The decision by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to open its first ever public-interest investigation to inquire into the death of Terence Wheelock is to be welcomed. I have been campaigning with the Wheelock family since Terence’s death in September 2005 for an independent inquiry to find answers to the many questions that remain unanswered to this day.
Terence Wheelock died at the Mater hospital in Dublin. He had spent three months in a coma after he was found unconscious in Store Street Garda station on June 2nd 2005. Gardaí told the coroner’s inquest that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family continues to dispute this and claims he was mistreated in Garda custody.
Many questions remain unanswered and demand to be answered if An Garda Siochana are to continue to have any credibility in Dublin’s North Inner City or indeed nationwide. Why did it take almost a year of legal wrangling with the Garda Commissioner's office until the Wheelocks were granted access to his clothes last November?
The clothes worn by Terence Wheelock were extensively stained with blood and vomit, according to a forensic report commissioned by his family's legal team. No gardaí who arrested Mr Wheelock or who were at Store Street Garda station in June 2005, when he fell into a coma, mentioned blood or vomit on his clothes at the inquest. However, at the adjournment of the inquest last year, Michael Norton, forensic scientist at Garda headquarters who examined Mr Wheelock's clothes, said there were bloodstains on some of the undergarments. According to the independent forensic analysis of the clothes, commissioned by the Wheelock family legal team, these bloodstains could have been caused by injuries and trauma to the anal area.
Photographs taken in the Mater hospital by a hospital photographer of Mr Wheelock's body and seen by myself show extensive bruising on his arms, legs and torso as well as cuts on his knuckles and single ligature mark around his neck. The photographs of his clothes show clearly bloodstains on his boxer shorts and T-shirt. I have been quoted widely as stating that these photographs are particularly troubling.
A T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and boxer shorts were examined on behalf of the family at the Dublin Forensic Science laboratory by Lee John Fagan, a forensic scientist with Keith Borer consultants in Durham, England. An opinion on his findings was given by Dr Carl Gray, consultant forensic pathologist based in Leeds. Mr Fagan, in his report dated December 8th, 2006, notes bloodstaining on the tracksuit bottoms, including a heavy soaked-in stain on the upper inside back of the trousers. The blood is said to have soaked through to the outside of the tracksuit bottoms.
Mr Wheelock's boxer shorts are found to have similar stains on the inside back. Mr Fagan is of the opinion that this blood is likely to have soaked through the shorts and tracksuit bottoms from the inside and while they were being worn. He notes vomit-staining down the front of the T-shirt as well as bloodstaining.
In his opinion on Mr Fagan's report, Dr Gray says that although vomiting may occur from an initial hanging attempt which would be nauseating, he notes that there was no double ligature mark on Mr Wheelock's neck to suggest repeated attempts at hanging and he says the most likely explanation is that the T-shirt was previously vomited upon. He also says anal bleeding is not a usual feature of hanging cases. Though it could be explained by minor anal trauma or a cut caused by constipation, it could also have been caused by injury and trauma to the anal area.The coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of death by suicide earlier this summer, but only by the narrowest of margins – by four votes to three. There are other issues in relation to the surgical cleaning of the cell that Mr Wheelock was held in the day after the events in Store Street. Hopefully the Garda Ombudsman Commission will find the answers so that the family can put the death of their son behind them. They deserve no less, decent Gardai deserve their good reputation, and society in general needs to know that everyone has the right to know the truth.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Wheelock Investigation
As the summer comes to a close, it is time to review some of the events of the summer. The decision by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to open its first ever public-interest investigation to inquire into the death of Terence Wheelock is to be welcomed. I have been campaigning with the Wheelock family since Terence’s death in September 2005 for an independent inquiry to find answers to the many questions that remain unanswered to this day.
Terence Wheelock died at the Mater hospital in Dublin. He had spent three months in a coma after he was found unconscious in Store Street Garda station on June 2nd 2005. Gardaí told the coroner’s inquest that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family continues to dispute this and claims he was mistreated in Garda custody.
Many questions remain unanswered and demand to be answered if An Garda Siochana are to continue to have any credibility in Dublin’s North Inner City or indeed nationwide. Why did it take almost a year of legal wrangling with the Garda Commissioner's office until the Wheelocks were granted access to his clothes last November?
The clothes worn by Terence Wheelock were extensively stained with blood and vomit, according to a forensic report commissioned by his family's legal team. No gardaí who arrested Mr Wheelock or who were at Store Street Garda station in June 2005, when he fell into a coma, mentioned blood or vomit on his clothes at the inquest. However, at the adjournment of the inquest last year, Michael Norton, forensic scientist at Garda headquarters who examined Mr Wheelock's clothes, said there were bloodstains on some of the undergarments. According to the independent forensic analysis of the clothes, commissioned by the Wheelock family legal team, these bloodstains could have been caused by injuries and trauma to the anal area.
Photographs taken in the Mater hospital by a hospital photographer of Mr Wheelock's body and seen by myself show extensive bruising on his arms, legs and torso as well as cuts on his knuckles and single ligature mark around his neck. The photographs of his clothes show clearly bloodstains on his boxer shorts and T-shirt. I have been quoted widely as stating that these photographs are particularly troubling.
A T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and boxer shorts were examined on behalf of the family at the Dublin Forensic Science laboratory by Lee John Fagan, a forensic scientist with Keith Borer consultants in Durham, England. An opinion on his findings was given by Dr Carl Gray, consultant forensic pathologist based in Leeds. Mr Fagan, in his report dated December 8th, 2006, notes bloodstaining on the tracksuit bottoms, including a heavy soaked-in stain on the upper inside back of the trousers. The blood is said to have soaked through to the outside of the tracksuit bottoms.
