my mind. My kid was going to be lying on that bedsit mattress longer than intended. By the end of that month the welfare folks came around to investigate. Surprisingly nice people. Doing their job. Wanting to know what I had been doing to get off the dole. Mid way through my stumbling answer there was a knock on the door. The coinbox. A phone call. The producers assistant. We want to offer you the part. Later, the producer, a beautiful man, told me he had brought people in the listen to the original response on his answering machine, wondering what basketcase has balls big enough to leave such a message. They were different times then. Not as insular. Twenty years later I'm still broke, ignorant and desperate. Except now there are four kids. And a dog. Might give Fair City a call. See if I can swing an audition.
Litany of errors by child services saw woman's claims of serious sexual abuse 'lost' for over three years The HSE’s child and family services, the precursor to Tusla, also repeatedly sent details of the case to a series of incorrect addresses. Mar 6th 2017,
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THE HSE ‘LOST’ a disclosure of alleged serious physical, sexual, and mental abuse by a woman against her father for more than three years. A series of errors in the handling of this case, revealed today by TheJournal.ie, spanned nearly six years and has led to multiple apologies from both the HSE and child and family agency Tusla. Over the course of nearly six years from October 2010, the HSE: ‘Misfiled’ the original retrospective disclosure of abuse for over three years Informed the woman in question that an initial delay of nine months in inviting her to meet was a result of that disclosure being missing Took 15 months to process the complaint towards an investigation Sent sensitive details regarding the case on at least
three occasions to two incorrect addresses, one of which was on the same street as the woman in question It subsequently emerged that the original copy of the retrospective disclosure made by the woman, ‘Mary’ (not her real name), had been ‘misfiled’ and ‘inadvertently attached’ to an unconnected Garda notification. This led to an ‘unreserved’ apology from child and family agency Tusla, one of many concerning this case. In processing the initial allegations, the HSE’s child and family arm (the precursor to Tusla) directed correspondence detailing sensitive aspects of the case meant for the woman in question to two wrong addresses on at least three separate occasions. “My life was made hell through this,” Mary told TheJournal.ie. “My life was already hell with confronting what had happened, and then to have the disclosure of such sensitive things dealt with the way it was just made it a hundred times worse.” This case is one of many which is being considered by Ombudsman Peter Tyndall as part of a systemic investigation into the way complaints are handled by Tusla. That report is currently being drafted and is expected to be published in the coming weeks, a spokesperson confirmed to TheJournal.ie.
The manner in which the case was dealt with by the HSE bears resemblance to the recent farrago surrounding an error in how Tusla dealt with a complaint against Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe which saw an erroneous accusation of sexual assault against him kept on file by the child and family agency for nearly two years after it had been found to be false. October 2010 – initial disclosure is ‘misfiled’ The retrospective disclosure regarding this case was made in October 2010 by Mary, who lives in the midlands. It concerned accusations of serious sexual and physical abuse against her father covering a period of 15 years between the late 1970s and the early 1990s. No response, bar an official acknowledgement of the initial letter, was given to her for at least seven months following her initial contact. Tusla, which was set up in January 2014, subsequently apologised for this “avoidable delay” which it said resulted from an “administrative error” which saw the
disclosure misfiled.
After repeat attempts by Mary to contact a social worker (whom she had been informed would be handling her case) went unanswered, a meeting was finally agreed between the two for June 2011, but not before that meeting was cancelled by the HSE worker three times at short notice. At the eventual meeting, Mary noted that the social worker “clearly had no idea who I was or what my case related to”. “They told me that the original copy of my disclosure had gone missing which was why the case had been delayed,” she told TheJournal.ie. July 2011 – Sensitive information sent to wrong address That original copy was subsequently located in November 2013, three years after the initial complaint – it had been ‘misfiled’ and ‘inadvertently attached’ to an unconnected Garda notification. The social worker in question, who has since been promoted, “apologised unreservedly” for this
error in January 2014. Following that meeting in June 2011, Mary never saw that social worker in person again.
Source: RollingNews.ie
The social worker did send an acknowledgement letter regarding the meeting, which contained specific, sensitive information regarding the abuse allegations; however this letter was sent to a wrong address on the same street that Mary was then living on. This particular letter also apologised for the “oversight” which saw the meeting delayed for nine months. Three days prior to the wrong address being used in writing to Mary, a report filed by the same social worker did in fact detail her correct address. On all this correspondence, Mary’s name is misspelled. A copy of that report had also been requested by her. It was never sent (all of this correspondence, including that which had been misaddressed, was finally received by Mary when she requested it of yet another social worker in August 2012). In the wake of this meeting Mary heard nothing from the HSE until she made contact with it personally requesting an update. In dealing with this further complaint, a senior
manager in the HSE’s child and family section sent two responses, both again containing sensitive information relevant to her case, in October 2011, both of them to another incorrect address (in this case, the address didn’t even exist and the letters were returned to sender undelivered). The manager acknowledged this “clerical error” in December 2011 and again “sincerely apologised” for the “unacceptable standard of response”. December 2011 – investigation begins At this time, roughly 15 months after the initial disclosure was made, another social worker met with Mary with a view to kickstarting an investigation into her claims of abuse. The HSE had already been “satisfied that there were existing child protection and safety and welfare concerns that required immediate and ongoing response” following the delayed screening of the initial disclosure.
Such a meeting would be held in advance of the same social worker meeting with members of Mary’s family. This person subsequently, in early 2014, asked Mary for the notes she had compiled from their meeting, to facilitate the Garda
investigation which had been instigated, saying that their own had been lost. When Mary refused this request, the social worker later claimed that they had not taken any notes of the meeting, nor had they taken any notes from any of the subsequent interviews with Mary’s family. Assuming this is the case, such practice is in direct contradiction of Tusla’s own child protection guidelines. Over the following four months, Mary repeatedly requested of the senior manager at the HSE the reason as to the delay in the progress of its investigation (in February 2012 she submitted a specific complaint under the HSE’s ‘Your Service Your Say’ portal regarding the initial nine-month delay before she was met by a social worker, and also the fact no report of that meeting was given to her despite assurances to the contrary). The responses from this manager at the time repeatedly refer to their ‘regretting terribly any distress you have been caused”. May 2012 – Child services director apologises, gives personal ‘assurances’ With months passing without an update and the case appearing to have hit a standstill, Mary eventually contacted Gordon Jeyes (then national director of children and family services at the HSE, and subsequently to become Tusla’s first CEO) seeking a meeting. This occurred in May 2012. In the aftermath Jeyes expressed his “sincerest regret and apology” that Mary’s experience had resulted in “further distress during such a difficult time in your life”. He likewise committed “to learn from your regrettable experiences so that they will not be repeated going forward” and gave “assurances that I will pursue the matter further”. Gordon Jeyes left Tusla in May 2016. TheJournal.ie has asked him for comment in relation to this matter. In the aftermath of this meeting the case ground to a halt once more. This led to Mary engaging the services of both the Data Protection Commissioner (in May 2013, concerning the posting of sensitive information to the wrong address on repeat occasions, and the loss of her disclosure) and the Ombudsman (in June 2014, with regard to the Mary’s grievances as to how her case had been handled in general).
In response to a query from TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for the DPC said that the Commissioner “does not comment on individual investigations carried out by this office”. Any alleged breach of the Data Protection Acts involving sensitive personal data is considered serious and is investigated by the DPC. When asked whether the DPC has dealt with many other data protection failures by state bodies involving the disclosure of abuse, the spokesperson responded that “this office does compile records in the manner requested in (this) query”. The Garda investigation into Mary’s claims was eventually dropped in early 2014 due to a lack of evidence. In December 2015 Mary discovered, via health regulator CORU, that the person who eventually investigated her complaint and who interviewed her family was not registered with the regulator as a social worker at the time of the interview. In May 2015, she learned from the Ombudsman that the manner in which her complaint was processed had been acknowledged by Tusla as “being not acceptable”. A Tusla representative likewise acknowledged that the sending of sensitive information to incorrect addresses on repeat occasions “was regrettable”. Regarding the alleged loss of notes by the person who eventually investigated the complaint, the principal social worker who investigated following the intervention of the Ombudsman concluded that “no minutes (of the initial meeting) had been taken”. The Ombudsman concluded that it “would have been remiss” of any social worker to fail to keep minutes of a meeting concerning a complaint of serious abuse. Both Tusla’s Child Protection and Welfare Handbook and CORU’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers make it clear that adequate, accurate note-taking is a pre-requisite for all meetings between Tusla employees and those alleging abuse. “They’ve made my life hell” Today, more than six years after her initial disclosure, Mary
is keen, more than anything, that what happened to her “cannot happen to anyone else”.
“These are people who we trust to fight our corner, that they will take statements of the most sensitive nature, that they will protect them and keep them safe. That they will hear your pain and anguish and distress, and your vulnerability,” she said. A source of particular anguish to her is the dispute over the notes, or lack thereof, taken by the social worker Mary met in December 2011, and who subsequently interviewed her family. “This person interviewed me and my family members and never documented any of those interviews,” she says. “Then I heard that they had taken no notes at all, and soon after that the case was dropped.” I was absolutely devastated. They couldn’t even get the basics right, when surely taking notes is one of the fundamental aspects of their job. She says that at no time did anyone from either the HSE or
Tusla contact her voluntarily to apologise for her treatment: “I always had to contact them to make a complaint.” “One of those I dealt with, in 2012, told me that I was being ‘overly-sensitive’, that I needed to ‘get over it and move on with it’. How can you say that? This is my life. You’re just making a mockery of it.” “You expect these people at the most basic level to just do their jobs, even if nothing was to come of it at least you would know in your heart that they did everything they could to protect you and those around you,” she says. In my case not one of them did their job with the basics of human decency – all they did was try to ignore the situation rather than deal with it. I will never trust a social worker again. They should be ashamed by the way they treated my case. My abuse may have happened 25 years ago but it will sit with me for the rest of my life. So will the way they handled my case. Reaction In the aftermath of Mary contacting the Ombudsman, matters moved relatively quickly. In May 2015 a Tusla service director acknowledged, via an Ombudsman intermediary, that the delay which occurred in 2011 before an investigation was begun constituted “an avoidable omission and would not be considered acceptable”. They added that as a result “changes were made in local administrative practices” in order to prevent a recurrence of such an issue. They added, as previously mentioned, that it was “regrettable that correspondence was sent to the incorrect address”. The director concluded by apologising to Mary once more, and said that a separate apology was being prepared by Tusla’s Director of Quality. Later that month her initial disclosure was returned to her – more than four-and-a-half years after it was initially lodged. In April 2016 the Ombudsman confirmed to Mary that her case would be used as part of the social work investigation into Tusla’s procedures for dealing with complaints.
Tusla itself confirmed in August 2016 that it is “currently undertaking a full review of all cases awaiting allocation including retrospective abuse cases”. In response to a query from TheJournal.ie in relation to this article Tusla said that it “does not comment on individual cases” in a statement. “This is to protect the children and families with whom we work. We are currently working with the office of the Ombudsman in relation to their investigation into how Tusla manages complaints and will implement the recommendations made,” the statement said. Reviews and quality assurance checks by external bodies allow us to continuously improve and enhance our services to ultimately improve the lives of the children and families with whom we work. http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-retrospective-disclosure-3265589Mar2017/
Internal Audit Unit are turning on each other at the PAC hearing this morning. Legal threats within the unit with two Senior civil servants failing to express confidence in management of Garda force.
Two gardai called to the home of a dedicated anti water charge protester. They asked him his name, he said" who are you ", they said " you know who we are", he said " I know what you are but I want your names and your numbers ". He said " hold on a minute until I get my tablet and I can record your answers". He came back with his tablet and started recording, instantly one of the gardai grabbed the tablet and smashed it off the ground and left. He complained at his local gardai station and was told he was "imagining things but that if he went any further with this he and his family would suffer" This is not true but it shows how easily it is to make up false ( lies) stories, as the gardai prosecution witnesses are doing in the case against the Jobstown protesters. Discusting state of affairs
Jonathan Sugarman interviewed on Cork's 96FM, Jonathan knew about the imminent collapse and tried to warn the Central Bank and nothing was done so the idea that this collapse was sprung on the State overnight is a LIE May 27th 2017 https://soundcloud.com/opinionline96/the-opinion-line-2017-04-28your-free-daily-podcast-is-here Following former Dublin investment banker turned corruption whistleblower Jonathan Sugarman's explosive 96 FM radio interview last Friday I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to share our views on how to limit the control of the illuminati and their corporate world government live on air from 1 hour 34 mins 35 seconds onwards. https://soundcloud.com/.../the-opinion-line-2017-05-02...
A Single case of social welfare identity fraud suspected this year. Leo spends over €200k on a hate campaign. #Rat4leo https://www.irishtimes.com/…/single-case-of-socialwelfare-…
‘Single case’ of social-welfare identity fraud suspected this year Leo Varadkar’s €200,000 Welfare Cheats campaign unnecessary, says Sinn Féin IRISHTIMES.COM
Meanwhile all politicians get a €5,000 pay rise, extra expenses, Apple still pay no tax and get away with €1319 Billion in back taxes unpaid. More people end up on trolleys or waiting lists. More end up homeless etc. Mr Zero Cometence certainly has an impressive record, hasn't he?
