Liam Neeson slams Irish govt, says Irish people “Taken” for a ride - IrishCentral.com

Liam Neeson slams Irish govt, says Irish people “Taken” for a ride - IrishCentral.com,Liam Neeson has stated he will not move back to Ireland because of the government water charges controversy.

VIDEO: Alex White on how austerity affects him and whether Joan Burton hurt his feelings

VIDEO: Alex White on how austerity affects him and whether Joan Burton hurt his feelings

The Wrong Side Of The Thin Blue Line | Broadsheet.ie

The Wrong Side Of The Thin Blue Line | Broadsheet.ie,During the debate, Mr Wallace spoke about the events over the last year regarding the gardaí and how former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and the former Justice Minister Alan Shatter lost their positions. He also spoke about the role of the media in the Garda story.?

Áras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says dean

Áras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says deanÁras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says dean Áras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says dean,But, there was “no ‘them’ and ‘us’. There is only ‘us’, ” he said. There was “the universal human capacity for corruption, inhumanity and cruelty. All it takes is a particular set of circumstances. All it takes is a context of unaccountable power,” he said. “Whether it is the politician faking mobile phone bills, the clergy abusing children or the cruelty of the staff in Áras Attracta; we, as a society, need to rethink our relationship with power: how we do it and how we allow others to do it in our midst.” ?ITS THE WATCHERS WHO ALLOW IT? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?

Mick Wallace claims gardaí involved in drugs trade#.VIn5cKBsZ9g.facebook#.VIn5cKBsZ9g.facebook#.VIn5cKBsZ9g.facebook#.VIn5cKBsZ9g.facebook

Mick Wallace claims gardaí involved in drugs trade,Mr Wallace said he raised the claims in the Dáil nine months ago and that Gsoc launched an investigation. He said the whistleblower contacted him two weeks ago to claim he was being intimidated in work, that “his life was being made hell” and that he had heard nothing back about the investigation.?

Maurice McCabe Interviewed: 'This took six years out of all our lives' | Irish Examiner

Maurice McCabe Interviewed: 'This took six years out of all our lives' | Irish Examiner

Shatter: Whistleblower probe was stymied | Irish Examiner

Shatter: Whistleblower probe was stymied | Irish Examiner,Alan Shatter told Taoiseach Enda Kenny in a confidential letter after he resigned as justice minister that he was "stymied" by Department of Justice officials at looking into whistleblower allegations against gardaí.?

Maurice McCabe Interviewed: 'This took six years out of all our lives' | Irish Examiner

Maurice McCabe Interviewed: 'This took six years out of all our lives' | Irish Examiner,He was at that time an anonymous whistleblower, enduring the usual treatment meted out to those who break rank to point out wrongdoing. Vicious rumours about his motives and character were spread like manure, through the force, across the media. Every effort was made to discredit his allegations. ?

Padd o connell - Google+

Padd o connell - Google+Where Does The Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Fit Into The Whistle Blowers Legislation?

Whistleblower's statement about Richard Bruton has been sent to Gardai

Whistleblower's statement about Richard Bruton has been sent to Gardai

Public Inquiry · Who’s watching the watchers?

Public Inquiry · Who’s watching the watchers?Here's an ANSBACHER ACCOUNT for all the looneys of this world.”006248″99;0210;10343699″12.WHOS THE BIGGER CROOK?slan.

Revenue cannot name 20 account holders who availed of amnesty - Independent.ie

Revenue cannot name 20 account holders who availed of amnesty - Independent.ie,Within hours, the five former ministers named who are still alive - Desmond O'Malley, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, Gerry Collins, Ray MacSharry and Richie Ryan - all denied ever holding Ansbacher accounts.?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

Donaldson: No deal unless Dublin opens up on Troubles - Belfast Newsletter

Donaldson: No deal unless Dublin opens up on Troubles - Belfast Newsletter,Robert Grant

THERE HAS BEEN a shift in Ireland’s political climate in recent months. While it was brought to the surface by the water charges, there is a sense of a deeper, structural dissatisfaction among diverse groups of people. The amount of protests, and newly-formed action-groups, coupled with the flood of commentaries attempting to understand and shape the narrative reveals the seriousness of the shift. Something has changed in Ireland’s political consciousness?AS THE SAYING GOES PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF POLITICIANS LIES?WE FEEL YOUR PAIN CRAP?

- See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?

GOTCHA! – NewsScoops.Org - Irish Newspaper Investigations

GOTCHA! – NewsScoops.Org - Irish Newspaper Investigations

GOTCHA! – NewsScoops.Org - Irish Newspaper Investigations

GOTCHA! – NewsScoops.Org - Irish Newspaper InvestigationsYet from the very beginning, the Leinster House authorities – headed by Kieran Coughlan, the Clerk of the Dáil – insisted time and again that the expenses claims in question were wholly legitimate. They also launched repeated attacks on the MoS for our reporting of the issue.?TIP OF THE DAIL-BERG?