Mr Wheelock's boxer shorts are found to have similar stains on the inside back. Mr Fagan is of the opinion that this blood is likely to have soaked through the shorts and tracksuit bottoms from the inside and while they were being worn. He notes vomit-staining down the front of the T-shirt as well as bloodstaining.
In his opinion on Mr Fagan's report, Dr Gray says that although vomiting may occur from an initial hanging attempt which would be nauseating, he notes that there was no double ligature mark on Mr Wheelock's neck to suggest repeated attempts at hanging and he says the most likely explanation is that the T-shirt was previously vomited upon. He also says anal bleeding is not a usual feature of hanging cases. Though it could be explained by minor anal trauma or a cut caused by constipation, it could also have been caused by injury and trauma to the anal area.The coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of death by suicide earlier this summer, but only by the narrowest of margins – by four votes to three. There are other issues in relation to the surgical cleaning of the cell that Mr Wheelock was held in the day after the events in Store Street. Hopefully the Garda Ombudsman Commission will find the answers so that the family can put the death of their son behind them. They deserve no less, decent Gardai deserve their good reputation, and society in general needs to know that everyone has the right to know the truth.
Terence Wheelock died at the Mater hospital in Dublin. He had spent three months in a coma after he was found unconscious in Store Street Garda station on June 2nd 2005. Gardaí told the coroner’s inquest that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family continues to dispute this and claims he was mistreated in Garda custody.
Many questions remain unanswered and demand to be answered if An Garda Siochana are to continue to have any credibility in Dublin’s North Inner City or indeed nationwide. Why did it take almost a year of legal wrangling with the Garda Commissioner's office until the Wheelocks were granted access to his clothes last November?
The clothes worn by Terence Wheelock were extensively stained with blood and vomit, according to a forensic report commissioned by his family's legal team. No gardaí who arrested Mr Wheelock or who were at Store Street Garda station in June 2005, when he fell into a coma, mentioned blood or vomit on his clothes at the inquest. However, at the adjournment of the inquest last year, Michael Norton, forensic scientist at Garda headquarters who examined Mr Wheelock's clothes, said there were bloodstains on some of the undergarments. According to the independent forensic analysis of the clothes, commissioned by the Wheelock family legal team, these bloodstains could have been caused by injuries and trauma to the anal area.
Photographs taken in the Mater hospital by a hospital photographer of Mr Wheelock's body and seen by myself show extensive bruising on his arms, legs and torso as well as cuts on his knuckles and single ligature mark around his neck. The photographs of his clothes show clearly bloodstains on his boxer shorts and T-shirt. I have been quoted widely as stating that these photographs are particularly troubling.
A T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and boxer shorts were examined on behalf of the family at the Dublin Forensic Science laboratory by Lee John Fagan, a forensic scientist with Keith Borer consultants in Durham, England. An opinion on his findings was given by Dr Carl Gray, consultant forensic pathologist based in Leeds. Mr Fagan, in his report dated December 8th, 2006, notes bloodstaining on the tracksuit bottoms, including a heavy soaked-in stain on the upper inside back of the trousers. The blood is said to have soaked through to the outside of the tracksuit bottoms.
Mr Wheelock's boxer shorts are found to have similar stains on the inside back. Mr Fagan is of the opinion that this blood is likely to have soaked through the shorts and tracksuit bottoms from the inside and while they were being worn. He notes vomit-staining down the front of the T-shirt as well as bloodstaining.
In his opinion on Mr Fagan's report, Dr Gray says that although vomiting may occur from an initial hanging attempt which would be nauseating, he notes that there was no double ligature mark on Mr Wheelock's neck to suggest repeated attempts at hanging and he says the most likely explanation is that the T-shirt was previously vomited upon. He also says anal bleeding is not a usual feature of hanging cases. Though it could be explained by minor anal trauma or a cut caused by constipation, it could also have been caused by injury and trauma to the anal area.The coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of death by suicide earlier this summer, but only by the narrowest of margins – by four votes to three. There are other issues in relation to the surgical cleaning of the cell that Mr Wheelock was held in the day after the events in Store Street. Hopefully the Garda Ombudsman Commission will find the answers so that the family can put the death of their son behind them. They deserve no less, decent Gardai deserve their good reputation, and society in general needs to know that everyone has the right to know the truth.
Ombudsman Investigation into Wheelock case
As the summer closes it is time to review some of the positive and negative events of the summer. The decision by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to open its first ever public-interest investigation to inquire into the death of Terence Wheelock is to be welcomed. I have been campaigning with the Wheelock family since Terence’s death in September 2005 for an independent inquiry to find answers to the many questions that remain unanswered to this day.
Terence Wheelock died at the Mater hospital in Dublin. He had spent three months in a coma after he was found unconscious in Store Street Garda station on June 2nd 2005. Gardaí told the coroner’s inquest that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family continues to dispute this and claims he was mistreated in Garda custody.
Many questions remain unanswered and demand to be answered if An Garda Siochana are to continue to have any credibility in Dublin’s North Inner City or indeed nationwide. Why did it take almost a year of legal wrangling with the Garda Commissioner's office until the Wheelocks were granted access to his clothes last November?
The clothes worn by Terence Wheelock were extensively stained with blood and vomit, according to a forensic report commissioned by his family's legal team. No gardaí who arrested Mr Wheelock or who were at Store Street Garda station in June 2005, when he fell into a coma, mentioned blood or vomit on his clothes at the inquest. However, at the adjournment of the inquest last year, Michael Norton, forensic scientist at Garda headquarters who examined Mr Wheelock's clothes, said there were bloodstains on some of the undergarments. According to the independent forensic analysis of the clothes, commissioned by the Wheelock family legal team, these bloodstains could have been caused by injuries and trauma to the anal area.