Before the "crisis", our national debt was €43bn.... Lower than that of Germany according to Enda Kenny in the Dáil. Today, after all the cuts to services and supports with higher taxes on everything... the national debt is €200bn....
Where's the savings from the cuts gone? The joke is on us... See a pattern? We are mirroring our nearest neighbour with the same predictable results... https://www.irishtimes.com/…/ireland-gains-5-000-millionair… Who do you think Fine Gael/Fianna Fail are really working for?? You?
Fine Gael admits tax evasion over period of 9 years Sat, May 12, 2001, 01:00 MARK BRENNOCK FineGaelfacesmajorpoliticalembarrassmentafteradmittinggiving£120,000inillegalunderthe countercashpaymentstoitsstaffoveranineyearperiod.
Fine Gael admits tax evasion of €120,000 in illegal under-the-counter payments to staff
Well folks if Fine Fail could be corrupt, well Fianna Gael are proving what ever corruption, cromyism and incompetence FFcan FG can do it better. The blueshirts have to publically admit that " giving €120,000 in illegal under-the-counter cash payments to its staff over a nine year period." So folks if FF do corruption, well the blueshirts do it better ? http://www.irishtimes.com/news/fine-gael-admits-tax-evasion-over-period-of-9years-1.307406?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F %2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Ffine-gael-admits-tax-evasion-over-periodof-9-years-1.307406
FG's Tax Shambles Wed, May 16, 2001, 01:00 FineGaelhasimportantquestionstoanswerinrelationtotaxevasionandunderthecounterpayments madetostaffoveranelevenyearperiod.Issuesalsoariseinconnectionwithitshandlingofsocalled pickmeuppaymentsbyvariouscompaniesbefore1998.LastFriday,underpressurefromthemedia,a statementfromFineGaelpurportedtosetouttheprecisepositioninrelationtotheRevenue Commissionerswherebothtypesofpaymentwereconcerned.Itnowtranspiresthestatementwas misleadingandfactuallyinaccurate.Thematterislikelytoberaisedattoday'smeetingoftheFine GaelParliamentaryParty.
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fg-s-tax-shambles-1.308152? mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com %2Fopinion%2Ffg-s-tax-shambles-1.308152
Let's not forget the genesis of the Property Tax... Hint: It wasn't to provide you with local services... Hint 2: This property tax was agreed to by Fianna Fail with the IMF in 2010 and implemented by Fine Gael in 2015 after a stormy battle to introduce the Household Charge... https://www.imf.org/external/np/loi/2010/irl/120310.pdf Of course the voters are already lining up Mehole and co for another turn of the wheel right? Here's something you might find interesting... Wikileaks confidential cable on the restructuring of the Irish tax take... (thanks Richard Keyes for the link)
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09DUBLIN360_a.html Note the DATE of the cable... 2009 September 11. In otherwords the contents of this cable was discussed before the IMF agreement was signed in 2010... This included the introduction of Water Charges and Property Taxes...
Excellent link Richard... Just proves that they had this in mind all along.. All the talk and posts in the world isn't going to change what's happening in Ireland or the corruption that is at its core. I've been looking at everything that has happened in Ireland over the last 5/6 years and very little has changed or will changed untill the people at the centre of all of this are removed by force which is very likely to happen. From the local td's right up to those heading most of the political parties and all the cronies in between. Please excuse the rant but when all the corruption and dodgy deals are so plain for all to see backed by the rigged law system in Ireland then it's very hard to see any other solution other than physical means.
Tax evasion at heart of allegations by whistleblower Prominent politicians at centre of claims by department official Sat, Nov 8, 2014, 01:00 Updated: Sat, Nov 8, 2014, 13:53
Martin Wall, Fiach Kelly
Guinness & Mahon board member Des Traynor. Photograph: Joe St Leger
At the heart of the allegations put forward by Department of Enterprise and Jobs official Gerry Ryan is a contention that a number of prominent former Fianna Fáil politicians and at least one former prominent Fine Gael politician engaged in significant tax evasion over an extended period of time dating back to the 1970s.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/tax-evasionat-heart-of-allegations-by-whistleblower-1.1992946? mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=http%3A%2F %2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Ftaxevasion-at-heart-of-allegations-by-whistleblower1.1992946
Des Traynor – Irish elite’s top money manager [he sent millions to Cayman Islands] November 10, 2014
By Gareth Morgan From Independent.IE DesS Traynor was the man who managed money for many of Ireland’s most important people – and sent millions offshore to destinations such as the Cayman Islands. He moved money through a complex series of accounts and companies in a bid to avoid scrutiny. Mr Traynor was dubbed “Charlie’s Bag Man” for the work he did for the late Taoiseach Charlie Haughey, who became deeply embroiled in the Ansbacher scandal. Mr Traynor set up offshore Ansbacher accounts, allowing hundreds of well-heeled individuals, including Haughey, to evade tax. His role in administering funds which paid for Haughey’s lavish lifestyle was closely probed by the Moriarty Tribunal. He conducted most of his business discreetly in the corner of hotel lobbies, and scrupulously cut the letter heading off Ansbacher statements before sending them out to his clients. Mr Traynor started life as a chartered accountant with Haughey Boland, and later worked for the building materials group CRH, which he helped
turn into a multinational conglomerate. Joan Williams, who was Mr Traynor’s secretary for more than 20 years, gave the tribunal details of how Mr Traynor was running business from the premises. Ms Williams told the tribunal that Mr Traynor kept a computer and filing cabinets dedicated to Ansbacher in his office at CRH, in Fitzwilliam Square. She said she had no direct knowledge of how the Ansbacher loan arrangements were run. Despite his complex offshore dealings, Mr Traynor kept much of his own £1.7m fortune in ICS building society. When he died peacefully at his home in Howth Road, Dublin, in May 1994 aged 62, he had stocks and bonds valued at £889,318. It would appear that he scrupulously paid his income tax and PRSI, and the Revenue Commissioners were so impressed with his financial housekeeping that following his death they gave his estate a tax rebate of more than £7,000. However, in 2007, Traynor’s estate made a settlement of over €4m with the tax authorities. For more on this story go to: http://www.independent.ie/irishnews/politics/des-traynor-irish-elites-top-money-manager30728060.html IMAGE: www.irishtimes.com Related story: Tax evasion at heart of allegations by whistleblower By Martin Wall, Fiach Kelly From The Irish Times Prominent politicians at centre of claims by department official At the heart of the allegations put forward by Department of Enterprise and Jobs official Gerry Ryan is a contention that a number of prominent former Fianna Fáil politicians and at least one former prominent Fine Gael politician engaged in significant tax evasion over an extended period of time dating back to the 1970s. Separately he has maintained that his investigations into these issues were blocked. The allegations set out by Ryan are linked directly to the Ansbacher accounts scandal which emerged nearly 15 years ago. Ansbacher was a bank in the Cayman Islands, but the nominally offshore money in the deposits was in fact held in Guinness & Mahon Bank on Dublin’s College Green. Official investigations found that the Cayman trusts were in fact under the control of the Irish people who placed money in them, rather than the Cayman trustees who should properly have had control. The supposedly offshore money could be withdrawn by wealthy depositors at Guinness & Mahon’s premises. An official report in 2002 identified about 200 Ansbacher accountholders. However, Ryan contended he had uncovered evidence in 2003 and 2004 that former Fianna Fáil and some Fine Gael politicians were the
beneficial owners of Cayman accounts in a secret Ansbacher ledger, the details of which had never come into the public domain. Ryan maintained in a briefing document which he forwarded to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that he had obtained this evidence from interviews conducted with former Guinness & Mahon personnel. He said a transcript of an interview with one member of the bank staff indicated she had kept a list of the names of the Fianna Fáil politicians and a separate list of “their substantial Cayman account balances”. He said the accounts department staff member would match up these lists with Sellotape when Des Traynor, who was on the board of Guinness & Mahon, would ask for a list of the balances. “The listing of names of the beneficial owners of these Cayman accounts was always kept in a separate safe to the list of the balances so that, if one fell into the wrong hands, no one would be able to match the senior politicians with their account balances,” he wrote. This was referred to as the “black briefcase”. Secret ledger Ryan said a former bank official had stated that on a number of occasions in 1977 and 1978 she had had sight of a list of names and account balances in the “very secret Cayman ledger”. He said the former bank official had identified the names of nine senior Fianna Fáil politicians on the list. These individuals are named in Ryan’s document given to the PAC. The bank official also maintained, according to Ryan, that she had recognised the name of a prominent Fine Gael politician as being the beneficial owner of one of the accounts in the secret Cayman ledger. He also contended that there had been Fine Gael connections to Traynor which had not been examined by various investigations over the years. He also said a judge had been a client of Traynor’s in Guinness & Mahon. When details of the dossier emerged yesterday the initial reaction in political circles was that given Ryan had cited the new whistleblowers’ legislation he must be given a fair hearing. This could happen at a closed hearing of the PAC – similar to that afforded to Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe – with the transcript of the meeting remaining private. The Oireachtas said PAC members “received a copy of what may well be a ‘protected disclosure’ for the purposes of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014”. “This is the first occasion on which documentation has been received by the members in question under the 2014 Act,” the statement added, saying the PAC would take legal advice on the issue next week. There was also surprise at some of the names included in the dossier, but those involved in the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats government, during the term of which Ryan carried out his
investigations, insisted they had dealt with his allegations appropriately. One senior figure from that period said all the claims had been passed to the relevant authorities. While there was a feeling last night among Government and Fianna Fáil figures that there may be nothing much to fear from the dossier, it still has the potential to cause political controversy. IMAGE: Guinness & Mahon board member Des Traynor. Photograph: Joe St Leger For more on this story go to: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/tax-evasion-at-heart-ofallegations-by-whistleblower-1.1992946
Sentence due for garlic importer Begley
15/02/2013
Judges will rule today on what sentence to impose on a businessman who appealed against a six-year jail term for tax evasion on imported garlic. Paul Begley was imprisoned last March over a €1.6m garlic import duty scam. Three judges at Dublin’s Court of Criminal Appeal previously ruled his sentence the longest ever handed down for tax fraud of its kind – was excessive and disproportionate. But they warned the 47-year-old, who admitted labelling more than 1,000 tonnes of garlic imported from China as apples, that his tax evasion was a serious matter carried out with premeditation over a period of time for personal gain. Begley, of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, was head of Ireland’s largest fruit and vegetable company, Begley Brothers Ltd, when he avoided paying a higher tax of up to 232% on garlic. Fruit and vegetables have rates as low as 9%.
While his conviction centred on a sample four charges of avoiding tax totalling just over €85,000, the trial judge was told the total fraud was about €1.6m and that Begley had been paying off debts of €33,000 a month. The maximum sentence for each count is five years in prison, or a €10,000 fine, or treble the amount of the duty avoided, whichever was the largest sum. Appealing against the sentence his barrister Patrick Gageby told the court his client faced several consequences as a result of his actions, including a five-year disqualification as a director since the day he pleaded guilty.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/sentence-due-for-garlicimporter-begley-584829.html
Can you imagine what 19 BN.... Yes 19,000,000,000.... can you just even close your eyes and dream of what that money could do for our homeless, our hospitals, our schools, childcare facilities, our water infrastructure and last but not least.... US.... you and me.... how could that help us with our day to day lives.... I close my eyes now and wonder Who Gave This Government the MANDATE to Argue and WASTE OUR MONEY ON THIS PREVENTION.... I say BRING IT ON... Make them PAY what they are due to pay.... HELP US... HELP OURSELVES.... I did not agree to this, it was not on any mandate, and therefore we should be consulted about it, we the people, whom the lack of this money, l directly affects...
"In a worst-case scenario, Apple may face a $19 billion bill if the government in Dublin ultimately loses and is forced to recoup tax from the company" A worst case scenario for whom?? Forced to claim back taxes that are actually owed to us? Imagine that... ~Belenus http://www.irishtimes.com/…/ireland-may-face-censure-over-a…
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders 6 October at 13:08 · It’s not just Donald Trump who doesn’t pay a fair share in taxes. 73% of Fortune 500 companies stash profits overseas to avoid taxes. Apple keeps $214.9 billion in profits offshore, avoiding $65.4 billion in taxes. While 20 Billion Dollars Is Also Owed To The People Of Ireland...Crushed By The 'ROTTEN APPLES' In The FG/FF/ And Lab Parties!!! Bury Your Heads In Shame, You Infested Imbecile Degenerates!!!