Homeless man who died by Dáil 'would have been known to many TDs' | Irish Examiner

Homeless man who died by Dáil 'would have been known to many TDs' | Irish Examiner

“The men who sleep rough around there would be known to a number of the TDs,” he said.



“There have been a number of questions to Enda Kenny in the Dáil about homelessness, and he refers to his conversations with the men who sleep in that area.”



There have been warnings in recent weeks about people dying on the streets as the winter sets in.?

Ex-minister O'Keeffe guilty of phone expenses fraud | Irish Examiner

Ex-minister O'Keeffe guilty of phone expenses fraud | Irish Examiner,Mr O’Keeffe’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said his client had “never been in trouble in his life” but he acknowledged that the “paperwork does not stack up”. He said Mr O’Keeffe was “under a lot of stress and strain” and that “his distinguished record is now blemished”. ?

A shameful postscript to a long dedicated Dail career - Independent.ie

A shameful postscript to a long dedicated Dail career - Independent.ie

Requinx 5ptsFeatured9 hours ago

" His farming background" look up his entry in the dail Register of interests and Mr O Keeffe is a well to do farmer and would already have benefited from the very large subsidies and transfers give to the agricultural industry and dairy industry in particular. Add on the TD salary and pensions as a TD and Minister of state and Mr O Keefee is clearly  a wealthy man. So perhaps one of the appropriate questions for politicians like Mr O Keeffee is why they seek to defraud when they are already wealthy ? 

And lets be clear, Mr O Keeffee was defrauding the very people of Mitchelstown who had voted him into office again and again. Mitchelstown has seen a lot of its jobs lost with the closure of its meat processing factories. They deserved better than this.?

A shameful postscript to a long dedicated Dail career - Independent.ie

A shameful postscript to a long dedicated Dail career - Independent.ie,The amount involved was relatively small and he met the charge squarely. But the breach of trust was utterly shameful for a lawmaker and public representative and a timely guilty plea saved him from jail.?

Sinead Ryan: Thin line between tweet and twits for TDs - Herald.ie

Sinead Ryan: Thin line between tweet and twits for TDs - Herald.ie,They’ll be told to get their social media profiles active, make like they’re ‘down with the people’ and ensure constituents hear about good news stories.?

WHAT IF?

WHAT IF?Maíria Cahill case has caused ‘suffering’ for abuse survivors Maíria Cahill case has caused ‘suffering’ for abuse survivors,The Maíria Cahill case highlighted “ yet again the enormous challenges facing survivors of child sexual abuse in this country in accessing support and justice,” ?ESPECIALLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND IF YOUR PROFOUNDLY DEAF AND NON SPEAKING,THROW ILLITERACY ON TOP OF ALL THAT? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

Channel 4

Channel 4

Channel 4

Up for a challenge? Watch this without being moved... The first time #PatrickSpeaks. From #UnreportedWorld, 7.35pm.?

WHAT IF?

WHAT IF?ENCOURAGECHANGE.PADDYWANTSTOKNOW? ABUSE CASE No.763978.?ENDA KENNY AND CO,TAKE NOTE. - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie/search?.

Mary Lou claims “entirely untrue” and “entirely incorrect” — Department of Justice

Mary Lou claims “entirely untrue” and “entirely incorrect” — Department of Justice

Mary Lou claims “entirely untrue” and “entirely incorrect” — Department of Justice

Mary Lou claims “entirely untrue” and “entirely incorrect” — Department of JusticeThat brick wall has been placed in their way by various agencies of the state, including a number of government departments and An Garda Síochána.?

Podemos hopes to cement rise of citizen politics in Spain after election success | Politics | theguardian.com

Podemos hopes to cement rise of citizen politics in Spain after election success | Politics | theguardian.com,The idea behind the party is simple, Iglesias told the Guardian on Tuesday. "It's citizens doing politics. If the citizens don't get involved in politics, others will. And that opens the door to them robbing you of democracy, your rights and your wallet."?

BBC News - Ferguson a stark reminder of US human rights issues - media

BBC News - Ferguson a stark reminder of US human rights issues - media   Class Or Colour“Channel Your Frustration In Ways That Will Make A Positive Change.”?

Maíria Cahill case has caused ‘suffering’ for abuse survivors

Maíria Cahill case has caused ‘suffering’ for abuse survivors,The Maíria Cahill case highlighted “ yet again the enormous challenges facing survivors of child sexual abuse in this country in accessing support and justice,” ?ESPECIALLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND IF YOUR PROFOUNDLY DEAF AND NON SPEAKING,THROW ILLITERACY ON TOP OF ALL THAT?

Private investigator fined €5,000 for accessing Garda data

Private investigator fined €5,000 for accessing Garda dataMr Gaynor (62), a former garda, faced three charges of illegally accessing personal information held by An Garda Síochána and of disclosing it without authority, under the provisions of section 22 (1) of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003.?