Photographs taken in the Mater hospital by a hospital photographer of Mr Wheelock's body and seen by myself show extensive bruising on his arms, legs and torso as well as cuts on his knuckles and single ligature mark around his neck. The photographs of his clothes show clearly bloodstains on his boxer shorts and T-shirt. I have been quoted widely as stating that these photographs are particularly troubling.
A T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and boxer shorts were examined on behalf of the family at the Dublin Forensic Science laboratory by Lee John Fagan, a forensic scientist with Keith Borer consultants in Durham, England. An opinion on his findings was given by Dr Carl Gray, consultant forensic pathologist based in Leeds. Mr Fagan, in his report dated December 8th, 2006, notes bloodstaining on the tracksuit bottoms, including a heavy soaked-in stain on the upper inside back of the trousers. The blood is said to have soaked through to the outside of the tracksuit bottoms.
Mr Wheelock's boxer shorts are found to have similar stains on the inside back. Mr Fagan is of the opinion that this blood is likely to have soaked through the shorts and tracksuit bottoms from the inside and while they were being worn. He notes vomit-staining down the front of the T-shirt as well as bloodstaining.
In his opinion on Mr Fagan's report, Dr Gray says that although vomiting may occur from an initial hanging attempt which would be nauseating, he notes that there was no double ligature mark on Mr Wheelock's neck to suggest repeated attempts at hanging and he says the most likely explanation is that the T-shirt was previously vomited upon. He also says anal bleeding is not a usual feature of hanging cases. Though it could be explained by minor anal trauma or a cut caused by constipation, it could also have been caused by injury and trauma to the anal area.The coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of death by suicide earlier this summer, but only by the narrowest of margins – by four votes to three. There are other issues in relation to the surgical cleaning of the cell that Mr Wheelock was held in the day after the events in Store Street.
Hopefully the Garda Ombudsman Commission will find the answers so that the family can put the death of their son behind them. They deserve no less, decent Gardai deserve their good reputation, and society in general needs to know that everyone has the right to know the truth.
Terence Wheelock died at the Mater hospital in Dublin. He had spent three months in a coma after he was found unconscious in Store Street Garda station on June 2nd 2005. Gardaí told the coroner’s inquest that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family continues to dispute this and claims he was mistreated in Garda custody.
Many questions remain unanswered and demand to be answered if An Garda Siochana are to continue to have any credibility in Dublin’s North Inner City or indeed nationwide. Why did it take almost a year of legal wrangling with the Garda Commissioner's office until the Wheelocks were granted access to his clothes last November?
The clothes worn by Terence Wheelock were extensively stained with blood and vomit, according to a forensic report commissioned by his family's legal team. No gardaí who arrested Mr Wheelock or who were at Store Street Garda station in June 2005, when he fell into a coma, mentioned blood or vomit on his clothes at the inquest. However, at the adjournment of the inquest last year, Michael Norton, forensic scientist at Garda headquarters who examined Mr Wheelock's clothes, said there were bloodstains on some of the undergarments. According to the independent forensic analysis of the clothes, commissioned by the Wheelock family legal team, these bloodstains could have been caused by injuries and trauma to the anal area.
Photographs taken in the Mater hospital by a hospital photographer of Mr Wheelock's body and seen by myself show extensive bruising on his arms, legs and torso as well as cuts on his knuckles and single ligature mark around his neck. The photographs of his clothes show clearly bloodstains on his boxer shorts and T-shirt. I have been quoted widely as stating that these photographs are particularly troubling.
A T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and boxer shorts were examined on behalf of the family at the Dublin Forensic Science laboratory by Lee John Fagan, a forensic scientist with Keith Borer consultants in Durham, England. An opinion on his findings was given by Dr Carl Gray, consultant forensic pathologist based in Leeds. Mr Fagan, in his report dated December 8th, 2006, notes bloodstaining on the tracksuit bottoms, including a heavy soaked-in stain on the upper inside back of the trousers. The blood is said to have soaked through to the outside of the tracksuit bottoms.
Mr Wheelock's boxer shorts are found to have similar stains on the inside back. Mr Fagan is of the opinion that this blood is likely to have soaked through the shorts and tracksuit bottoms from the inside and while they were being worn. He notes vomit-staining down the front of the T-shirt as well as bloodstaining.
In his opinion on Mr Fagan's report, Dr Gray says that although vomiting may occur from an initial hanging attempt which would be nauseating, he notes that there was no double ligature mark on Mr Wheelock's neck to suggest repeated attempts at hanging and he says the most likely explanation is that the T-shirt was previously vomited upon. He also says anal bleeding is not a usual feature of hanging cases. Though it could be explained by minor anal trauma or a cut caused by constipation, it could also have been caused by injury and trauma to the anal area.The coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of death by suicide earlier this summer, but only by the narrowest of margins – by four votes to three. There are other issues in relation to the surgical cleaning of the cell that Mr Wheelock was held in the day after the events in Store Street.
Hopefully the Garda Ombudsman Commission will find the answers so that the family can put the death of their son behind them. They deserve no less, decent Gardai deserve their good reputation, and society in general needs to know that everyone has the right to know the truth.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
DEPUTY MAYOR OVERTHROWN IN BLOODLESS COUP!!