5 questions about the EU's tax ruling against AppleApple Tax: The European Union ordered Apple, Inc. to pay billions to Ireland in back taxes. http://usat.ly/2bPkbjk
What is the EU claiming Apple did? The EU says Apple is paying far less in taxes in Ireland, a country with an already low corporate tax rate, than it should have due to special deals Ireland made to generate jobs. Apple paid just 0.005% on European profits in 2014, says the EU, rather than Ireland's already low 12.5% corporate rate. What's more, it paid that super-low tax rate on income from sales made outside Ireland, in the EU and elsewhere. The EU alleges Apple was able to avoid higher taxes due to Irish tax deals that let Apple set up two Ireland-based companies: Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe. Under this structure, consumers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa bought products from Apple Sales International. Apple must pay up to $14.5B in back taxes to Ireland Here's where it gets interesting. Irish tax rulings let Apple allocate most of Apple Sales International's profits to a "head office" that was not based in Ireland, or any other country,
so wasn't subject to Irish taxes, said the EU. Apple ended up paying Irish taxes on a fraction of the profits from Apple Sales International. The EU says this "head office" had no employees, making it unlikely it could have recorded $22 billion in profits in one year. Apple Operations Europe boasted a similar setup, says the EU. As a result, only a fraction of Apple's sales from the EU were taxed in Ireland, lowering the tax rate Apple paid to under 1%.
Meanwhile, Apple's Irish subsidiaries made big annual payments to the parent company's R&D funds in the U.S. The EU considers this "illegal state aid" because it gave Apple an unfair advantage over other companies. What does Apple think of all this? In a letter to customers, Apple CEO Tim Cook says he's confident the EU ruling will be reversed in the appeals process. Both Apple and Ireland plan to appeal the decision.
“This claim has no basis in fact or in law,” says Cook on the EU's accusations. “We never asked for, nor did we receive, any special deals. We now find ourselves in the unusual position of being ordered to retroactively pay additional taxes to a government that says we don't owe them any more than we've already paid.” STORY FROM COLLEGE AVE STUDENT LOANS Calculate college costs by taking this quiz Cook also says nearly all research and development for Apple takes place in California, with “the vast majority” of profits taxed in the U.S. “The Commission’s move is unprecedented and it has serious, wide-reaching implications,” says Cook. “It is effectively proposing to replace Irish tax laws with a view of what the Commission thinks the law should have been.” Cook also points out Apple is the largest taxpayer in the U.S., Ireland and globally.
Ireland is also disputing the EU ruling. Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said in a statement Tuesday Apple paid its taxes in full and did not receive special treatment. “It is important that we send a strong message that Ireland remains an attractive and stable location of choice for long-term substantive investment.” Has the U.S. weighed in? In a statement. the U.S. Treasury Department says it is “disappointed” in the EU ruling, and claims it could impact foreign investment in Ireland and the rest of Europe. “We believe that retroactive tax assessments by the Commission are unfair, contrary to wellestablished legal principles, and call into question the tax rules of individual Member States,” reads a statement from a Treasury spokesperson. How will this impact Apple? It certainly won't happen immediately. In an investor explainer, Apple says it doesn't expect any restatement of previous financial results or changes to its near-term future results. Apple says its cash balance will remain unaffected, but the company does “anticipate
we will place some amount of cash in an escrow account.” Also important: the appeals process in this case could take several years. Even if it were to pay the entire $14.5 billion, a vast sum that could wipe out most big companies' profits, that would amount to just 6% of its cash and investments as of June. Should Apple customers worry? Right now, the only thing Apple customers should worry about is whether they've updated their iPhone's operating system to the latest version to fix a security flaw. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/08/30/fivequestions-eus-tax-ruling-against-apple/89580940/ Apple chief Tim Cook says tax ruling 'maddening'Apple chief Tim Cook says the EU ruling that the company should pay Ireland billions in back tax is "maddening" and "political". Read more on his reaction http://bbc.in/2bK3i4V Does he think he think he doing humanity good by selling overpriced items and not pay taxes? He said "you insisted we pay tax like we were a dirty little kebab shop". This is nothing better than a Trumpism, thinking Apple is above everything
Apple already owes Ireland $14.5 billion in back taxes. And that's just Ireland.
$14.5 billion: that’s how much the European Union has ruled Apple owes Ireland in back taxes. It’s a big number, though not nearly the tax bill Apple would owe the U.S. if it pulled the $92 billion in profits it is currently storing in Irish and other overseas accounts back to its home country. CEO Tim Cook says 40 percent of that would go in taxes to the U.S. and state governments, an amount he recently told the Washington Post Apple would not be willing to pay. “It’s not a matter of being patriotic or not patriotic,” Cook said. “It doesn’t go that the more you pay, the more patriotic you are.”
Cook thinks the tax law should be changed and U.S rates lowered. As for the EU tax ruling, he vowed to appeal. “At its root, the Commission’s case is not about how much Apple pays in taxes,” he wrote. “It is about which government collects the money.” But no government seems to be collecting very much. According to the EU, Apple’s corporate tax rate in Ireland has been as low as 0.005 percent in recent years. And an extensive review of the
company’s tax practices performed by the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in 2013 found that Apple pays taxes of less than 2 percent on its overseas income, and significantly less than the 35 percent U.S. statutory corporate tax rate on its domestic income. Many applaud companies for making smart financial moves, including minimizing what they pay in taxes. But there are consequences to Apple’s decision to make global tax planning one of its core capabilities. While the company’s money sits in foreign accounts, it is being invested in securities like U.S. Treasuries, stocks, and other investments, not in the kind of research that could help to generate new tech breakthroughs, innovation, and jobs. Apple has consistently spent less than competitors on research. Even in 2015, when it put a record $6 billion into R&D, that was just 3.3 percent of its $183 billion in revenue. By contrast, Intel spent more than 20 percent of its 2015 revenue on R&D. Microsoft spent 13 percent, Google 15 percent, and Amazon more than 10
percent, all according to data compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Apple has more cash than any other company— $216 billion in total, according to Moody’s Investors Service. But spending it would mean bringing it back to the U.S. and paying taxes on it. It’s far cheaper to borrow money, and that’s exactly what Apple has done, going from debtfree as recently as 2012 to $80 billion in debt as of March this year. That money has gone to finance much of the company’s current spending, which includes a large program to buy shares back. Such buybacks help support a company’s stock price, but do little to stoke innovation.
Apple isn’t the only company hoarding profits overseas, either: Microsoft has $108 billion overseas, and General Electric has $104 billion. It’s a trend that’s helping to create a disparity between corporate performance and overall economic growth. Recent research by a trio of Columbia Business School professors found that under current tax rules and practices, less profit is being channeled into U.S. investments, contributing to lower overall economic growth. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602269/apples-tax-game-ishurting-economic-growth/? utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=p ost
Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook is outraged by a European Commission ruling that the company owes Ireland what could amount to more than $27 billion in back taxes, drawing unwelcome attention to the company's international attempts at tax avoidance during a U.S. election campaign. www.cbc.ca/1.3741145
They can still do this? Excerpt: The EU Commission ruled last year that the multinational tech giant owes Ireland the sum for profits that went untaxed for more than a decade. Both Apple and Ireland strongly reject the commission’s decision, and plan to challenge it through the EU’s courts. It is expected to take years before a final outcome is reached. However, in the interim, Ireland is obliged to collect the funds. This money will then be held in a third-party holding account pending the outcome of the appeal against the decision.If the appeal is successful, the money will be paid back to Apple. The original deadline for Ireland to collect the money was in early January.
Tim Cook Posts Public Letter Addressing EU Ruling That Apple Owes Billions in Unpaid Taxes... Apple CEO Tim Cook has posted a public letter to the Apple Community in Europe addressing an EU ruling which found that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to the company. http://iClarified.com/56614
Tim Cook Posts Public Letter Addressing EU Ruling That Apple Owes Billions in Unpaid Taxes Apple CEO Tim Cook has posted a public letter to the Apple Community in Europe addressing an EU ruling which found that Ireland granted illegal tax…
ICLARIFIED.COM
European Commission Rules Apple Received Illegal State Aid From Ireland, Owes Billions in Back Taxes Monday August 29, 2016 10:53 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
The European Commission on Tuesday will rule that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland, according to a 130-page judgment known by Financial Times. Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager circulated the final ruling to her counterparts in the EU’s executive branch only on Monday morning, deploying a fast-track procedure in a bid to minimize leaks. The usual notice period is two weeks. The ruling follows a three-year investigation into Apple's tax arrangements in Ireland, where it has reportedly paid around 2% or less in taxes compared to the country's headline 12.5% corporate tax rate. The commission's ruling asks Dublin to raise a new tax assessment on Apple, which could have to restate its accounts as a result of the ruling, according to the report. One area of focus is Apple's tax arrangements for its intellectual property assets, which is "a hotly disputed area likely to lead to a large claim for back taxes." The ruling means Apple could owe several billions of euros in back taxes. JPMorgan estimated the company could be forced to pay up to 19 billion euros ($21.2 billion) in back taxes,
although a previous study placed the figure around $8 billion, and some analysts believe the amount could be a comparatively lower $1 billion. Europe's competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager will provide an actual estimate of Apple's potential tax bill when the European Commission's findings are publicly released on Tuesday, according to the report. Apple declined to comment on the matter, reiterating that the company fully complies with international tax law and that it is the largest taxpayer in the world. Apple said last month that both the company and Ireland would appeal any unfavorable ruling in European courts. Apple joins the ranks of Starbucks, Fiat Chrysler, Amazon, Google, IKEA, and McDonald's as one of several large corporations accused of tax avoidance in Europe recently. Starbucks in particular is currently appealing its case in Netherlands, where it was ordered to pay as much as 30 million euros in back taxes. Last week, the U.S. Treasury department warned that an adverse ruling against Apple could "set an undesirable precedent." It also said the European Commission is becoming a "supranational tax authority," going beyond acceptable enforcement of competition and state aid law and singling out U.S. companies. Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/29/eu-rules-apple-receivedillegal-state-aid-ireland/
pple appeals EU tax ruling that it owes Ireland $14 billion. Apple has launched a legal challenge to a record $14 billion European Union (EU) tax demand. The mega company argues that EU regulators ignored tax experts and corporate law and deliberately picked a method to maximize the penalty. The European Commission said on Aug. 30 that the company’s Irish tax deal was illegal state
aid and ordered it to repay up to 13 billion euros to Ireland, where Apple has its European headquarters.
The Irish government said Tuesday that it will formally filed an appeal against the European Commission's judgement that Apple owes billions of dollars in back taxes. The move was expected, and the filing later this week will simply be one step of many in the ongoing fight over Ireland's treatment of multinational corporations.
The Irish government said Tuesday that it will formally filed an appeal against the European Commission’s judgement that Apple owes billions in back taxes. The move was expected,
and the filing later this week will simply be one step in the ongoing fight over Ireland’s tax code. EU says Ireland undercharged Apple €13 billion for taxes
Reuters reported the move, which was announced by Finance Minister Michael Noonan. While the EC’s ruling is that Apple owes Ireland itself that money, Ireland says that isn’t the case. The country is fighting the ruling because it threatens the tax status of many multinationals who have set up shop in Ireland for exactly this reason.
Apple’s Irish Woes The EC has gone after Apple and Ireland’s tax arrangements by accusing Ireland of rendering illegal state aid to Apple. The European Union wants to stop corporate structures and taxation arrangements that effectively allow multinationals to avoid paying taxes in one member country by shifting profits to another with low tax rates. Such as Ireland. In August, the EC ruled that Apple owed some €13 billion (US$14.5 billion at the time) not in taxes, but in back taxes. It was unprecedented and heavily criticized by the U.S. government. The European Commission is also targeting Starbucks, Amazon, McDonalds, and other firms for their arrangements in Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Double Irish with a Dutch Sandwich The header for this section, “Double Irish with a Dutch Sandwich,” is the name of a strategy that Apple pioneered. Investopedia has more on the topic, but here’s the really simplified version: Apple has companies set up in Ireland and the Netherlands that license out the right to sell Apple products to third parties,
including Apple’s own subsidiaries in other countries. The whole thing effectively generates all of Apple’s paper profits in Ireland, where it pays a very low income tax. Apple will eventually have to pay taxes if it brings that money to the U.S., but due to U.S. tax code, it won’t pay those taxes as long as the money stays abroad. It’s all nice and legal, and it has local governments the world over—including EU member nations—cranky as all get out. The European Commission is attempting to change the rules by declaring Ireland’s tax structure “illegal state aid,” something expressly prohibited by European Union rules. That makes this a big fight, and one that could conceivably wreck the entire European Union. Ireland has long been assumed to appeal this, and legal opinions vary as to whether it will succeed. I’ve read compelling arguments either way, but I suspect the “illegal state aid” component won’t hold up.
What is the 'Double Irish With A Dutch Sandwich' The double Irish with a Dutch sandwich is a tax avoidance technique employed by certain large corporations, involving the use of a combination of Irish and Dutch subsidiary companies to shift profits to low or no tax jurisdictions. The double Irish with a Dutch sandwich technique involves sending profits first through one Irish company, then to a Dutch company and finally to a second Irish company headquartered in a tax haven. This technique has allowed certain corporations to reduce their overall corporate tax rates dramatically.