An Garda Síochána should never believe they are above the law - Independent.ie

An Garda Síochána should never believe they are above the law - Independent.ie,And simply watching the interview with Mr Olson I began to wonder what at all is going on at An Garda Siochána. It often strikes me there are close parallels between the police and priests in Ireland. In the past there was an air of untouchability about both organisations. In many ways they gave the impression they were above the law. ?

TV3 suspends Ireland AM tweets after anti-water charges message

TV3 suspends Ireland AM tweets after anti-water charges message

TV3 suspends Ireland AM tweets after anti-water charges message

TV3 suspends Ireland AM tweets after anti-water charges message

Eamonn Mac Thomais - Dublin, A personal view - The Liberties part 1

Group of gardai lose €2m in Byrne property fraud - Independent.ie

Group of gardai lose €2m in Byrne property fraud - Independent.ie,A number of senior gardai followed the syndicate into the property market at the height of the bubble and have suffered significant losses, it is said. In one instance, three senior officers are said to have borrowed in the region of €800,000 to invest in properties and have made substantial losses. ?

Cops Charge Irish Government With Treason | Fools Crow's Blog

Cops Charge Irish Government With Treason | Fools Crow's Blog, While the government referred to the gardaí as ‘self-serving, overpaid, underworked and dishonest people’, it at the same time praised the ‘entrepreneurial skill’ and ‘business acumen’ of failed banksters like Sean Fitzpatrick (Anglo Irish Bank) and Michael Fingleton (Irish Nationwide Building Society), two people who played a huge part in bringing the Irish economy to its knees.?

Our unhealthy mental health services - irishhealth.com

Our unhealthy mental health services - irishhealth.com,The Commission pointed out recently that despite the clear need to reorganise and redevelop our mental health services, the HSE's service plan for this year had no specific targets in relation to implementing the 'Vision for Change' policy. ?

WHAT IF?: Widow calls for mental health changes to protect children

WHAT IF?: Widow calls for mental health changes to protect children A WOMAN WHOSE husband killed their two young daughters before taking his own life has called for a change in legislation to include families in treatment of those suffering from mental health issues and to protect children.?Our Unhealthy Mental Health System?
- See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie/2013/10/widow-calls-for-mental-health-changes.?

Bereaved mum urges mental health care changes | Irish Examiner

Bereaved mum urges mental health care changes | Irish Examiner

A woman whose husband killed their children before taking his life fears another family could suffer a similar tragedy unless the HSE changes the mental health care system.

Four years to the day since her life was torn apart, Una Butler said she hoped a long-awaited review into her husband’s care, which is nearing completion, recommends sweeping changes. ?

"Termites ate up my tax records", says tax evader Abhishek - Moneylife

"Termites ate up my tax records", says tax evader Abhishek - Moneylife,Following a rejection of Singhvi's application for immunity from penalty and prosecution by the Commission, Singhvi approached the Jodhpur High Court and has got a stay on the Settlement Commission's order arguing that the Commission had no authority to levy the penalty on him and had stepped out of its jurisdiction.?

Bertie Ahern facing investigation over claims for expenses - Independent.ie

Bertie Ahern facing investigation over claims for expenses - Independent.ie,Ex-Taoiseach unaware of fraud probe and insists he stuck by rules?

Public Inquiry · Learning the truth

Public Inquiry · Learning the truth

Sam Smyth, whose daughter suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, is still in the process of finding out just how ruthless and uncaring Irish politicians are when it comes to looking after their own petty interests.

As part of the deal (which, by the way was secret and thus totally undemocratic) to support the formation of a government Independent TD, Finian McGrath was promised that CF sufferers would be looked after.

As soon as he withdrew his support these ruthless people pulled the plug on the deal. In other words they were only interested in political power not the welfare of very vulnerable citizens.?This Would Apply To Most People With Disabilities.?

CONNECT TO MY ANGELS

CONNECT TO MY ANGELS“”It appears that the standard strategy for dealing with complaints – especially when they concern important or ‘connected persons’ is to target the complainant regardless of the complainant’s personal integrity – or of the legitimacy of their complaint. In the course of I-I members’ collective experiences with particular agencies and institutions, certain tactical patterns have emerged that are clearly designed to wear down, exhaust and intimidate the citizen, and thereby suppress the truth and frustrate justice.”?” – See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.PADDYWANTSTOKNOW? ABUSE CASE No.763978.?ENDA KENNY AND CO,TAKE NOTE.

Garda Inspectorate Chief Inspector calls for end of ‘who you know’ culture | Irish Examiner

Garda Inspectorate Chief Inspector calls for end of ‘who you know’ culture | Irish Examiner

Meanwhile, Garda whistleblower John Wilson says acting Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan should withdraw from the running for the permanent role. He says the An Garda Síochána is "broken" and needs a fresh start.



"I am now calling on [her] to withdraw as a candidate," he said.?

Concern over the delay in forwarding allegations - Independent.ie

Concern over the delay in forwarding allegations - Independent.ie,Labour TD Robert Dowds said he "cannot quite understand" why it took nearly two years for the witness statement from the whistleblower - Department of Jobs civil servant Gerard Ryan - to be forwarded to gardai.?