Apologies to all for my failure to keep you up to date on my comings and goings as Deputy Lord Mayor and a big thanks to the Aosdana member who urged me (I kid you not) to get back to my keyboard and to keep banging out the musings of a disgruntled public representative.
Well the end of my reign as Deputy Lord Mayor has arrived and I have to revert to being an ordinary human being again. No longer can I claim to speak for the million plus citizens who occupy our capital city by virtue of the votes of twenty-six Dublin City Councillors I received last June. Indeed it may be the highest office that I ever hold, and so it was with a heavy heart that I handed back my chain and relinquished the dubious honour of being called ‘Deputy Lord Mayor’.
When I assumed the role last year, it was on a bittersweet night in City Hall. There are few nights as exciting as the election of the Lord Mayor as quite literally anything can happen in the chamber and quite regularly, a councillor has walked in with their acceptance speech held tightly in their fist, only to see their chances explode in front of their eyes. The realisation that your dreams are going to be dashed is not a sinking feeling – it is more like an explosion.
Last year’s drama was more than a year in the making, when our majority on the Council was upset by the expulsion from Fine Gael of a Northside councillor, who then felt compelled to spoil the election of our Labour candidate Paddy Bourke by returning to the chamber after an absence of several months and by casting a vote in favour of the opposing candidate. The votes were then tied at twenty-six apiece and it came down to picking a name out of a hat. We all sat broken-hearted as Paddy Bourke’s name was left behind in the headpiece. It was the second time that Paddy had walked out of City Hall chain-less, having expecting to be calling the removal van in the morning and giving directions to the Mansion House.
When it came to the election of the Deputy Lord Mayor, it seemed that the exact same process would be played out. However, inexplicably, one Sinn Féin councillor abstained which meant that I was elected by 26 votes to 25. I can remember vividly sitting in my seat squirming at the thought of having my name in a hat with another councillor knowing that whenever that occurred in primary school I was always left disappointed. I gave an acceptance speech saying that the ambition of politicians must not be to wear chains of office, but to break chains of disadvantage. This is something that I care deeply about as there can be no more odious a sight than a little known local politician straining to get into the camera shot with a chunk of gold hanging from around his brass neck at the opening of the annual Bally-go-backwards flower show.
Politics is about making a difference. About challenging the status quo when the status quo keeps some sections of our society down at heel. We must challenge racism, illiteracy, poverty, suicide, homelessness and the power of vested interests that think primarily about lining their pockets at the expense of a brighter future for the wider community. I will not have the platform of the Deputy Mayoralty with which to further that agenda but I enjoyed the year that I had. It’s a humbling experience representing your city and I received many opportunities to do so last year. It’s back to basics from now on though. I wish the new Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke and Deputy Lord Mayor Anne Carter every success in the upcoming year.
Well the end of my reign as Deputy Lord Mayor has arrived and I have to revert to being an ordinary human being again. No longer can I claim to speak for the million plus citizens who occupy our capital city by virtue of the votes of twenty-six Dublin City Councillors I received last June. Indeed it may be the highest office that I ever hold, and so it was with a heavy heart that I handed back my chain and relinquished the dubious honour of being called ‘Deputy Lord Mayor’.
When I assumed the role last year, it was on a bittersweet night in City Hall. There are few nights as exciting as the election of the Lord Mayor as quite literally anything can happen in the chamber and quite regularly, a councillor has walked in with their acceptance speech held tightly in their fist, only to see their chances explode in front of their eyes. The realisation that your dreams are going to be dashed is not a sinking feeling – it is more like an explosion.
Last year’s drama was more than a year in the making, when our majority on the Council was upset by the expulsion from Fine Gael of a Northside councillor, who then felt compelled to spoil the election of our Labour candidate Paddy Bourke by returning to the chamber after an absence of several months and by casting a vote in favour of the opposing candidate. The votes were then tied at twenty-six apiece and it came down to picking a name out of a hat. We all sat broken-hearted as Paddy Bourke’s name was left behind in the headpiece. It was the second time that Paddy had walked out of City Hall chain-less, having expecting to be calling the removal van in the morning and giving directions to the Mansion House.
When it came to the election of the Deputy Lord Mayor, it seemed that the exact same process would be played out. However, inexplicably, one Sinn Féin councillor abstained which meant that I was elected by 26 votes to 25. I can remember vividly sitting in my seat squirming at the thought of having my name in a hat with another councillor knowing that whenever that occurred in primary school I was always left disappointed. I gave an acceptance speech saying that the ambition of politicians must not be to wear chains of office, but to break chains of disadvantage. This is something that I care deeply about as there can be no more odious a sight than a little known local politician straining to get into the camera shot with a chunk of gold hanging from around his brass neck at the opening of the annual Bally-go-backwards flower show.
Politics is about making a difference. About challenging the status quo when the status quo keeps some sections of our society down at heel. We must challenge racism, illiteracy, poverty, suicide, homelessness and the power of vested interests that think primarily about lining their pockets at the expense of a brighter future for the wider community. I will not have the platform of the Deputy Mayoralty with which to further that agenda but I enjoyed the year that I had. It’s a humbling experience representing your city and I received many opportunities to do so last year. It’s back to basics from now on though. I wish the new Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke and Deputy Lord Mayor Anne Carter every success in the upcoming year.
Monday, March 12, 2007
DEPUTY MAYOR WELCOMES CITY COUNCIL DECISION TO ISTALL FULL LENGTH CYCLE LANES ON O'CONNELL STREET
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Aodhan O Riordain, has welcomed the proposal from Dublin City Council Traffic Advisory Group to introduce cycle facilities over the full length of O’Connell Street.