BREAKING DOWN 'Double Irish With A Dutch Sandwich' This technique is just one of a class of similar international tax avoidance schemes. Each involves arranging transactions between subsidiary companies to take advantage of the idiosyncrasies of varied national tax codes. These techniques are most prominently used by tech companies, because these firms can easily shift large portions of profits to other countries by assigning intellectual property rights to subsidiaries abroad. The double Irish with a Dutch sandwich is generally considered to be a very aggressive tax planning strategy. It is, however, famously used by some of the world's largest corporations, such as Google, Apple and Microsoft. In 2014, it
came under heavy scrutiny, especially from the United States and the European Union, when it was discovered that this technique made it possible to send several billion dollars annually tax-free to tax havens.
How it Works The technique involves two Irish companies, a Dutch company and an offshore company located in a tax haven. The first Irish company is used to receive large royalties on goods, such as iPhones sold to U.S. consumers. The U.S. profits, and therefore taxes, are dramatically lowered, and the Irish taxes on the royalties are very low. Due to a loophole in Irish laws, the company can then transfer its profits tax-free to the offshore company, where they can remain untaxed for years. The second Irish company is used for sales to European customers. It is also taxed at a low rate and can send its profits to the first Irish company using a Dutch company as an intermediary. If done right, there is no tax paid anywhere. The first Irish company now has all the money and can again send it onward to the tax haven company.
The End of the Double Irish With a Dutch Sandwich Due largely to international pressure and the publicity surrounding Google's and Apple's uses of the double Irish with a Dutch sandwich, the Irish finance minister, in the 2015 budget, passed measures to close the loopholes and effectively end the use of the double Irish with a Dutch sandwich for new tax plans. Companies with established structures will continue to benefit from the old system until 2020.
https://www.macobserver.com/analysis/ireland-formallyappeal-eu-ruling-apple-taxes-expected/ Jobstown trial hears defendant asked gardaí 'How could protesting be false imprisonment?' 31/05/2017
A 71-year-old man charged with the false imprisonment of Joan Burton during a water charges protest in Jobstown told gardaí he had joined the protest while in the area getting petrol. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Frank Donaghy told gardaí
who explained to him that the maximum sentence for the offence was life imprisonment: “That wouldn't be long for me. How could protesting be false imprisonment?” Mr Donaghy of Alpine Rise, Tallaght, Dublin along with Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men, have denied falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. Garda Chris Moylan agreed with Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, that he was one of a number of gardaí who attended at Mr Donaghy's home on February 12, 2015 at 7.21am to arrest him. He said they rang the doorbell and the door was answered by Mr Donaghy. The court heard they were invited into the house and Mr Donaghy was cautioned before being brought to Tallaght garda station where he was interviewed.
Mr Donaghy told gardaí he was a member of the Anti Austerity Alliance. He said he had been in the area getting petrol and had not known there was a protest going on.
He said he had stopped, joined in “a peaceful protest” and had been there for a few hours. He said that all he remembered was taking part in a sit down protest and sitting down with others behind Ms Burton's car until the gardaí came and pulled them away. “It was a sit down protest. People have been doing it for years. I think it's fairly legitimate,” he told gardaí. Gardaí asked him what his intention was and he told them that he did not recall. He told gardaí that the atmosphere was peaceful and said he felt safe. He said gardaí had tried to pick someone up from the back of the car “and that's when the trouble started.” He described that “people came from everywhere.” Gardaí asked him to describe the “trouble” and he said it was “people pulling and pushing and shouting”, adding “I forget most of it really.” The garda agreed during cross examination by defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, that it was never suggested during questioning that Mr Donaghy had directly stopped Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell leaving the car. He agreed with Mr Dwyer that Mr Donaghy, who has no previous convictions, had been up front, frank and gave complete explanations about how long he was there, what he did there and when he left. Mr Dywer said the bottom line thrust of Mr Donaghy's position had been that he did not think he had done anything wrong by joining a sit down protest. The garda agreed rights of personal liberty and security outlined in the Irish Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights had been put to Mr Donaghy during interview but that there were also rights to associate and hold and express opinions. He agreed with Dwyer that he was aware rights often compete
and have to be balanced. Paul Murphy (aged 34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon (aged 39) of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy (aged 53) of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Ken Purcell (aged 50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (aged 46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght; Scott Masterson (aged 34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght and Mr Donaghy have pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. A garda has told a jury that she feared for her safety and the safety of the then-Tánaiste Joan Burton and her aide as she escorted the women through a crowd at an anti-water charges protest in 2014. Garda Fionnuala Whelan was giving evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on day 19 of the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men, all of whom deny falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her aide Karen O'Connell during a water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014.
Paul Murphy and six others deny falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her aide Karen O'Connell.
She told Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting that the atmosphere on the day was “very hostile and extremely volatile”. She said she was there from the time the Tánaiste moved from the graduation ceremony in An Cosán adult education centre to a nearby church and was later present when the unmarked patrol car and subsequently a garda jeep, which Ms Burton and Karen O'Connell were in, was surrounded by protestors. Gda Whelan said when the protestors surrounded the unmarked garda car, they were banging on the bonnet and shouting abuse at Ms Burton. She said she tried to remove a number of people who were behind the car, preventing it from reversing. She identified the defendants Paul Murphy, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Kieran Mahon as being among the group who were sitting down. She tried to move Mr Murphy but she said she was obstructed
by others. “Mr Murphy resisted my attempt to remove him and he was also held down by others by his arms and legs. They pushed me away from him,” Gda Whelan said. Sean Guerin SC, defending Paul Murphy, put it to the witness that after the protesters surround the car the situation became stable and that this stability was upset when she went to “manhandle” his client. Gda Whelan said she had not manhandled the TD and also rejected the description that the situation was stable. She again said it was extremely volatile and that she was fearing for her safety. Mr Guerin showed the jury YouTube footage showing the witness attempting to physically pull the TD up off the road. Unidentified voices on the footage said: “That's a TD you are mishandling. This was a peaceful protest until you started dragging people out of it”. Asked by Mr Guerin what she had done about the fact that the TD's shirt was pulled off him during the struggle she said she didn't do anything because her priority was her safety and the safety of the two alleged victims. She said the defendant's safety was not in jeopardy at that time and the stripping of his shirt “was certainly not the worst thing that happened that day”. She told Mr Guerin that it didn't stand out for her. She said that what stood out for her from the day's events was being pushed and pulled and kicked and verbally abused. Paul Murphy (34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott
Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have pleaded not (NOT) guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. < ENDS > The witness told Mr McGillicuddy that at one point her garda cap was taken from her head. She tried to grab it back off a man but he pulled it from her grip and she almost fell on some protestors. She said the man then threw the garda cap on the ground and stamped on it. Gda Whelan said there were a number of children present at the time and told the jury that they were placed in front of protestors to obstruct gardaí. She described one woman, who was there with two children aged about five and six years old, “repeatedly trying to place the young girl on top of the protestors”. She said the defendant Michael Murphy “was jeering the Tánaiste and riling up the crowd”. She heard him say “that's the first hour gone and only four more to go”, before he said they would beat Mary Lou McDonald's record. Gda Whelan said she also heard Michael Murphy saying a number of times that the Tánaiste should take sanctuary in the church and “it would be the only place where she would be safe”. She said Michael Murphy appeared to be in control of events. “When it became abusive he advised them to stop and said they didn't want any negative publicity. When he issued a request it was followed.” The Tánaiste and Ms O'Connell were then moved to a garda
jeep. “We formed a chain along their path. The protestors were extremely aggressive. “I was being pulled and dragged and shoved all over the place,” Gda Whelan said before she added the protestors then gathered around the jeep. “The atmosphere was very hostile. They were abusive and aggressive and it was completely out of control.” She said she was pinned up against the front of the jeep at one point and was unable to move. She saw one man assaulting a garda and assisted her colleagues in restraining him. She said they were pelted with branches, coins, bottles and placards and eggs hit her on her temple and the back of her head. Gda Whelan said the Garda public order unit was deployed and she heard Paul Murphy on a loud speaker suggest to the protestors that if the unit was withdrawn they would “let her go”. She heard someone shout back “keep the bitch here” and said Mr Murphy was met with both support and opposition. She said an agreement was reached that they would slow march the jeep down the Fortunestown Road to where it met the N81 but said at various points some protestors had to be physically moved. She described Michael Murphy as making “feeble attempts” to move the crowd but said it didn't seem to have an affect. Gda Whelan told the jury that when she first arrived at An Cosán, a number of protestors had gathered. She described them as shouting “tell her not to come out”, “traitor” and asking why the Tánaiste had been invited. She said a woman came out to try and reason with the protestors but they continued to shout and chant. The graduates then began to emerge along with Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell and the protestors continued to shout, jeer
and follow them. She described one male as shoving a phone in Ms Burton's face and recording them while she could hear people shouting “bitch, cunt, traitor and other verbal abuse”. “A woman screamed abuse in my face asking why I was protecting that bitch. She said she had to pay for water that she couldn't drink and I should be ashamed of myself and my family should be ashamed of me. She asked me who I was going to turn to when my wages were cut,” Gda Whelan said. She said while making their way to the church an egg and a water balloon were thrown at Ms Burton's face but she didn't see who had thrown it. The Tánaiste went into the church and Gda Whelan remained outside. She described a man in a blue hoodie running to an entrance at the church, referring to Ms Burton and saying he was going “to block her escape”. She said the number of protestors began to increase and soon after she noticed that many of them had ran around to the other side of the church. She followed and discovered the Tánaiste and Ms O'Connell were in an unmarked patrol car. A garda at the trial of seven men charged with falsely imprisoning TD Joan Burton and her aide said she genuinely felt she was going to be “crushed” by a crowd of water protestors in Tallaght two-and-a-half years ago. Garda Marion Power was giving evidence at the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men, all of whom deny the offences alleged to have taken place in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. Mr Murphy (aged 34), together with South Dublin Councillors Kieran Mahon (aged 39) and Michael Murphy (aged 53) and four other men, are charged with falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their
personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght. Gda Power told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she had her arm around Ms Bruton to shield her from the crowd as the former Tánaiste and her assistant Karen O’Connell were escorted through a “human cordon” of gardaí from an unmarked garda car to a jeep. “I heard a man say, ‘Let’s just petrol bomb them all out of here,’” Gda Power told Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting. “A large group of people were shouting abuse, banging on the car, pushing bars in on the car.”
“The protestors were pushing in on top of us, spitting on us. I felt like I was being crushed. Joan said she’d lost her shoe; I told her we had to keep moving to maintain our safety, I genuinely thought we were going to be crushed,” said Gda Power. Gda Power said she was standing at the front passenger side of the jeep where there were two men “continuously forcing themselves in on top of me,” one of whom kept rubbing his body against her and punching the window of the jeep until it
cracked. Gda Power said there was “constant abuse and horrendous language the whole time”. She accepted that the man who broke the jeep windscreen was not one of the accused, and said this man continuously put his foot behind the wheel of the jeep and alleged that his foot had been run over and shouted for an ambulance. Under cross-examination, Gda Power did not accept that the man’s foot had indeed been injured and was subsequently placed in a cast. “If he was injured, it didn’t happen on that date. I know exactly the character of that man, I had to deal with him,” she said. Superintendent Daniel Flavin told the court that he decided in the interests of safety to transfer the Tánaiste and Ms O’Connell from an unmarked garda car to a jeep. “It was 1:30, a winter’s evening. I felt I was going to have darkness about half five, I didn’t want a siege situation,” he said, describing a “very hostile, tense environment” with a lot of pushing of gardaí and abusive comments. Superintendent Flavin said he recognised Deputy Paul Murphy on the loudhailer addressing the crowd and heard him saying, “Will we let her go, or will we keep her here all night?” The superintendent said he told Mr Murphy that whatever his political motives were, this had gone on long enough and that there were two women trapped in the car who were entitled to go. “Mr Murphy said he had no control over the protesters,” said Superintendent Flavin. He said matters became more difficult after the TD asked the crowd would they “keep her there all night” because the response was “in effect, to keep her here”. Superintendent Flavin also pointed out that not all of the
protesters were involved in blocking the garda car or the jeep and that some members of the public in fact tried to help gardaí to move people who were sitting down. He said some protesters held up placards so that coins that were being thrown would not hit gardaí. Superintendent Flavin told the court that Mr Murphy said: “‘If you remove the Public Order Unit, I’ll allow the jeep to move,’ or words to that effect,” so he pulled the Public Order Unit back and the jeep duly started to make progress along the road.