Action against Garda Síochána, State over reputation damage can proceed

Action against Garda Síochána, State over reputation damage can proceed

Negligence claims against gardaí concerning criminal investigations to proceed to trial Smyth vs Commissioner of An Garda Síochána (2014) IEHC 453 (High Court, Peart J, July 10th, 2014)

The High Court refuses to strike out negligence claims against the Garda for alleged negligence in criminal investigations in the 1980s and 1990s, on grounds that it was not inevitable that the claims would fail, where the plaintiffs claimed a special relationship with the Garda that gave rise to a duty of care.

Ciarán Joyce BL

Politicians should be wary of dismissing whistleblower

Politicians should be wary of dismissing whistleblower,Ryan says that to the best of his knowledge Richard Bruton, the current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, failed to forward the document to the gardaí “at any time in the period of almost two years since I submitted it to him”.?

Code to aid reporting Garda misdeeds | Irish Examiner

Code to aid reporting Garda misdeeds | Irish Examiner“In particular, the new authority will be tasked with holding the Garda Commissioner to account in relation to all policing services, while developing a key role in the future appointment of senior Garda management,” she said. ?

Ex-Garda boss backs whistle blowers | Irish Examiner

Ex-Garda boss backs whistle blowers | Irish ExaminerMs McGuinness also said judicial appointments should be made by an independent body. “Since the recent referendum, judges’ salaries are, in reality, controlled by the government, and other changes have to some extent reduced the true independence of the judiciary as provided for in the Constitution. We should no longer rely on a judicial appointment system that is in fact political.” ?

'Whistleblower' letter to PAC opened in Michael Lowry tax trial - Independent.ie

'Whistleblower' letter to PAC opened in Michael Lowry tax trial - Independent.ie,Mr Lowry wants a file sent to the DPP, on foot of a separate formal complaint made by him, against Kevin Phelan, a land agent, Sunday Independent writer Dr Elaine Byrne and Anne Harris, editor of the Sunday Independent Newspaper.?

'Whistleblower' letter to PAC opened in Michael Lowry tax trial - Independent.ie

'Whistleblower' letter to PAC opened in Michael Lowry tax trial - Independent.ieIf those applications succeed, Mr Lowry also wants Circuit Court Judge Thomas Teehan to send a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on foot of allegations made by him that a number of people "profoundly misled" the DPP, Criminal Assets Bureau and the Revenue Commissioners.?

Context for, and focus on, the Garda | Village

Context for, and focus on, the Garda | VillageThe right to dissent peacefully is a cornerstone of democracy. Nevertheless, since the foundation of the Irish state, police violence has been routinely used to suppress protest movements – most notably protests by the most marginalised in society?

We need to talk about the Gardaí | Village

We need to talk about the Gardaí | Village

The history of An Garda Síochána is a long litany of violence against citizens, of indiscipline, insubordination and ineptitude, corruption and illegality, of ill-treating detainees, botched investigations and much more – wrongdoing revealed by tribunals of inquiry culminating in the extraordinary findings of the Morris Tribunal whose recommendations still blow in the wind, in court trials and in debacles like the latest one that brought down the Minister for Justice.

The right to dissent peacefully is a cornerstone of democracy. Nevertheless, since the foundation of the Irish state, police violence has been routinely used to suppress protest movements – most notably protests by the most marginalised in society.?

Gardaí confirm tax evasion allegations were investigated | BreakingNews.ie

Gardaí confirm tax evasion allegations were investigated | BreakingNews.ie Gardaí confirmed this evening that they investigated the allegations several years ago, and a file was sent to the DPP.

In a statement Gardaí said if any new or further information on these matters are provided to them, then they will of course be investigated.

Judges claimed €1.6m in expenses two years ago | BreakingNews.ie

Judges claimed €1.6m in expenses two years ago | BreakingNews.ie

Bailey jury told case about ‘deliberate corrupt behaviour’

Bailey jury told case about ‘deliberate corrupt behaviour’Journalist Ian Bailey’s case against the Garda Commissioner and the State is not about negligent investigation of the murder of French film-maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier but about “deliberate corrupt behaviour”, a High Court jury has been told.?

Papers Delivered at MacGill 2013 | MacGill Summer School

Papers Delivered at MacGill 2013 | MacGill Summer School,As the 100^th anniversary of the 1916 Rising approaches, what better time is there to look at the republic which came about as a result of that event?  Is this the republic that was dreamt of by Pearse, Connolly and the other brave men and women who marched up to the GPO on that fateful Easter morning?  Do we even recognise and cherish the republic we live in?  Do we act and behave according to republican principles?  The greed and avarice and the irresponsible behaviour which we have witnessed in the last decade would indicate that the answer is definitely, no and that respect throughout the population, young and old, for the republic and its institutions is not what it should be.?The Greed And Avrice Was Created By And For The Elite's,It Is Now Time For The Ordinary Working-Class To Get A Look In?