The report is be ratified at the meeting of the Central Area Committee tomorrow (Tuesday 13th) 'I have been campaigning for the full introduction of cycle lanes for O'Connell Street since its refurbishment and I am delighted that the City Council have finally agreed to install them.' Cllr O Riordain said.
'If we are to create a cycle-friendly city, than our main street needs to take the lead. The installation of cycle lanes is an important safety issue and also an essential symbolic gesture.' he continued.
'I am delighted that this issue has finally been laid to rest with a positive outcome', Cllr O Riordain concluded.
The report is be ratified at the meeting of the Central Area Committee tomorrow (Tuesday 13th) 'I have been campaigning for the full introduction of cycle lanes for O'Connell Street since its refurbishment and I am delighted that the City Council have finally agreed to install them.' Cllr O Riordain said.
'If we are to create a cycle-friendly city, than our main street needs to take the lead. The installation of cycle lanes is an important safety issue and also an essential symbolic gesture.' he continued.
'I am delighted that this issue has finally been laid to rest with a positive outcome', Cllr O Riordain concluded.
DOCKLANDS STATION WELCOME BUT RESIDENTS CONCERNS HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED
The opening of the new Docklands station is indeed a welcome addition to the infrastructure in the North Inner City. However the arrival of this new line has resulted in numerous residents complaining to me that assurances given to them by senior Irish Rail management have not materialised.
Assurances from one of the project managers were given that the ground under the tracks would dampen vibrations. However residents say that the rumble is worse than they remember when the track was last in use by freight trains. A difference in noise level is also noticeable and the height of the train is such that commuters will be able to look into houses on Ossary Road, North Strand.
There have been several residents meetings about this issue with CIE and public representatives and residents had decided against a perspex noise-barrier and/or fencing as these would not solve the problems expected and would create problems of their own. Expectations are now realised with the vibrating caused by the train and this issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Residents in the North Inner City have patiently put up with a lot of developments as they understand that they will improve the quality of life of the local area and the entire city. However assurances given by developers, in the private or public sector, must be realised.
Assurances from one of the project managers were given that the ground under the tracks would dampen vibrations. However residents say that the rumble is worse than they remember when the track was last in use by freight trains. A difference in noise level is also noticeable and the height of the train is such that commuters will be able to look into houses on Ossary Road, North Strand.
There have been several residents meetings about this issue with CIE and public representatives and residents had decided against a perspex noise-barrier and/or fencing as these would not solve the problems expected and would create problems of their own. Expectations are now realised with the vibrating caused by the train and this issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Residents in the North Inner City have patiently put up with a lot of developments as they understand that they will improve the quality of life of the local area and the entire city. However assurances given by developers, in the private or public sector, must be realised.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
'RIGHT TO READ CAMPAIGN' DELIVERS EXTENDED LIBRARY HOURS FOR DUBLINERS
Deputy Lord mayor of Dublin, Cllr Aodhan O Riordain has welcomed the announcement that several Dublin libraries are to begin a six day week starting on March 23rd.
This is as a direst result of the Deputy Mayor's Right to Read campaign and the €1 million that was invested in the library system.
Cllr O Riordain said: 'Saturday opening for North Strand and Drumcondra libraries will commence on Saturday 24th March and Friday opening for Marino and Phibsboro libraries will commence on Friday 23rd March.The provision of Saturday opening for Kevin Street library and Friday opening for Ringsend and Inchicore libraries will begin after Easter.
Following roll out of this schedule for 7 named branches; all Dublin City Public libraries will provide 6-day service. This is a fantastic achievement for the Right to Read Campaign and one that I am extremely proud of'.
The Right to Read Campaign is seekig improvements in three key areas, homework clubs, library services and housing policy. For more information log onto www.righttoread.ie.
This is as a direst result of the Deputy Mayor's Right to Read campaign and the €1 million that was invested in the library system.
Cllr O Riordain said: 'Saturday opening for North Strand and Drumcondra libraries will commence on Saturday 24th March and Friday opening for Marino and Phibsboro libraries will commence on Friday 23rd March.The provision of Saturday opening for Kevin Street library and Friday opening for Ringsend and Inchicore libraries will begin after Easter.
Following roll out of this schedule for 7 named branches; all Dublin City Public libraries will provide 6-day service. This is a fantastic achievement for the Right to Read Campaign and one that I am extremely proud of'.
The Right to Read Campaign is seekig improvements in three key areas, homework clubs, library services and housing policy. For more information log onto www.righttoread.ie.
Monday, February 26, 2007
DEPUTY MAYOR WELCOMES GAY BYRNE'S REMARKS ON DRUGS
DEPUTY MAYOR WELCOMES GAY BYRNE'S REMARKS ON DRUGS
STATEMENY BY CLLR AODHAN O RIORDAIN
Monday February 26th
Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin has welcomed the comments of the chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne over the weekend about the legalisation of drugs. Mr Byrne told the RTÉ Radio 1 Conversations with Eamon Dunphy programme that he was coming round to the view that illegal drugs should be legalised because attempts to deal with the problem through law enforcement had "demonstrably failed".
Speaking today, Cllr O Riordain said ‘Drugs are a continuing cancer which have a devastating effect on communities throughout my electoral area of the North Inner City, throughout Dublin and indeed throughout the country. However it is becoming clear to me that we as a society need to start a new debate on the problem as we are clearly losing the war on drugs.’