Paul Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy (aged 71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (aged 50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (aged 46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott Masterson (aged 34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have all denied the charges. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury of seven men and five women. Earlier today, a sergeant told the court that there was “no manual” for ordinary members of the force who trained in the
Garda Public Order Unit. Sergeant Brian Boland, who was a member of the Public Order Unit who attended the Jobstown protest, said he had never read a manual but that he had seen instructors referring to one at training courses. “All our training is operational and tactical, it’s not class-room based, it’s out with the gear on, in derelict buildings, on the ground…using simulated exercises and demonstrations,” he told defence counsel Michael O’Higgins SC. Sergeant Boland said there was an overarching document about the use of force, and that the deployment of the Public Order Unit was always a “last resort” when uniformed members were no longer able to “police by consent”. He said on that day it was “futile” to try and remove the protestors because “of the sheer volume of people; there were so many of them and not enough gardaí. For every one we got off the road, three or four more sat down. It takes two of us to get one of them off the road” ,he said. “The last thing we want to have to do is engage in force, but that’s what we’re there for at the same time, we can’t be a blunt instrument,” he said, but added that the majority of the time, it’s sufficient for the Public Order Unit to just arrive. “It’s amazing the power of that, the effect,” said. Sergeant Boland said it was “perfectly lawful” for gardaí to press on people’s pressure points when they were interlocking arms to make them release their grip, saying, “some pain might be necessary,” to get a desired lawful outcome. A garda witness has said he was called a “woman beater, a disgrace, a uniformed scumbag and a coward” after he helped a woman who fell over during the Jobstown water charges protest, reports Isabel Hayes. Garda Jonathan Ryan took the stand on day 22 of the trial of
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men who are accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her aide Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. The men have denied the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gda Ryan told Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, that he arrived at the scene to see Ms Burton and Ms O’Connell in the back of a car that was surrounded by protesters. He said he recognised Paul Murphy among the protesters. Gda Ryan said some of the protesters were banging on the car, which was shaking. “It wasn’t a nice situation at all,” he said. Gda Ryan said he was at the scene about three-quarters of an hour when a decision was made to move the women to a garda jeep. He described gardaí forming a cordon of two lines to protect the women, but it dissolved “in a matter of seconds”. “She was protected by the guards and then she was swarmed by protesters,” Gda Ryan said of Ms Burton. He described the
situation as “extremely hostile” and aggressive. Once the women were in the jeep, Gda Ryan described how a bottleneck formed among the crowd, causing him to fear for the safety of those present. “People very deliberately stationed themselves in front of the jeep to make sure it couldn’t move even though people were being caught up in the squeeze,” Gda Ryan said. Protesters who sat in front of the jeep were “creating a very dangerous situation”, he added. Gda Ryan said at one point, a woman fell over and he helped her up. He said one of the defendants, Michael Banks, then called him a “woman beater, a disgrace, a uniformed scumbag and a coward”. Gda Ryan said Mr Banks had seen what happened and was just trying to “goad” him. Gda Ryan went on to describe how later when the jeep had made its way onto Fortunestown Rd “inch by inch”, he saw Paul Murphy hold a vote among protesters as to whether Ms Burton should be kept there or marched out of the area. He said there was a “unanimous decision” to keep her there and that Paul Murphy “appeared very very pleased with this”. “He appeared to be enjoying himself,” Gda Ryan said of Paul Murphy. “He was smiling and chuckling away.” Under cross-examination from Sean Guerin SC, representing Paul Murphy, Gda Ryan was shown video footage of the vote being taken by protesters. The footage, which has been played several times in court, showed Paul Murphy and Michael Murphy voting to march Ms Burton’s car out of the area. The majority of the crowd voted to keep Ms Burton there. Mr Guerin put it to Gda Ryan that his evidence was “wholly incomplete and misleading”. He said his recollection of events was “such to portray Paul Murphy in the worst possible light”.
“I don’t remember everything that happened,” Gda Ryan replied. He said he did not hear everything that was said on the day, but he reiterated that he saw Paul Murphy “smiling and laughing” during the vote. The court heard that in his statement, Gda Ryan described Paul Murphy as being “in charge”. Mr Guerin put it to Gda Ryan that he “toned down” his evidence by not saying this to the jury. “You’re a dishonest witness to whom terrible things may have happened that day, but who made a false statement that Mr (Paul) Murphy was in control of the crowd that day which you have not been willing to confirm under oath to the prosecution and only done so reluctantly when put to you by the defence in the teeth of evidence to the contrary,” Mr Guerin said. Gda Ryan denied this, saying his evidence to the jury was honest. Paul Murphy (34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon (39) of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy (53) of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have pleaded not (NOT) guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. Meanwhile, a South Dublin councillor told gardaí “there will be no issue explaining that to any judge” when shown video footage from the Jobstown anti-water charge protests, his trial has heard. When arrested and interviewed by gardaí in February 2015,
Councillor Michael Murphy repeatedly told gardaí the video footage “speaks for itself” and he said the rights of both sides were “balanced” on the day of the 2014 protest, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today/yesterday (MON). Mr Murphy's garda interview transcripts were read out on day 22 of the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy who, along with Michael Murphy and five other men, are accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her aide Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. The men have denied the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Detective Garda David Connolly told Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, that gardaí went to Michael Murphy's Ballyboden address at 6.45am on February 9, 2015, where they found him sitting in his car. He was arrested and cautioned. During two interviews that day, gardaí played video footage from the protest, including footage in which a vote was held as to whether to keep Ms Burton there or march her out of the area. When gardaí asked Michael Murphy if taking a vote implied that Ms Burton was not free to leave, he replied: “The video speaks for itself”, the court heard. When asked if that was him walking alongside the jeep containing Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell, Michael Murphy replied: “Whoever that is has his hands in his pockets walking. The video speaks for itself. It's quite clear”, the court heard. When asked if that was him banging on the jeep, Michael Murphy once again replied: “The video speaks for itself.” When gardaí asked who he was speaking to when he made comments about bringing Ms Burton back to the church as that was the only place she would be safe, Michael Murphy
replied: “Who brought her out of the church is the answer to that. The video is quite clear. There will be no issue explaining that to any judge.” When questioned about the rights of Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell, Michael Murphy said: “There's also the right to protest. These videos would suggest both rights were balanced on the day.” A garda has told a court he was hit in the head with a can of Red Bull while moving former Tanaiste Joan Burton through the crowd at an anti-water charges protest in 2014. On day 18 of the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men, Sergeant Michael Phelan described how gardaí were hit with “missiles” thrown by the crowd at the protest in Jobstown. Mr Murphy (34) together with South Dublin Councillors Michael Murphy (53) and Kieran Mahon (39) and and four other men, are charged with falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014.
The men deny the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
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The two woman were allegedly trapped in a car outside a local church and subsequently in a garda jeep for up to three hours by a crowd of water charge protestors after they had attended a local graduation ceremony. Under questioning from Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, today, Sergeant Phelan said a crowd of protesters ran at Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell as they left the church following the graduation service. “It happened so quickly,” he said. He said the crowd then surrounded the Avensis car containing the women and started banging it with placards, shouting and chanting. He said he saw one of the accused, Scott Masterson, “striking the boot with two open hands”. Sergeant Phelan said the crowd was “jostling” and “shoving” gardaí as officers tried to provide cover for the car doors and windows. He said he issued cautions to the crowd to “cease and desist” a number of times to no effect. He said when gardaí tried to move protesters who were sitting on the ground he saw a female colleague being “shoved from behind,” he said. She fell on people sitting on the ground, the court heard. Sergeant Phelan said gardaí then formed lines in an attempted to protect the two women as they moved from the Avensis car to the jeep. “The two lines just disintegrated” he
said, adding gardaí were “shoved together” by the crowd. “We just had to force our way from the car to the jeep,” he said, adding there were a number of “missiles” being thrown, including a cigarette lighters, branches and twigs. “I was struck in the back of the head with a can of Red Bull that burst open on impact and landed near my feet,” he said. Sgt Phelan said he remained by the jeep as it moved “inch by inch” through the crowd. “Everywhere I looked, gardaí were being struck with items,” he said. Defence counsel Roisin Lacey SC, representing Mr Masterson, told the court her client accepts that he was there for a “peaceful protest” that day, that he was at the rear of the Avensis car, that he was chanting “political slogans” and that he sat down beside the car. “He emphatically denies that he, at any stage, struck the boot of the car or any part of the vehicle,” Ms Lacey said. The court was then shown footage of Mr Masterson at the rear of the car, in which he had his phone in his hand. Ms Lacey said none of the extensive video footage from that day corroborated Sgt Phelan's account of Mr Masterson striking the car. “That's what I personally witnessed on the day,” Sgt Phelan said. Paul Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have all denied the charges. Earlier, Judge Melanie Greally told the jury she was discharging a female juror who was absent, and that the trial will now proceed with 11 jurors.
The trial later finished early for the day after it emerged one of the jurors was feeling unwell. It is expected to resume tomorrow. A garda has told a jury that she feared for her safety and the safety of the then-Tánaiste Joan Burton and her aide as she escorted the women through a crowd at an anti-water charges protest in 2014. Garda Fionnuala Whelan was giving evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on day 19 of the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men, all of whom deny falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her aide Karen O'Connell during a water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014.
Paul Murphy and six others deny falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her aide Karen O'Connell.
She told Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting that the atmosphere on the day was “very hostile and extremely volatile”. advertisement
She said she was there from the time the Tánaiste moved from the graduation ceremony in An Cosán adult education centre to a nearby church and was later present when the unmarked patrol car and subsequently a garda jeep, which Ms Burton and Karen O'Connell were in, was surrounded by protestors. Gda Whelan said when the protestors surrounded the unmarked garda car, they were banging on the bonnet and shouting abuse at Ms Burton. She said she tried to remove a number of people who were behind the car, preventing it from reversing. She identified the defendants Paul Murphy, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Kieran Mahon as being among the group who were sitting down. She tried to move Mr Murphy but she said she was obstructed by others. “Mr Murphy resisted my attempt to remove him and he was also held down by others by his arms and legs. They pushed me away from him,” Gda Whelan said. Sean Guerin SC, defending Paul Murphy, put it to the witness that after the protesters surround the car the situation became stable and that this stability was upset when she went to “manhandle” his client. Gda Whelan said she had not manhandled the TD and also rejected the description that the situation was stable. She again said it was extremely volatile and that she was fearing for her safety. Mr Guerin showed the jury YouTube footage showing the witness attempting to physically pull the TD up off the road. Unidentified voices on the footage said: “That's a TD you are mishandling. This was a peaceful protest until you started dragging people out of it”.
Asked by Mr Guerin what she had done about the fact that the TD's shirt was pulled off him during the struggle she said she didn't do anything because her priority was her safety and the safety of the two alleged victims. She said the defendant's safety was not in jeopardy at that time and the stripping of his shirt “was certainly not the worst thing that happened that day”. She told Mr Guerin that it didn't stand out for her. She said that what stood out for her from the day's events was being pushed and pulled and kicked and verbally abused. Paul Murphy (34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have pleaded not (NOT) guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. < ENDS > The witness told Mr McGillicuddy that at one point her garda cap was taken from her head. She tried to grab it back off a man but he pulled it from her grip and she almost fell on some protestors. She said the man then threw the garda cap on the ground and stamped on it. Gda Whelan said there were a number of children present at the time and told the jury that they were placed in front of protestors to obstruct gardaí. She described one woman, who was there with two children aged about five and six years old,
“repeatedly trying to place the young girl on top of the protestors”. She said the defendant Michael Murphy “was jeering the Tánaiste and riling up the crowd”. She heard him say “that's the first hour gone and only four more to go”, before he said they would beat Mary Lou McDonald's record. Gda Whelan said she also heard Michael Murphy saying a number of times that the Tánaiste should take sanctuary in the church and “it would be the only place where she would be safe”. She said Michael Murphy appeared to be in control of events. “When it became abusive he advised them to stop and said they didn't want any negative publicity. When he issued a request it was followed.” The Tánaiste and Ms O'Connell were then moved to a garda jeep. “We formed a chain along their path. The protestors were extremely aggressive. “I was being pulled and dragged and shoved all over the place,” Gda Whelan said before she added the protestors then gathered around the jeep. “The atmosphere was very hostile. They were abusive and aggressive and it was completely out of control.” She said she was pinned up against the front of the jeep at one point and was unable to move. She saw one man assaulting a garda and assisted her colleagues in restraining him. She said they were pelted with branches, coins, bottles and placards and eggs hit her on her temple and the back of her head. Gda Whelan said the Garda public order unit was deployed and she heard Paul Murphy on a loud speaker suggest to the protestors that if the unit was withdrawn they would “let her go”. She heard someone shout back “keep the bitch here” and
said Mr Murphy was met with both support and opposition. She said an agreement was reached that they would slow march the jeep down the Fortunestown Road to where it met the N81 but said at various points some protestors had to be physically moved. She described Michael Murphy as making “feeble attempts” to move the crowd but said it didn't seem to have an affect. Gda Whelan told the jury that when she first arrived at An Cosán, a number of protestors had gathered. She described them as shouting “tell her not to come out”, “traitor” and asking why the Tánaiste had been invited. She said a woman came out to try and reason with the protestors but they continued to shout and chant. The graduates then began to emerge along with Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell and the protestors continued to shout, jeer and follow them. She described one male as shoving a phone in Ms Burton's face and recording them while she could hear people shouting “bitch, cunt, traitor and other verbal abuse”. “A woman screamed abuse in my face asking why I was protecting that bitch. She said she had to pay for water that she couldn't drink and I should be ashamed of myself and my family should be ashamed of me. She asked me who I was going to turn to when my wages were cut,” Gda Whelan said. She said while making their way to the church an egg and a water balloon were thrown at Ms Burton's face but she didn't see who had thrown it. The Tánaiste went into the church and Gda Whelan remained outside. She described a man in a blue hoodie running to an entrance at the church, referring to Ms Burton and saying he was going “to block her escape”.