Journalists over-rely on official sources, conference hears

Journalists over-rely on official sources, conference hears,“When the allegations were first aired we saw many of the political and security correspondents saying there was no story here, that the whistleblowers had an axe to grind. Well, we saw then how that reliance on the official version from official sources proved to be wrong when the whistleblowers were proved to be right.”?

Review of prison system fails to tackle endemic problems

Review of prison system fails to tackle endemic problemsIn relation to this recent report, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said: “In the past, we have had plenty of reports but not enough implementation. I will not let this be the case with the Penal Policy Review”. Referring to the ignored Whitaker report of 30 years ago, she said there now exists “the deep-rooted determination and political will to make change happen in penal policy”. Unfortunately, the Strategic Review of Penal Policy fails to address many of the deep-seated problems in Ireland’s prisons, and in many instances fails to even acknowledge them.?

Stop the TTIP-Dr Paul O'Connell on Vimeo

Stop the TTIP-Dr Paul O'Connell on Vimeo1/10/2014 in UNITE the union headquarters Dr Paul O'Connell gives the lowdown on the trade agreement between the US and the EU.

Special report: Stepping up the pace of Garda reform | Irish Examiner

Special report: Stepping up the pace of Garda reform | Irish Examiner,Prof Dermot Walsh, an author on policing and criminal justice, said the authority should “subsume most of the policing functions” held by the department. This would include “recruitment, appointments, education and training, pay, pensions, conditions of service, discipline, complaints, ethics, promotion and uniform”. ?AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION?Stop treating abuse victims with contemptStop treating abuse victims with contempt Louise O’Keeffe outside Dunderrow NS, Kinsale, Co Cork. She fought a 15-year legal battle to establish that the State’s failure to establish an adequate child protection framework in schools made it partly responsible for abuse suffered by children.Picture: Dan Linehan. Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 12:00 AM Everyone who suffered abuse in a defective school system should now be paid the compensation they are entitled to under human rights law, writes Conor O’Mahony. It is well known that navigating the justice system is a traumatic experience for people who experience sexual abuse or assault. This has been documented at length in academic research, and extensively discussed in the media in the past year or two. It remains the case in spite of the fact that in criminal cases, the power of the State is amassed on the side of the victim. So imagine how much more traumatic the experience must be when the power of the State is devoted to denying justice rather than pursuing it? This is what has been experienced by people who were sexually abused in Irish primary schools in the 1960s and 1970s. Learn more Louise O’Keeffe knows this all too well. She fought a 15-year legal battle to establish that the State’s failure to establish an adequate child protection framework in schools made it partly responsible for abuse suffered by children. During this time, the State repeatedly sought to pursue her for costs; she could have lost her family home. When she lost in the Supreme Court, the State wrote to other litigants threatening to pursue them for costs unless they dropped their cases immediately. When she eventually won her case in the European Court of Human Rights in 2014, that should have been the end of the matter, not just for Ms O’Keeffe, but for others abused in the same defective system. Instead, the State once again marshalled its considerable resources to seek to prevent others from obtaining compensation. It established an ex-gratia compensation scheme, but applicants could only qualify for compensation if they could prove that their abuse occurred in the aftermath of a prior complaint made against their abuser. This condition was effectively impossible to prove; and moreover, it was incompatible with the judgment in Ms O’Keeffe’s case. Every single application to the scheme was rejected for failure to prove prior complaint. The independent assessor appointed to review applications to the scheme,retired High Court judge Iarfhlaith O’Neill, ruled on Monday that the condition was “an inherent inversion of logic and a fundamental unfairness to applicants”, and was “inconsistent with the core reasoning of the judgment of the ECtHR in the Louise O’Keeffe case”. This establishes once and for all that rather than accepting its liability following the O’Keeffe judgment, the State spent five years (and €1.5m in legal costs) seeking to deny compensation to people entitled to it as a matter of human rights law. So now is the time to put things right. In practical terms, this means that every person who experienced sexual abuse in the same inherently defective system should be compensated inthe same way. The Louise O’Keeffe judgment demands no less. There are 360 known victims, and the scheme proposes to make payments of €84,000 per person. The total cost of this would be €28m — just 2% of the €1.4bn indemnity given to religious orders in respect of abuse in residential institutions. Unfortunately, there is already evidence that the Department of Education is considering a continuation of the“divide and conquer” tactics that it has employed over the past five years. Thus far, it has only indicated that it will make payments in 13 cases specifically considered by the independent assessor. However, to limit the implications to these 13 cases is a wilful distortion of the assessor’s decision. If the condition of prior complaint is inherently incompatible with the O’Keeffe judgment, then as a matter of international human rights law, it must be dropped for all applicants (and not just those whose cases tested the point). Other tactics adopted by the department to date include distinguishing cases based on the point in time at which court proceedings were instituted, and denying all compensation to people who have never litigated in the courts. There is neither logic nor humanity to these positions. They penalise people who lacked the emotional or financial resources to take a court case at a time when the State was attempting to financially ruin those who took one. If two people suffered sexual abuse in the same defective system, it is abhorrent to compensate one and not another simply because court papers were or were not filed by a specific date. And humanity aside, there is a strong argument that since the European Convention on Human Rights does not require people to pursue national remedies that had no reasonable prospect of success, all victims should be entitled to benefit from the O’Keeffe decision regardless of whether they ever took a case at national level (where Irish courts have repeatedly rejected all such claims). This issue has dragged on for far too long already. The State has treated abuse survivors with contempt, and added insult to their significant injuries. It needs to make amends now by paying everyone who suffered abuse in a defective school system the compensation that they are entitled to under human rights law. It has failed to do so once already; the same mistake cannot happen a second time. Conor O’Mahony is director of the child law clinic at University College Cork. The clinic assisted Louise O’Keeffe’s case before the European Court of Human Rights, and made multiple submissions to the independent assessor in this case.