The international president of the Europe Against Drugs Network (Euraid), Gráinne Kenny has called on Gay Byrne to resign but Cllr O Riordain has said that his comments are welcome ‘if it begins a realistic, open and honest debate about drug use and drug abuse in Ireland.’ ‘I work at the coalface in the North Inner City and I understand more than most the appalling effect that drugs have on families and communities. However for too long the drugs debate has stayed out of the political mainstream and that has to change. If Gay Byrne’s remarks result in a new conversation at the highest level on the drugs situation, then his comments are welcome.’ Cllr O Riordain concluded.
STATEMENY BY CLLR AODHAN O RIORDAIN
Monday February 26th
Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin has welcomed the comments of the chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne over the weekend about the legalisation of drugs. Mr Byrne told the RTÉ Radio 1 Conversations with Eamon Dunphy programme that he was coming round to the view that illegal drugs should be legalised because attempts to deal with the problem through law enforcement had "demonstrably failed".
Speaking today, Cllr O Riordain said ‘Drugs are a continuing cancer which have a devastating effect on communities throughout my electoral area of the North Inner City, throughout Dublin and indeed throughout the country. However it is becoming clear to me that we as a society need to start a new debate on the problem as we are clearly losing the war on drugs.’
The international president of the Europe Against Drugs Network (Euraid), Gráinne Kenny has called on Gay Byrne to resign but Cllr O Riordain has said that his comments are welcome ‘if it begins a realistic, open and honest debate about drug use and drug abuse in Ireland.’ ‘I work at the coalface in the North Inner City and I understand more than most the appalling effect that drugs have on families and communities. However for too long the drugs debate has stayed out of the political mainstream and that has to change. If Gay Byrne’s remarks result in a new conversation at the highest level on the drugs situation, then his comments are welcome.’ Cllr O Riordain concluded.
Monday, February 19, 2007
REPUBLICAN SINN FEIN SHOULD CALL OFF PROTEST
I am calling on Republican Sinn Fein to cancel their planned protest at this Sunday's rugby international at Croke Park.
This weekend's game is a historic sporting event and one which is greatly anticipated in the local area. The attempts by some elements to politicise the occasion is unwelcome and is adding unwanted tension to an match which should be a celebration of sporting endeavour.
The English team are due the same respect as all visiting sides to Dublin and all outdated cries of protest only serve to drag us back to a narrow-minded insular past which is unrepresentative of our modern nation'
I am calling on Republican Sinn Fein to abandon their plans to protest as the potential for the march to be hijacked by undesirable elements is quite high, if last years Love Ulster parade is anything to go by.
I am delighted to welcome the English team and its supporters to Dublin and to my own area of the North Inner City and I hope all Dubliners will do the same in the true spirit of Croke Park and the history of sport in Ireland.
The details of the protest seen below are posted on the Republican Sinn Fein website
‘RSF Croke Park protest
Republican Sinn Féin has confirmed that it will be holding a protest at the England-Ireland rugby international on February 24 next.
Those wishing to protest at the playing of God Save the Queen (English national anthem) and the flying of the English flag in Croke Park whilst England continues to occupy part of Ireland should assemble at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade near the Sunset House pub on Saturday, February 24 at 3.30pm.
This weekend's game is a historic sporting event and one which is greatly anticipated in the local area. The attempts by some elements to politicise the occasion is unwelcome and is adding unwanted tension to an match which should be a celebration of sporting endeavour.
The English team are due the same respect as all visiting sides to Dublin and all outdated cries of protest only serve to drag us back to a narrow-minded insular past which is unrepresentative of our modern nation'
I am calling on Republican Sinn Fein to abandon their plans to protest as the potential for the march to be hijacked by undesirable elements is quite high, if last years Love Ulster parade is anything to go by.
I am delighted to welcome the English team and its supporters to Dublin and to my own area of the North Inner City and I hope all Dubliners will do the same in the true spirit of Croke Park and the history of sport in Ireland.
The details of the protest seen below are posted on the Republican Sinn Fein website
‘RSF Croke Park protest
Republican Sinn Féin has confirmed that it will be holding a protest at the England-Ireland rugby international on February 24 next.
Those wishing to protest at the playing of God Save the Queen (English national anthem) and the flying of the English flag in Croke Park whilst England continues to occupy part of Ireland should assemble at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade near the Sunset House pub on Saturday, February 24 at 3.30pm.
APPEARANCE ON RTE ONE'S 'REALLY USEFUL GUIDE'
I was delighted to appear on RTE One's 'The Really Useful Guide' programme last Sunday to discuss the 'Right to Read' campaign. Please see the link below.
http://www.rte.ie/tv/thereallyusefulguide/episode18.html
http://www.rte.ie/tv/thereallyusefulguide/episode18.html
LATEST ARTICLE FOR METRO EIREANN
Valentines Day should be banned and legislation is needed immediately to criminalise it. The proposal for the outlawing of Valentine’s Day celebrations is a campaign waiting to be launched and it will undoubtedly get mass public support. I am calling to arms all those like-minded citizens who are frustrated, lovesick or financially insolvent as a result of this unwanted feast day. Think of all the thousands upon thousands of soft middle ground votes that would be drawn to such a stance if some clever politician ran with the idea! Forget pronouncements on transport, crime, taxation, education and health. Lets talk direct to the nation on an issue where there is widespread support and lets put an end to this annual day of unbridled insanity.
Does anyone disagree with me? Lets face it, for single people (of which I am not one) every February 14th is filled with lonesome thoughts of what could have been, what was and not what isn’t, or what mightn’t ever happen. For non-single people, Valentines Day is a massive hassle which leads men to making an annual bags of it by underestimating the significance of the event, and leads women to getting the hump and whimpering down the phone to each other with sobs along the lines of ‘if he can’t make the effort on the one day of the year well then I just don’t know anymore….’, etc etc.