She said the number of protestors began to increase and soon after she noticed that many of them had ran around to the other side of the church. She followed and discovered the Tánaiste and Ms O'Connell were in an unmarked patrol car.
"He told gardaí that the atmosphere was peaceful and said he felt safe. He said gardaí had tried to pick someone up from the back of the car “and that's when the trouble started.” He described that “people came from everywhere.” Gardaí asked him to describe the “trouble” and he said it was “people pulling and pushing and shouting”, adding “I forget most of it really.” The garda agreed during cross examination by defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, that it was never suggested during questioning that Mr Donaghy had directly stopped Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell leaving the car. He agreed with Mr Dwyer that Mr Donaghy, who has no previous convictions, had been up front, frank and gave complete explanations about how long he was there, what he did there and when he left. Mr Dywer said the bottom line thrust of Mr Donaghy's position had been that he did not think he had done anything wrong by joining a sit down protest. The garda agreed rights of personal liberty and security outlined in the Irish Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights had been put to Mr Donaghy during interview but that there were also rights to associate and hold and express opinions. He agreed with Dwyer that he was aware rights often compete and have to be balanced.""
good old jobstown humour in the face of a sustained state and garda onslaught----Asked to comment on Ms O’Connell’s statement to the gardaí that the events of that day were the most terrifying she had ever experienced in her life, Mr Banks responded: “She hasn’t had much of a life.”“There was no-one preventing her [Ms O’Connnell] from leaving unless she was planning getting out through the boot,” Mr Banks said in his statement. frank donaghy During his interview in Tallaght Garda station, the 71-year-old former construction worker and Solidarity member was told the legislation governing false imprisonment allows for penalties of up to life in jail. “That wouldn’t be long for me,” he responded.
Joan Burton could easily have have left Jobstown protest on foot, court told Accused told gardaí the cars were detained by protesters, not the people in them
Paul Murphy (right) and six other men are charged with falsely imprisoning former tánaiste Joan Burton during an anti-water charges protest three years ago. The other men (clockwise from top left) are: Scott Masterson, Michael Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy,
Joan Burton could have “easily” left the Jobstown protest by getting out of the Garda car she was in and leaving on foot, one of those involved in the 2014 protest later told the gardaí. It was the cars that were detained by the protesters on the day, not the people in them, Michael Banks said during an interview in Crumlin Garda Station on February 12th, 2015. Mr Banks, who declined to speak with a solicitor prior to the interview, confirmed that he sat behind an unmarked Garda Avensis at Jobstown in 2014 in which the then leader of the Labour Party, Joan Burton, and her then assistant, Karen O’Connell, were being protected by gardaí. Asked to comment on Ms O’Connell’s statement to the gardaí that the events of that day were the most terrifying she had ever experienced in her life, Mr Banks responded: “She hasn’t had much of a life.” Between 40 and 50 water charges protesters were preventing the car from reversing out from where it was parked by sitting on the ground behind it, the court
heard. “There was no-one preventing her [Ms O’Connnell] from leaving unless she was planning getting out through the boot,” Mr Banks said in his statement. Asked if he accepted that Ms O’Connell felt afraid and intimidated during the events, he told the gardaí he could not comment on how she felt. When it was put to him that the two women spent threeand-a-quarter hours inside the car and, subsequently, a Garda 4x4, Mr Banks said that the two women were “free to leave at any time they wanted to. They refused to.” The contents of Mr Banks’ statement were confirmed to the court by Garda John Tuthill, when asked by Sean Gillane SC, for the prosecution. Seven defendants have pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Ms Burton and Ms O’Connell, by restricting their personal liberty without their consent on November 15th, 2014, at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Co Dublin. They are: Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght: Solidarity councillors Kieran Mahon, Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght and Michael Murphy, Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden; Scott Masterson, a selfemployed courier, of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght; Ken Purcell, a precision operative, of Kiltalown Green, Tallaght; Frank Donaghy, of Alpine Rise, Belgard Heights, Tallaght, and Mr Banks, of Brookview Green, Tallaght, whom the court was told does not have an occupation that brings him into contact with the public. Mr Banks, the court heard, told the gardaí in Crumlin Garda station that the crowd would not let the Avensis leave because Ms Burton was refusing to get out of it and answer questions. He said that if she had got out of the car, nothing would have happened to her physically. “The car was blocked but she was never in any danger.” He said people sat on the ground behind the car to show it was a peaceful protest and because the gardaí had “come on the heavy”. He said the tánaiste of Ireland would not have been visiting Tallaght to give out diplomas [to graduates of the An Cosan continuing education centre] if she did not have an agenda. “Now we’re seeing the backlash, with this fake investigation,” he said in his Garda statement. “Joan Burton came for a story and she got it.”
He said that when Ms Burton got into the Avensis she refused to get back out and answer questions that were being put to her by the protesters. So they refused to let the car leave. The court heard that another of the defendants told the gardaí he believed sit-down protests were a legitimate form of protest. Frank Donaghy told the gardaí when interviewed that the protest at Jobstown was “peaceful” but also said that “all the trouble” started when the gardaí tried to remove the people who were sitting on the ground blocking the Avensis. During his interview in Tallaght Garda station, the 71-year-old former construction worker and Solidarity member was told the legislation governing false imprisonment allows for penalties of up to life in jail. “That wouldn’t be long for me,” he responded. He asked the interviewing gardaí how “a protest can be false imprisonment?” He declined his right to have a solicitor present for the interview. The court heard that the two women were in an unmarked Garda Avensis car for 71 minutes and subsequently in a Garda Jeep for 124 minutes. Mr Donaghy said he saw Ms Burton in the back of the Avensis. “She was sitting in the back seat playing with her iPhone and laughing,” Mr Donaghy said of Ms Burton. He said that he had not known there was a protest planned for that day and had been out getting petrol for his car when he came upon it. “I stopped and went over and took part in what was a peaceful protest.” Mr Donaghy told the gardaí, when arrested on the morning of February 12th, 2015, that all he could remember was “taking part in a sit-down protest and people coming from everywhere”. He was sitting behind the Avensis for five or 10 minutes, he said. Padraig Dwyer SC, for Mr Donaghy, said that for most of the protest, which lasted a number of hours, his client was carrying a banner saying “No way, we won’t pay”. He asked Garda Chris Moylan if at any of the Garda case conferences he had attended, there had been any discussion of people being charged with other offences, such as under the public order legislation? The witness said he could not, but he was not at all the case conferences.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/jobstown-trial-hearsdefendant-asked-gardai-how-could-protesting-be-falseimprisonment-791892.html
The Smoking Phone Bodger at 11:57 am May 29, 2017
Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan at the Policing Authority last November
You may recall the Disclosures Tribunal, led by Supreme Court judge Peter Charleton, which is investigating allegations of a smear campaign against Sgt Maurice McCabe and claims made by Garda Keith Harrison.
In yesterday’s The Sunday Times. John Mooney reported that a phone used by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan – during 2013/2014, the time of the alleged smear campaign against Sgt Maurice McCabe – has gone missing. Mr Mooney reported: It was one of a number of smartphones sought by Peter Charleton, the Supreme Court judge who is investigating whether there was a conspiracy among senior gardai to smear McCabe after he exposed abuse of the penalty-points system and raised concerns about policing in Cavan/Monaghan. A phone used at the time by Martin Callinan, the former commissioner, has also gone missing as have mobile handsets used by other garda witnesses.
Charleton sought possession of the phones in an order his tribunal served on Garda headquarters. The judge also sought possession of Sim cards, copies of call logs and data, text messages, emails and all documents concerning a number of garda whistleblower controversies. The missing mobile phones and Sims are unlikely to be found, according to sources in Garda headquarters. “No one knows what became of them,” one source said. “There is no record
or log to clarify if they were destroyed, recycled or fitted with new Sim cards and given to other officers. There is no central log showing what becomes of official phones.” Emails that O’Sullivan would have sent from her phone using a private Gmail account would have been automatically deleted every 30 days, and so no record of them is likely to be found either….
Garda chief’s phone missing in smear probe (John Mooney, The Sunday Times) In addition. Readers may recall a report about Garda Keith Harrison by RTÉ’s This Week two weeks ago. It reported that Garda Harrison only recently became aware that gardaí had created a Garda “profile” report on him – shortly after he raised concerns about Garda management. This came to light after Garda Harrison’s legal team was sent a large volume of documents, following a data protection request by his team.
The tranche of documents that Garda Harrison’s team received did not include the actual profile but it included a heavily redacted email from September 1, 2014, which was sent to a series of gardaí, up to and including one at the rank of chief superintendent. Their names were all redacted. The only unredacted line in the email stated: “I refer to meeting on 18 August … I now attach profile concerning Garda Keith Harrison” while at attachment was named ‘keith harrison profile.doc’. Further to this. Francesca Comyn, in yesterday’s Sunday Business Post, reported that the High Court has ordered Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to release the suspected surveillance profile on Garda Harrison following further discovery sought by Garda Harrison’s solicitor Trevor Collins. Ms Comyn reported: The court order is in itself unusual in that it requires an affidavit of compliance to be personally sworn by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan , rather than another member of the force. O’Sullivan has been given ten weeks to comply with the ruling, which seeks a number of further records.
Noirin O’Sullivan ordered to hand over whistleblower surveillance file (Francesca Comyn, The Sunday Business Post) Gardaí created ‘profile’ report into whistleblower, new documents reveal (RTE, May 14, 2017) Meanwhile…
Commissioner O’Sullivan and Canadian ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers
In yesterday’s Irish Mail on Sunday. Sam Smyth, in his column, hinted that Ms O’Sullivan might be headed for Canada… He wrote: The Mounties in the Rockies are calling Nóirín O’Sullivan to Canada, I’m told. Word is the embattled Garda Commissioner may be taking up a position there; both academia and security have been mentioned.
The Canadian ambassador to Ireland, Kevin Vickers, is understood to been helpful through her recent crisis – and other friends think Nóirín would be well advised to quit before a new taoiseach is in place. Hmm.
Liz Howlin in the dpp’s office is also claiming her phone has gone missing/destroyed in recent months covering up corruption and the truth yet again by the corrupt dpp’s office Very corrupt senior people in Justice, on extremely high salaries phones are destroyed, it seems by senior gardai in N.B.C.I , the section Noirin O Sullivans husband Jim McGowan is running, these corrupt senior gardai should be sacked and
prosecuted , but how can this happen when the dpp's office is colluding with them and protecting them ? “Francesca Comyn, in the Sunday Business Post, reported that the High Court has ordered Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to release the suspected surveillance profile on Garda Harrison following further discovery sought by Garda Harrison’s solicitor Trevor Collins. Ms Comyn reported: The court order is in itself unusual in that it requires an affidavit of compliance to be personally sworn by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan, rather than another member of the force. O’Sullivan has been given ten weeks to comply with the ruling, which seeks a number of further records. A phone used at the time by Martin Callinan, the former commissioner, has also gone missing as have mobile handsets used by other garda witnesses.” The Mounties in the Rockies are calling Nóirín O’Sullivan to Canada, I’m told. Word is the embattled Garda Commissioner may be taking up a position there; both academia and security have been mentioned.
TD Shane Cassells has said that from the information coming to light today that it seems like "the swinging sixties have been kept going" at the garda college. "If Austin Powers had shown up in his time machine in
Templemore he wouldn't have known it was a different time period," he said.
Templemore: PAC hears 'if Austin Powers had shown up... he wouldn't have known it was a different time period' IRISHEXAMINER.COM Wednesday, May 31, 2017
The head of internal audit in the Gardaí says he does have confidence in the current Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan and Deputy Commissioner Dónal O'Cualáin. However, Niall Kelly has told the Public Accounts Committee he has been thwarted in the past by senior Garda management in investigating financial irregularities at the training college in Templemore. Being questioned by Shane Cassells at the Committee, Mr Kelly outlined some of those whom he felt were trying to keep information from him. "There's sufficient evidence before this Committee to say that the Office of the Director of Finance... the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Change Management, did not forward information - the college itself did not forward information to internal audit," he said.
Update 1.15pm: TD Shane Cassells has said that from the information coming to light today that it seems like "the swinging sixties have been kept going" at the garda college. "If Austin Powers had shown up in his time machine in Templemore he wouldn't have known it was a different time period," he said.