Fury of ex-love told to pay up (From Worcester News)

Fury of ex-love told to pay up (From Worcester News)"But there's no animosity towards her, the frustration is at the way the legal system works.?

BBC News - Martin Foran wins second miscarriage of justice appeal

BBC News - Martin Foran wins second miscarriage of justice appeal,"It has been a long, hard battle to get to this point and I have waited many
years."?TIP OF THE ICEBERG?

Tusla working to establish facts around death of toddler in Dublin

Tusla working to establish facts around death of toddler in Dublin,She said she wasn’t “in a position to comment” when asked if more could have been done to help the family .?QUOTE FRANCES FITZGERALD MINISTER FOR JUSTICE?

Fitzgerald added that the gardaí will be included in the Freedom of Information Bill, which is expected to be enacted quickly. “I am determined to do whatever is necessary to provide our communities with the policing service they deserve and I am confident that the Government’s reform programme will achieve that,” she said. ?

Hardiman’s concerns about Strasbourg court unconvincing

Hardiman’s concerns about Strasbourg court unconvincing,Regard must be had to the particular circumstances of each case and the Court of Human Rights must take account of the general legal and political context in which remedies operate and the personal circumstances of individual complainants such as Louise O’Keeffe.?

Family of teen who died while in HSE care seeks independent inquiry, inquest hears - Independent.ie

Family of teen who died while in HSE care seeks independent inquiry, inquest hears - Independent.ie,“We have written to the Child and Family Agency seeking that they appoint a member of the judiciary, either serving or retired, to conduct an independent inquiry into the State and how it dealt with Danny Talbot throughout his entire life,” he said.?

Prison officers say they’re told to “cover their arses”

Prison officers say they’re told to “cover their arses”

In his annual report, Judge Michael Reilly described finding “incomplete, inaccurate, and at times misleading” statements from prison staff.

He described one investigation where a prison officer said he and his colleagues had been told to deliberately “keep [their reports] short and cover your arse”.?

Amid the shocking allegations and controversies surrounding the Garda, for example, it’s worth remembering – as Conor Brady writes in his new history of the force – that “a police force is almost always a mirror image of society’s prevailing values”. ?

Cronyism is at the heart of Irish society

Cronyism is at the heart of Irish society,At the same time, a 2014 European Commission survey on corruption suggests that four out of five Irish people also believe that corruption is endemic and only a quarter believe efforts to eradicate it are working?

Prayer for reformed judicial appointment process has fallen on deaf political ears - Independent.ie

Prayer for reformed judicial appointment process has fallen on deaf political ears - Independent.ie,To counteract claims of cronyism, we were also promised reform of the judicial appointments process - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/prayer-for-reformed-judicial-appointment-process-has-fallen-on-deaf-political-ears-?

CRONYISM | Oconnellpadd13's Blog

CRONYISM | Oconnellpadd13's Blog,ENCOURAGECHANGE.: Lijit paddoconnell: “‘Basically i find it obnoxious that in this life cronyism comes before qualifications,Plus the fact that your class background defines what position you may be granted in life by the so-called elites.’?THE GREY-HAIRED MEN?”

“”It appears that the standard strategy for dealing with complaints – especially when they concern important or ‘connected persons’ is to target the complainant regardless of the complainant’s personal integrity – or of the legitimacy of their complaint. In the course of I-I members’ collective experiences with particular agencies and institutions, certain tactical patterns have emerged that are clearly designed to wear down, exhaust and intimidate the citizen, and thereby suppress the truth and frustrate justice.”?” – See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com

Irish Left Review | No Easy Victories

Irish Left Review | No Easy Victories,The campaign for the Right2Water in Ireland is rapidly growing in strength and confidence. Working class communities have been staging determined and inspiring protests to prevent the installation of water meters in their areas, the best of the trade union movement has mobilised to help support and coordinate these efforts at the national level and the Irish political left has rallied to the cause. In response to the growth of the movement, the Irish State has let loose its dogs of war. As a result of which recent days have witnessed heavy handed and provocative policing from An Garda Síochána, concentrated mainly in Edenmore, Donaghmede and Coolock. - See more at: http://www.irishleftreview.org/2014?

News - Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government

News - Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government,In carrying out his independent review Mr Woulfe visited the site, reviewed all relevant files and documents furnished by Wicklow County Council and met with Council officials and the Public Representatives. Mr Woulfe did not have any statutory powers in carrying out this review. He records however that he received the full cooperation of the Council, the Public Representatives and the Department.?

December 2012, NUI Galway Appoints Michael O’Flaherty as Professor of Human Rights: About Us, NUI Galway

December 2012, NUI Galway Appoints Michael O’Flaherty as Professor of Human Rights: About Us, NUI Galway,Since October 2011, Professor O’Flaherty has been Chief Commissioner of the
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Commission advises the government
and is responsible for protecting and promoting human rights throughout Northern
Ireland. "It is also empowered to help people whose rights may have been denied
and can carry out its own investigations"?

Fr Molloy and Freedom of Information Act. A request by the family for information from the Department of Justice has come back after two months with information only relevant to the years 2010 -2014.We had naturally requested information going back to the time of Niall’s murder in 1985. No explanation has been given for excluding the previous 25 years. We are now in the position where we have to lodge an appeal to obtain information which is our legal right to have under the Freedom of Information Act. We have made similar requests to other relevant Government Departments and they have all responded with information dating back to 1985 and even earlier.Why is the Department of Justice holding back ?

Wallace in new claims of Garda harassment over Kilkenny pub

Wallace in new claims of Garda harassment over Kilkenny pub

Minister of State at the Department of Justice Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) did not refer directly to Mr Wallace’s allegations, but said “while I am aware of some of the disturbing and difficult cases which feed into a culture which needs to be addressed, now is the opportunity for us to address it”.

He acknowledged there were incidents which had shaken the confidence of the public, such as the Corrib gas situation, and he was aware of difficulties encountered by some young "Working-Class" men and their treatment in Garda stations.?

Wallace in new claims of Garda harassment over Kilkenny pub

Wallace in new claims of Garda harassment over Kilkenny pub,Mr Wallace also claimed that in an incident in July this year, when gardaí entered another bar, Matt the Miller, at 2.30am, “Inspector Connolly was on the premises drinking, clearly intoxicated, but left hastily, no names were taken and no record of this inspection was recorded on the Pulse system.”?

‘You could not get into Fortress Garda,’ says former GSOC commissioner

‘You could not get into Fortress Garda,’ says former GSOC commissioner,It’s only when it comes to their own door that it all changes. Some of the most difficult cases we’ve had to deal with were where a law-abiding, perfectly respectable family suddenly finds that a son or a daughter has been mistreated by a guard . . .?

It’s only when it comes to their own door that it all changes. Some of the most difficult cases we’ve had to deal with were where a law-abiding, perfectly respectable family suddenly finds that a son or a daughter has been mistreated by a guard . . .?

Who Killed Honor Bright? by Patricia Hughes (eBook) — Lulu IE

Who Killed Honor Bright? by Patricia Hughes (eBook) — Lulu IE,Authorities in the new Irish Free State harassed and murdered Honor Bright before maligning her as a prostitute and acquitting her assassin. The newly founded Garda Siochana spread deceitful rumours and coerced witnesses to conceal Honor's true identity and the real reason for he death.
False evidence, perjury and the silencing of potential witnesses led to hug he public demonstrations, but newspapers were coerced into printing only authorised stories or else face the consequences from the Garda or Ministry of Justice. ?

Prison Reform Trust > Press & Policy > News

Prison Reform Trust > Press & Policy > News

The Chief Inspector of Prisons added:

 

“Of course, there are security issues that need to be managed but the technology itself allows every key stroke to be monitored and access can be risk-assessed. Perhaps there are some who will say computers and the internet are luxuries prisoners should do without. There was probably some grumbling when they first put telephones on the wings too and if we want prisons to rehabilitate those they hold, we have to give them the tools to do so?

Community threatens to decapitate boy over antisocial behaviour / Sunday World

Community threatens to decapitate boy over antisocial behaviour / Sunday World,His grandmother said she loved him but also said she could not have him in her home any more. Locals want her evicted because of the boy's activities?

Dáil Éireann - 15/May/2014 Guerin Report: Statements (Continued)

Dáil Éireann - 15/May/2014 Guerin Report: Statements (Continued)Chapter 19.33 reads: “It has sent out a message to the force that if you ignore your duty, are grossly negligent, hide and cover up, you will be deemed suitable for promotions.” That is a very important statement in the report. I talk to members of the Garda regularly. Family members serve in the force. They talk about the need for a meritocracy within the Garda Síochána. Once one gets above the rank of sergeant, promotion seems to be based on political decisions.?

Extradition case sparked controversial GSOC report - Independent.ie Extradition case sparked controversial GSOC report - Independent.ie,GSOC was later approached by a retired garda who said he was the source of the information relating to Gerry Burke - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/extradition-case-sparked-controversial-gsoc-report? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

Extradition case sparked controversial GSOC report - Independent.ie

Extradition case sparked controversial GSOC report - Independent.ie,GSOC was later approached by a retired garda who said he was the source of the information relating to Gerry Burke - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/extradition-case-sparked-controversial-gsoc-report?