A gay friend of mine who has been known to don a pair of pink tights on pride marches and attach inflated condoms to his head, is now at the stage of wearing sackcloth and ashes on Valentines Day because it has sucked all the fun, joy, spontaneity and romance out of his relationship on a yearly basis. So just who benefits from this madness? Teddy bear and confectionary companies, card manufacturers and a heap of overpriced restaurants with tacky heart-shaped balloons. Does anybody genuinely look forward to the event? How many times have you leapt out of your bed on a Valentines morning, skipped down the stairs like an excited puppy in anticipation of a large red envelope landing on your door mat only to be crushed by the sledgehammer realisation that nobody, yes nobody, would bother their backside to send you a card. Wouldn’t you be happier without that stark reminder of your undeniable unattractiveness?
I once was the recipient of an anonymous Valentines Card which I have to admit did cheer me up on a particularly dreary February day in the mid 1990s when I trudged home from college through the crowds of seemingly endless muppets weighed down with flowers and chocolates. On arriving home, a red envelope was waiting for me with a typically cryptic message inside that implied it was from someone that had shared that journey home with me on occasion. Having innocently quizzed various fellow female (and male) passengers over the course of a few months and having gotten a succession of raised eyebrows and raised fists in reply, I gave up my search. It now transpires, all of ten years later, that it was actually sent by my little sister as a prank! This all came out while shopping for a card with her last week. The only secret admirer I ever had was my little sister, egged on by my mother, who held back tears of laughter as she penned the supposedly forlorn lovesick verses of a distant fan. Needless to say I laughed it off when she chuckled as she told me the real story behind the card, but something inside me wanted to poke her in the eye with a rose and run over her with a postal van.
Last week my sister was actually searching in vain for a Valentines card that said something along the lines of ‘Its Valentines Day and I know you love me and I think you are nice in a have-a-cup-of-tea-with-now-and-again-in-a-very-public-place sort of way’. She of course is someone whose annual task is to break somebody’s heart, generally someone who likes her a whole lot more than she likes them. However most of us circle February 14th in our diaries and write ‘Get heart danced on’. It is the most contrived and unnecessary event of the year and it needs to go. It actually outranks St Patricks Day because at least our patron saint’s day has retained a small element of religious and spiritual observance. Valentines Day hasn’t as much as retained the word ‘saint’ in its title! And by the way – how many people genuinely expect an engagement ring to be produced on the day but are disappointed year after year after year? In an amendment to my proposal, the word ‘ring’ should also be banned in the month of February.
Either way I’m sure that most people got through the festivities relatively unscathed, apart from the casualties of an empty wallet or a punctured heart. And remember it’s a good twelve months away now so you can relax in the knowledge that we have an entire year to exact our revenge and make Ireland a Valentine-free zone. If we don’t succeed then we can simply boycott the event and pretend that it doesn’t exist. However the weaker ones amongst us will still send prank cards or wait impatiently with rolling pins in hand to inquire of their partners of the whereabouts of the big red heart-shaped folding thing that all of your friends in work got! I suppose all of us deep inside still weep a little when we have yet another cardless mid-February morn – it doesn’t have to be that way you know. What about a ‘Make Valentine History’ campaign? It has a certain ring to it.
Did someone mention a ring?
Does anyone disagree with me? Lets face it, for single people (of which I am not one) every February 14th is filled with lonesome thoughts of what could have been, what was and not what isn’t, or what mightn’t ever happen. For non-single people, Valentines Day is a massive hassle which leads men to making an annual bags of it by underestimating the significance of the event, and leads women to getting the hump and whimpering down the phone to each other with sobs along the lines of ‘if he can’t make the effort on the one day of the year well then I just don’t know anymore….’, etc etc.
A gay friend of mine who has been known to don a pair of pink tights on pride marches and attach inflated condoms to his head, is now at the stage of wearing sackcloth and ashes on Valentines Day because it has sucked all the fun, joy, spontaneity and romance out of his relationship on a yearly basis. So just who benefits from this madness? Teddy bear and confectionary companies, card manufacturers and a heap of overpriced restaurants with tacky heart-shaped balloons. Does anybody genuinely look forward to the event? How many times have you leapt out of your bed on a Valentines morning, skipped down the stairs like an excited puppy in anticipation of a large red envelope landing on your door mat only to be crushed by the sledgehammer realisation that nobody, yes nobody, would bother their backside to send you a card. Wouldn’t you be happier without that stark reminder of your undeniable unattractiveness?
I once was the recipient of an anonymous Valentines Card which I have to admit did cheer me up on a particularly dreary February day in the mid 1990s when I trudged home from college through the crowds of seemingly endless muppets weighed down with flowers and chocolates. On arriving home, a red envelope was waiting for me with a typically cryptic message inside that implied it was from someone that had shared that journey home with me on occasion. Having innocently quizzed various fellow female (and male) passengers over the course of a few months and having gotten a succession of raised eyebrows and raised fists in reply, I gave up my search. It now transpires, all of ten years later, that it was actually sent by my little sister as a prank! This all came out while shopping for a card with her last week. The only secret admirer I ever had was my little sister, egged on by my mother, who held back tears of laughter as she penned the supposedly forlorn lovesick verses of a distant fan. Needless to say I laughed it off when she chuckled as she told me the real story behind the card, but something inside me wanted to poke her in the eye with a rose and run over her with a postal van.