Update 12.03pm: Two senior civilians in the Gardaí have told the Public Accounts Committee they cannot express full confidence in all senior management of the force. Head of internal audit, Niall Kelly and head of human resources John Barrett are among a number of witnesses before the committee on financial irregularities at the Garda training college. The executive director of finance today withdrew his previous assertion that the draft audit report was "unprofessional, misleading and mischievous". Mr Kelly and Mr Barrett then told Labour's Alan Kelly they could not express full confidence in the senior management team.
"I have some reservations Deputy... I'm very concerned about what I learned this morning, truthfully it's quite shocking to me," said Mr Barrett. "I would concur with Mr Barrett, there are some questions," Mr Kelly said. You can watch live here. Update 11.02am: The head of internal audit in the Gardaí has revealed in detail how financial irregularities at the training college in Templemore were kept from him. Niall Kelly is appearing before the Public Accounts Committee over his interim report on how taxpayers money was used for entertainment and gifts, and how up to 50 bank accounts were in his existence. He has told the committee he is not convinced the coverup culture has changed in the Gardaí. "I am convinced that there was, and there may still be in some parts of An Garda Siochána, a culture of not admitting to problems. "When these problems persist - trying to keep them inhouse and away from transparent public scrutiny," he said. Earlier: The Public Accounts Committee is to hear how senior Gardaí allegedly tried to block a probe into their training college at Templemore. Members will grill seven civilian officers over the claims later. Among them is the head of the force's internal audit unit who will tell them information was deliberately withheld by his 'direct superiors'. Niall Kelly will also say there has been attempt to undermine him since his report revealed public money
was being spent on private clubs and entertainment.
Documents seen by the Irish Examiner are due to be discussed at a special day-long Dáil public accounts committee meeting today, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith and Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner.And while the files will be countered by a senior officer’s emails showing they were open to examining the issue from as early as 2008, they highlight the growing divisions in the force.In a written statement to the PAC, Garda internal audit chief Mr Kelly — one of seven civilian officers due to be questioned today without the presence of Garda management — will claim his investigations were repeatedly blocked and undermined.Mr Kelly will tell the cross-party committee between 2008 and 2011 he believes “some people did not want the newly appointed and very independent internal auditor [Mr Kelly]” to look “too critically into the Garda college”, and that “these people included my direct superiors”. The audit chief will say that when he sought information it was “withheld from me”, and will claim he was misled in September 2015 about whether he could examine the case.“I was informed legal issues were being advanced in regard to the land and employee status and until they were resolved it would be unwise to commence an audit,” he will say.“I now know that I was misinformed...
[Garda head of legal affairs] Ken Ruane was advising from July 2015 onward that internal audit should be requested immediately.”Mr Kelly — who confirmed two new audits into Garda college EU funding since 1998 and current controls of cash have been launched and are due in July — will also claim that his “motives, professional integrity, and competence” were questioned in two letters sent in October 2016 and February 2017 by senior management. However, despite alleging “there was and may still be a culture of keeping problems in-house and away from transparent public scrutiny”, the claim will be staunchly rejected by another civilian officer.In records provided to the PAC and as part of his own evidence, head of Garda finance Michael Culhane will reject any suggestion that management failed to address what happened.Mr Culhane, who was finance officer throughout the Garda college controversy, will provide management emails from January 7, 2008, to March 4, 2011, confirming he, assistant commissioners and the chief administration officer all sought to allow and act on an investigation.Mr Culhane will tell the PAC it has “significant gaps” in its information and that whistleblower garda HR executive Mr Barrett — who will also attend the meeting — provided it with “partial and inaccurate representations”. However, Mr Culhane is also expected to be questioned over an October 24, 2015, letter to management in which he suggested Ms O’Sullivan should consider setting up an investigation into Mr Barrett over concerns his private records — key to the case — could breach the Official Secrets’ Act “as his intent may appear to be to cause damage” to the gardaí.Meanwhile, during an unrelated Dáil leaders’ questions debate Taoiseach Enda Kenny said reports a phone belonging to Ms O’Sullivan had gone missing will be probed by the Charleton tribunal. Mr Kenny was responding to Solidarity-PBP TD Mick Barry, who asked “was that phone officially reported missing, if so, when exactly” and suggested that Ms O’Sullivan may have a second phone.
The head of the gardaí’s internal audit unit has said his “direct superiors” tried to block a probe into the Garda college scandal, “withheld” information and tried to “undermine” his position when the inquiry began. Enda's legacy will be his failure to act on Garda scandals... May 31, 2017 Clare Daly TD questions the Taoiseach on his poor record with dealing with Garda scandals
Leaders Questions Motion on Caranua
May 24, 2017 Clare Daly speaking on the private members motions put forward by i4c TD Catherine Connolly to overhaul the organisation Caranua which has failed in its remit to meet the needs of survivors of industrial abuse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gywwymA6ys
I bet ya any money twas a Nokia phone that Sullivan and callinan disposed of!!
Dangerous phone NOKIA---------CONNECTING PEOPLE!!
Hand over your phone and get lost Noirin O Sullivan. You must think we are stupid ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBasPIB07E&feature=youtu.be
The claims will be made by Niall Kelly today at a meeting in which it will also be alleged a senior officer urged Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to investigate whistleblower John Barrett because his private recordkeeping of what happened may have breached the Official Secrets’ Act. Documents seen by the Irish Examiner are due to be discussed at a special day-long Dáil public accounts committee meeting today. And while the files will be countered by a senior officer’s emails showing they were open to examining the issue from as early as 2008, they highlight the growing divisions in the force. In a written statement to the PAC, Garda internal audit chief Mr Kelly — one of seven civilian officers due to be questioned today without the presence of Garda management — will claim his investigations were repeatedly blocked and undermined. Mr Kelly will tell the cross-party committee between 2008 and 2011 he believes “some people did not want the newly appointed and very independent internal auditor [Mr Kelly]” to look “too critically into the Garda college”, and that “these people included my direct superiors”. The audit chief will say that when he sought information it was “withheld from me”, and will claim he was misled in September 2015 about whether he could examine the
case. “I was informed legal issues were being advanced in regard to the land and employee status and until they were resolved it would be unwise to commence an audit,” he will say. “I now know that I was misinformed... [Garda head of legal affairs] Ken Ruane was advising from July 2015 onward that internal audit should be requested immediately.”
Mr Kelly — who confirmed two new audits into Garda college EU funding since 1998 and current controls of cash have been launched and are due in July — will also claim that his “motives, professional integrity, and competence” were questioned in two letters sent in October 2016 and February 2017 by senior management. However, despite alleging “there was and may still be a culture of keeping problems in-house and away from transparent public scrutiny”, the claim will be staunchly rejected by another civilian officer. In records provided to the PAC and as part of his own evidence, head of Garda finance Michael Culhane will reject any suggestion that management failed to address what happened. Mr Culhane, who was finance officer throughout the Garda college controversy, will provide management emails from January 7, 2008, to March 4, 2011, confirming he, assistant commissioners and the chief administration officer all sought to allow and act on an investigation.
Mr Culhane will tell the PAC it has “significant gaps” in its information and that whistleblower garda HR executive Mr Barrett — who will also attend the meeting — provided it with “partial and inaccurate representations”. However, Mr Culhane is also expected to be questioned over an October 24, 2015, letter to management in which he suggested Ms O’Sullivan should consider setting up an investigation into Mr Barrett over concerns his private records — key to the case — could breach the Official Secrets’ Act “as his intent may appear to be to cause damage” to the gardaí. Meanwhile, during an unrelated Dáil leaders’ questions debate Taoiseach Enda Kenny said reports a phone belonging to Ms O’Sullivan had gone missing will be probed by the Charleton tribunal. Mr Kenny was responding to Solidarity-PBP TD Mick Barry, who asked “was that phone officially reported missing, if so, when exactly” and suggested that Ms O’Sullivan may have a second phone. The Public Accounts Committee, examining a series of financial scandals at the Templemore Garda College, are to grill eight civilian members of the force next week — without Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan being present.
The cross-party committee confirmed the move after
deciding that splitting civilian and Garda witnesses was the only likely way to ensure transparency in the evidence being provided. At a three-hour private meeting of PAC yesterday, which also heard concerns that gardaí are still failing to provide all documents relating to the scandal, the committee agreed that while it may ultimately not be able to uncover what happened it must meet with those involved in the coming weeks. In order not to interfere with the existing work schedule of the PAC, it was agreed to hold a series of “special meetings” on Wednesdays only, with the first of these scheduled for next week, and to focus solely on civilian officials. The PAC said next week’s witnesses will include whistleblower John Barrett, internal Garda auditor Niall Kelly, head of Garda finance Michael Culhane, chief administrative officer Joseph Nugent, and Mr Nugent’s predecessor Cyril Dunne. Among others who will also attend are former audit committee member Michael Howard — who like Mr Dunne has since left the force and, as such, can turn down an appearance request — and the gardaí’s head of legal affairs, Ken Ruane. At a meeting next Thursday morning, the PAC will decide in private session when to bring in senior gardaí to respond to the issues expected to be raised by the civilian officers. However, it is widely expected among PAC members that this Garda management meeting will take place within a fortnight of next week’s Wednesday meeting, with Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan, and potentially former commissioner Martin Callinan due to be told to attend. A small number of PAC members, including Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, told the private meeting yesterday they remain unconvinced a PAC investigation will uncover the exact circumstances of what happened at the Garda college. However, the majority of the PAC continue to be of the view that it is not plausible to delay any investigation. Meanwhile, PAC members have raised concerns Garda management have yet to provide them with the full
amount of documents relating to the college scandal, and are due to formally request full transparency from the force over the coming days. The concern was highlighted by Labour TD Alan Kelly, Fine Gael’s Alan Farrell and others. PAC members including unaligned Independent Catherine Connolly, Mr Kelly, Fine Gael’s Josepha Madigan and Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane and Mary Lou McDonald have also criticised alleged leaking of PAC files to the media after garda college records were released on Wednesday night. PAC chair and Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming is to urge all committee members, individually, to stop releasing sensitive records.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/templemor e-pac-hears-if-austin-powers-had-shown-up-he-wouldnt-haveknown-it-was-a-different-time-period-791830.html
Garda audit boss accuses finance chief of attempt to 'undermine' Training College probe
Head of the Garda Audit Unit since 2007, Niall Kelly
THE head of the Garda internal audit unit has accused the force's finance chief of an attempt to “undermine” his probe of the finances of the Templemore Training College. Internal Garda auditor Niall Kelly made remarks at the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which is examining financial irregularities at Templemore. Mr Kelly said he consulted widely in his preparation of his interim report on the College with people that could possibly be identified in the document. He said he did this so that “to ensure that fair procedures were observed”. Mr Kelly said two letters in response were from head of finance Michael Culhane and he said he found their content “totally unacceptable”. He said that this is because Mr Culhane questioned “my motives and my professional integrity and competence”. In one of the letters sent by Mr Culhane – on February 20, 2017, he accused Mr Kelly of effectively setting himself up as “judge, jury and executioner”.
Mr Kelly told TDs today: “I can only view these letters as an attempt to undermine the Report or an attempt to try and get me to change my audit opinion, findings and recommendations". The interim report by Mr Kelly's internal audit unit, published earlier this year, showed that the Training College had a web of more than 40 bank accounts. Some were used for purposes other than those for which they were intended, including on entertainment and buying gifts. Mr Kelly this morning told the PAC ;“The findings and recommendations in the report are robust and stand up to scrutiny.” Mr Culhane is also appearing before the PAC today. PAC chairman Seán Fleming asked him if he accepts the findings of the interim report and Mr Culhane replied: "I do". Mr Fleming asked him if his remark in the letter about Mr Kelly setting himself up as "judge, jury and executioner” was fair and if he'd say the same today. Mr Culhane said that the financial arrangements at the Training College developed over a long period of time would not not be considered acceptable by modern corporate governance standards. He also said: "You have to give people a reasonable change to defend their reputations" adding that they were operating under a regime "that by today's corporate governance standards are not acceptable". Mr Culhane said he didn't object to the recommendations of the Internal Audit Unit's interim report. He said he accepts auditor Mr Kelly's independence. During his opening statement Mr Kelly claimed that information on finances at Training College was "withheld" from him as far back as 2008. He was first appointed head of the Garda Audit Unit in 2007. He claimed that between 2008 and 2011,"that some people did not want the newly appointed and very independent internal auditor from looking too critically into the Garda College". Mr Kelly also claim that this included people he described as his “direct superiors” in the force. Mr Kelly said that when he made enquiries on the issue "information was withheld from me" and that this is "apparent" from email correspondence.
Mr Kelly also said: "Having conducted this audit and gone through all the discussions and analysis of the issues over the last two years I am convinced that there was and there may still be in some parts of An Garda Síochána a culture of not admitting to problems and when these problems persist, trying to keep them in-house and away from transparent public scrutiny." Mr Kelly claimed there is a culture in the force “that thinks An Garda Síochana is different from other Public Sector Bodies and that the normal processes of financial procedures and transparent democratic accountability do not apply”. Mr Kelly said that his unit's probe of the finances at the Traning College is not yet complete He says he plans a series of reports on aspects of the Garda College over the next two years and said: “I can assure this Committee that I will persist in reviewing these issues until they are all satisfactorily resolved.” Mr Kelly said two new audits have begun in recent weeks. The first is looking at EU-funded projects and programmes relating to the College going back to 1998. The second is on the current controls of cash in the College restaurant, shop, vending machines and the bar as well as the current banking arrangements. Mr Kelly is among a number of senior officials from the Gardaí to appear before the PAC today.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-audit-bossaccuses-finance-chief-of-attempt-to-undermine-trainingcollege-probe-35774454.html
People with these jobs can get a special Irish tax refund - here's how The flat rate expense allowances are set at different levels based on one’s area of employment BYKEELEY RYAN 31 MAY 2017
The majority of PAYE workers are missing out on hundreds of euro each year on a relatively unknown tax allowance. These allowances, known as Flat Rate Expenses (FRE) can be claimed as a deduction on your income solely based on a worker’s job description. According to taxback.com, 571,000 people claimed allowable expenses in 2013 at a total cost of €70.9million - which is just one third of the total PAYE workforce. The flat rate expense allowances are set at different levels based on one’s area of employment. Shop workers are granted a flat expense rate of €121 per year, while bar trade employees get €97. Nurses who are obliged to supply and launder their own uniforms can claim €733, while nursing assistants - including attendants, orderlies, and nurses' aides - with the same obligation can claim €526. Doctors, engineers, plumbers, civil service workers, journalists, waiters, teachers, and members of the carpentry and joinery trades are also entitled to deductions.
And the highest amount - a whopping €2,476 - can be claimed by members of the R
Here's how to find out if you're missing out
It's important to be aware that the flat rate expense deduction isn't automatic. You have to get in contact with Revenue and ask about the FRE allowance . But once you confirm that you're employed in an area that qualifies for the deductions, you can get claim expenses back for the last four years. TE National Symphony Orchestra and RTE Concert Orchesta. http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/people-jobs-can-specialirish-10535254
Go and get what you are owed people! According to taxback.com, 571,000 people claimed allowable expenses in 2013 at a total cost of €70.9million - which is just one third of the total PAYE workforce.
THE CASE FOR A PUBLIC BANK GAVIN MENDEL-GLEASON · MAY 31, 2017
Michael Noonan and Fine Gael have made it clear that they plan to sell 25% of the shares in AIB to the private market in the coming days. AIB is our bank. We bought it. It was a terrible deal when we did, but now that we’ve nursed it back to health, the government want to pass on
the winnings to the bankers who lent us the money to pay the debts caused by our bankers losing all our money. It’s the epitome of “Socialism for the rich, dog-eat-dog capitalism for the rest of us.” The idea would be laughable if it wasn’t such a serious economic crime against the citizens of Ireland. Some have said that AIB is not worth much anyhow, so we might as well sell it. As if investors are fond of lining up to buy things that aren’t worth anything. If it’s worthless, nobody will buy it and there is no point in selling it. And if it’s worth something, why are we selling it? Do you kill the golden goose to have a one-time meal or do you use the golden eggs? Noonan wants us to kill the goose. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, the state ended up with 99.8% ownership of the AIB. This makes it ours to control. And control it we should. Surely we can now use it to perform the sorts of tasks that banks are good at. We can have a bank that serves the needs of ordinary people, instead of engaging in reckless financial speculation. We have a housing crisis and a jobs crisis. Having a publicly-owned bank gives us an opportunity to connect the dots for once. To deal with the housing crisis we create a national housing authority which is charged with building houses for cost-rent for the general public. This will provide houses, but the building of these houses will, of course, provide jobs. AIB could invest in this new housing authority, but also in a public construction firm and a public apprentice programme to train people up in the best techniques of all aspects of building. With a public bank, we can get people off the dole and
back to work. We could make really well-built, quality public housing while employing people who currently can’t find work. But the real benefit of owning and democratically managing a public bank is that it helps us to answer the eternal question – where will the money come from? A public bank provides us with more options than any other structure to finance and invest in what we believe is socially important – not just profitable for elites. AIB already control pension funds or other low-risk investments which can be used as seed funding for public projects. To get really significant investment, this pool of deposits can be expanded through the introduction of a single, mandatory pension scheme, funded by employers. This will mean that everyone will be taken care of in their old age, but it will also mean that we’ll have a lot of money to invest in job creation now. AIB could then act as a strategic investment bank, funding cooperatives and public enterprises to make Ireland a player on the global market. A mandatory pension contribution fund, similar to the one that exists in Australia, would amount to an investment of approximately €1.6 billion annually. This could directly generate 30,000 jobs, reducing the number of people on the live-register by 10%. AIB also holds mortgages and one of the consequences of this is that under-performing mortgages are being sold on to vulture funds in preparation for privatisation. No account is being made of how this will impact those who hold those mortgages, or those who rent from the distressed mortgage holders. Instead, a public bank could implement
a mortgage-to-rent scheme which offers homeowners secure, lifetime tenure and increases the public housing stock. This would help to keep the property market from re-inflating, and would keep people in their homes. If we attack the housing problem and the jobs problem simultaneously, we also make products cheaper, and easier to export, making our industries much more sustainable. This is because the cost of living will be reduced substantially, allowing investments in industry to be more effective at creating jobs throughout the economy. All of this is possible if we have publicly-owned financial institutions which we run for the public benefit. The possibilities outlined here are just scratching the surface. If we start a serious conversation about the national economy and what we want it to do for us, instead of the other way around, it will become abundantly clear that we can’t get it without having public institutions. We need a public bank. We have one. Let’s keep it. Some have said that AIB is not worth much anyhow, so we might as well sell it. As if investors are fond of lining up to buy things that aren’t worth anything. If it’s worthless, nobody will buy it and there is no point in selling it. And if it’s worth something, why are we selling it? Do you kill the golden goose to have a one-time meal or do you use the golden eggs? Noonan wants us to kill the goose." The national debt is over 300 billion Euro. Europe is beginning to relax its debt rules across the member states Why the rush to hand over the 3 Billion? Strange.
http://www.lookleftonline.org/2017/05/the-case-for-a-public-bank/
12 BLUESHIRT
SUCCESSES IN 12 MONTHS ADMINISTRATOR · MAY 6, 2017
The Government has managed to make it to one whole year in office and all anyone can talk about is what the blueshirt-independent coalition supported by Fianna Fáil has failed at. But what about its successes? 1. Delaying the repeal of the 8th Amendment Last month the Citizens’ Assembly recommended to Government that abortion should be legally accessible in Ireland without restriction as to the reason. It was a welcome decision but not much help to the 9 women who have had to leave the country each day to get basic healthcare since the delaying tactic was announced in the Programme for a Partnership Government in May 2016. 2. Maintaining Church control of education
Hopes for ending segregation, allowing decent sex education, and kicking the Catholic Church out of our public schools were dashed in June when Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, announced his preference for the Community National School (CNS) model as the patronage model for new primary schools. The CNS model is the “compromise” accepted by the Catholic Church, with the “Goodness Me, Goodness You” ethics course drawn up by the Church and children segregated within the school based on religious background. 3. Supporting warmongering Hot on the heels of the EU Leaders’ summit in June which endorsed closer ties between the EU and NATO, Minister for Defence, Paul Kehoe, travelled to Poland in July to attend the NATO summit, supporting the Cold War relic’s continuation and intensification of the arms race. 4. Defending the rights of corporations to pay no tax In August the European Commission announced that it would be handing Apple a €13bn bill for unpaid Irish taxes. The response? The Irish Government will fight it tooth and nail. Who said class politics was dead? 5. Handing over public land to private developers Last summer Dublin City Council passed a motion for the public land at O’Devaney Gardens to be developed for 100% public housing. No sooner had the motion been passed than the council started making efforts for it to be overturned. In September, Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney, met with a select group of councillors (excluding the Workers’ Party, which had originated the motion for
100% public housing) and the councillors voted later that month to overturn a motion they themselves had voted for and to privatise the land. 6. Enshrining austerity for generations to come It wasn’t much of a surprise that Budget 2017 chose tax cuts for the wealthy over public services for the rest of us but one point that will ensure continuing austerity was the decision to aim for a debt to GDP ratio of 45% over the next decade, which is predicated on the complete falsehood that the economic crisis was caused by overborrowing. The previous target of 60% was already far below the EU average of 91%. 7. Locking out teachers In November hundreds of schools were closed by Government after ASTI members withdrew from supervision and substitution duties, which were unpaid following members’ decision to reject the Landsdowne Road Agreement. 8. Protecting landlords Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney, at it again. In December he announced the new rental strategy and, while the long-promised deposit protection scheme was missing, landlords in areas worst affected by rent increases over the last number of years now have a guaranteed increase in rents of 4% each year. 9. Managing to successfully ignore rural Ireland Realising Our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Rural Development was announced to much fanfare in January. The action plan flaunted itself as bringing new, shiny, innovative solutions to rural Ireland when in reality the
majority of the action points were pre-existing. 10. Covering up the neglect of working class areas It’s not only rural Ireland that’s got a new plan for a makeover. In February, a report for the Taoiseach’s taskforce on Dublin’s north inner city proposed rebranding the area instead of confronting structural issues like housing. 11. Papering over racism The Taoiseach received global recognition for “lecturing” US president Trump on the value of immigration at the annual St Patrick’s Day visit. Really, he should have been commended for managing to keep a straight face throughout his speech while overseeing Direct Provision centres at home. 12. Handing over public land to private developers (again) Not to be outdone by Simon Harris privatising public health (with the help of the nuns) and obviously buoyed up by his own success in the O’Devaney Gardens giveaway, Simon Coveney announced in April that 800 sites owned by local authorities and public bodies are to be offered up to the private market. What a success.
HOUSING CRISIS SPECIAL – LOOKLEFT 25 IN SHOPS NOW! RICHARD O'HARA · APRIL 7, 2017
LookLeft 25 is in Eason’s stores and hundreds of selected newsagents across the country now. Still only €2.00, the highlights of this issue include: Home Sweet Home – Does the occupation of Apollo House mark a new stage in the housing struggle? Eilis Ryan reports. Battle for the Heart of Dublin – The battle over the future of the O’Devaney Gardens estate. Homes for People, Not Profits – Solidarity Housing, a new policy mixed-income public housing provision outlined
by Gavin Mendel-Gleason. People of No Property Rise Up – The story of the Dublin Housing Action Committee of the late 1960s. Rise of the Nasty Nerds – Angela Nagle on the rise of the internet based extreme right movement – from 4chan and Tumblr to Trump and the Alt-Right. Unquiet Graves – How the Catholic Church profited from decades of abuse. Thoughts on Fidel – Seán Garland and Brendan Ryan on the life and legacy of Fidel Castro. Classroom Division – Justin O’Hagan examines the failure to successfully tackle class division in the education system in Northern Ireland. The Pink Tide Recedes – Gar Fitzpatrick discusses with Barry Cannon, whether the so-called ‘Pink Tide’ in Latin America is receding and what that means for the Left globally. Debate: Basic Income – Should the Left support a Universal Basic Income? Sport Against Racism Ireland – Richard O’Hara talks to SARI co-founder Ken McCue. And much more….
STAND UP AGAINST EVICTIONS ADMINISTRATOR · MAY 23, 2017
The Galway Traveller Movement walked out of the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee yesterday and has called for solidarity against the eviction of families from the Cúl Tra halting site on June 5th. The Galway City Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee is accused of having taken no substantive action to address issues outlined by GTM in a June 2016 briefing paper on solutions to Traveller accommodation issues in Galway city. GTM says that council meetings in February and March of this year showed a complete disregard for the Council’s duty of care and legal obligations to the Traveller community. Joanna Corcoran, Traveller representative on
Galway City LTACC, said: “There is no political will to address Traveller accommodation and no accountability for eighteen years of failed targets. Within the LTACC and Galway City Council meetings there is a strong anti Traveller discourse and the Traveller community’s voice is not valued.” Paddy Sweeney, also a representative on the Galway City LTACC, added: “The final straw came when Galway City Council issued eviction notices to Traveller families in Cúl Tra halting site in Salthill. We are appalled by the Council’s approach to the chronic overcrowding on the site. Their solution to the Traveller accommodation crisis is more evictions”. Galway City Council has issued a notice to vacate the halting site by 5th June and have offered no appropriate alternative accommodation. GTM has said that it will work with the affected families to resist the evictions. The group is calling for solidarity from the Traveller and settled community to attend a protest at the halting site on 5th June. "bloody bankers and their bonuses" "bloody rich and their offshore tax havens " "bloody politicians with their lying and second homes" “bloody corporations paying less tax than me” "bloody Establishment, they're all in it together” “it'll never change, there's no point in voting”