Last week my sister was actually searching in vain for a Valentines card that said something along the lines of ‘Its Valentines Day and I know you love me and I think you are nice in a have-a-cup-of-tea-with-now-and-again-in-a-very-public-place sort of way’. She of course is someone whose annual task is to break somebody’s heart, generally someone who likes her a whole lot more than she likes them. However most of us circle February 14th in our diaries and write ‘Get heart danced on’. It is the most contrived and unnecessary event of the year and it needs to go. It actually outranks St Patricks Day because at least our patron saint’s day has retained a small element of religious and spiritual observance. Valentines Day hasn’t as much as retained the word ‘saint’ in its title! And by the way – how many people genuinely expect an engagement ring to be produced on the day but are disappointed year after year after year? In an amendment to my proposal, the word ‘ring’ should also be banned in the month of February.
Either way I’m sure that most people got through the festivities relatively unscathed, apart from the casualties of an empty wallet or a punctured heart. And remember it’s a good twelve months away now so you can relax in the knowledge that we have an entire year to exact our revenge and make Ireland a Valentine-free zone. If we don’t succeed then we can simply boycott the event and pretend that it doesn’t exist. However the weaker ones amongst us will still send prank cards or wait impatiently with rolling pins in hand to inquire of their partners of the whereabouts of the big red heart-shaped folding thing that all of your friends in work got! I suppose all of us deep inside still weep a little when we have yet another cardless mid-February morn – it doesn’t have to be that way you know. What about a ‘Make Valentine History’ campaign? It has a certain ring to it.
Did someone mention a ring?
Monday, January 22, 2007
PROUD SHERIFF STREET COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER THAN SHODDY JOURNALISM
The depiction of the Sheriff Street area as 'notorious' and as a 'ghetto' in some of this Sundays newspapers are unworthy descriptions of a proud community that I am proud to serve as a teacher and as a public representative.Stigmatising the area of Sheriff Street is all too easy and disregards the huge efforts being made by youth and community workers to push this community towards a better future.
There are dozens of positive projects ongoing in the area which often go unreported because they aren't considered newsworthy.Activities such as the After Schools Clubs, local soccer, boxing and GAA clubs, disco dancing clubs, Peace Corps, Club 4U teenage discos and the North Wall Women’s Centre prove that this is a community to be proud of.
It is true that the Sheriff Street area has been dogged with social problems through the generations, however the community are facing those problems and are facing the future with confidence.
Labelling our community with negative stereotypes only serves to undermine the good work that is ongoing. It also affects the self-confidence of our young people that we are trying to encourage to be proud of where they are from.
There are dozens of positive projects ongoing in the area which often go unreported because they aren't considered newsworthy.Activities such as the After Schools Clubs, local soccer, boxing and GAA clubs, disco dancing clubs, Peace Corps, Club 4U teenage discos and the North Wall Women’s Centre prove that this is a community to be proud of.
It is true that the Sheriff Street area has been dogged with social problems through the generations, however the community are facing those problems and are facing the future with confidence.
Labelling our community with negative stereotypes only serves to undermine the good work that is ongoing. It also affects the self-confidence of our young people that we are trying to encourage to be proud of where they are from.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
NEW SHERIFF STREET LADIES SOCCER TEAM
Last Friday was one of those rare occasions when you get a tingle of excitement and anticipation about something you have worked hard on coming to fruition. Last Friday a group of young womwn assembed in Sheriff Street Community Hall for the first training session of the new adult ladies soccer team for the area.
Having started up a Gaelic football and soccer team in St Laurence O' Toole's Girls School seven years ago, I am proud to think that I have played a role in the formation of this team. Many of the girls who I introduced to football as schoolgirls are now of an age to represent their area, through the local Sheriff YC Club, on an adult womens team.
The lack of facilites in our school is well documented and indeed was subject of the Documentary on One Radio programme entitled: 'Playiing with Pride' which can be accsed by clicking on my previous post.
Football gives vital expression to the pride that young people havr in their community. Football fosters positive ethics of teamwork, solidarity, mutual respect and learning together. Football is also Sheriff Street's game and many local people have represented Ireland at various levels. Players like Keith Treacy, Trevor Molloy and Olivia O'Toole are still cary the flag for this community Local poeple are rightfully proud of their achievements ans children view them as role models that they wish to emulate. Hopefully our new ladies football team can do the same.
Having started up a Gaelic football and soccer team in St Laurence O' Toole's Girls School seven years ago, I am proud to think that I have played a role in the formation of this team. Many of the girls who I introduced to football as schoolgirls are now of an age to represent their area, through the local Sheriff YC Club, on an adult womens team.
The lack of facilites in our school is well documented and indeed was subject of the Documentary on One Radio programme entitled: 'Playiing with Pride' which can be accsed by clicking on my previous post.
Football gives vital expression to the pride that young people havr in their community. Football fosters positive ethics of teamwork, solidarity, mutual respect and learning together. Football is also Sheriff Street's game and many local people have represented Ireland at various levels. Players like Keith Treacy, Trevor Molloy and Olivia O'Toole are still cary the flag for this community Local poeple are rightfully proud of their achievements ans children view them as role models that they wish to emulate. Hopefully our new ladies football team can do the same.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Documentary on One: 'Playing With Pride'
Listen to Rte's Documentary Programme on Aodhán's Sheriff Street Girls Gaelic Football Team called 'Playing With Pride' http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/rams/12january.smil
MORNING IRELAND'S REPORT ON 'RIGHT TO READ' CAMPAIGN
Listen to Cian MacCormaic's report on the Deputy Lord Mayor's Right to Read Campaign on Morning Ireland by clicking on http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1115/morningireland.html
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