Garda watchdog may have blown our trust for good - Herald.ie

Garda watchdog may have blown our trust for good - Herald.ie,There is now good reason to suspect that this information is liable to leak - which should concern any citizen who wants to make a complaint about garda conduct.?

THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND SECRECY? 25/09/2014 at 12:32 pm (1) · Edit The Dail’s spending watchdog has criticised the practice of gardai conducting internal reports into contentious issues in the aftermath of the penalty points debacle. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) John McGuinness said: “The day of internal reports or secret reports is over.”He made the comments at a meeting of the PAC this morning after another committee member, Shane Ross, described an internal report on the penalty points issue by Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahony as being “soft on the gardai”.Mr Ross said gardai should “never again” be able to do an internal report, suggesting serious issues should be the subject of outside scrutiny.Mr O’Mahony’s report found no evidence of corruption or deception, but recommended three senior members of the force face disciplinary proceedings. – See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pac-member-internal-garda-penalty-points-report-was-soft-on-the-force?

Increase in allegations of garda misconduct - RTÉ News

Increase in allegations of garda misconduct - RTÉ News,Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins said the terms of reference of the review should be changed so that complainants have a chance to have meet the counsel reviewing their case.?

Shared Insight: Research, Advocacy & Training to Charities, Community Groups, Business & Government

Shared Insight: Research, Advocacy & Training to Charities, Community Groups, Business & Government

Shared Insight provides research, advocacy and training services to groups in the voluntary, community, public and private sectors.  Our partners and associates are experts in social research and law.  Through this unique collaboration, we aim to promote the understanding of social issues and to advocate for change.

The ethos of Shared Insight is the promotion of human dignity and the empowerment of marginalised communities. ?

This site you’re looking at now was created by mySociety. As an organisation, we’re pretty keen on political transparency. We believe that people should be able to refer back to statements and promises made by politicians in the past - how else can they be held to account?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

How corruption costs us more than just money - Independent.ie

How corruption costs us more than just money - Independent.ieOnly a handful of errant politicians and public officials have ever been jailed. The cost to the people of Ireland is more than money. The apparent immunity of people engaged in corruption has undermined public confidence in the rule of law and the effectiveness of government and administration. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-downing/how-corruption-costs-us-more-than-just-money?

- See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?

Are some guards still above the law?

Are some guards still above the law? Part of the new culture I hope to usher in will be to ensure that among members the truth will always trump loyalty to the force. That will be in your hands. If you want an example, you could do worse than look at Sergeant Maurice McCabe, the man who brought these allegations to my attention. He has proven to be right in the past, and he may well be right now. If so, we will acknowledge that some in the force are finding change very difficult and if such individuals can’t be a part of the future, your future, then they will be consigned to the past.” ?

Are some guards still above the law?

Are some guards still above the law?

CHANGE is a serious dose. Change is difficult and painful, and it can be excruciating. So it goes for an individual. For an organisation in which resides great power, change can be the harbinger of tremendous upheaval.

Change, we are told, is blowing through the culture in An Garda Síochána. This is as a direct result of the recent oversight controversies and attitudes towards a member of the force who highlighted wrongdoing until it was finally addressed.?

ECAN bulletin issue 23, June 2014 3 Brinsford: A prison of filth and failure Following a damning report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (23 April), Chief Inspector Nick Hardwick named Brinsford prison as the worst prison he has come across during his tenure. Responding to the report, Chief Executive of the Howard League Frances Crook said “This report should also be a wake-up call for magistrates who need to "Stop Sending Teenagers To Dangerous And Failing Institutions…? and should instead make use of robust and effective community sentences run by probation services and available in their local areas” . The report finds higher rates of self-harm than other prisons, unsafe arrival procedures, and 15 out of an earlier 18 recommendations still to be met?

Eamon McDevitt’s story to be told through sign language

Eamon McDevitt’s story to be told through sign language,Despite the impetus put on the Irish Government by the Good Friday Agreement, it has yet to recognise ISL as an official language, leaving members of the deaf community to view themselves as an oppressed minority at the hands of a hearing elite.?

Crime and Punishment - Retribution or Rehabilitation By Ivana Bacik - Bar Council of Ireland: "O'Mahony writes that in 1992, Ireland imprisoned a greater proportion of its citizens than any other country in the Council of Europe."?

WHAT IF? Pageview chart 11383 pageviews.

Dept. of Justice: Still closed and secretive September 11, 2014 in Uncategorized by Anthony | 3 comments The former Secretary General at the Department of Justice, Brian Purcell, resigned from his office on 28 July last. Purcell resigned following a damning report that found a ‘closed, secretive, silo-driven culture’ at the department with ‘significant leadership and management problems.’ I rang the Dept. of Justice today for an update on Mr. Purcell’s position and experienced that closed, secretive culture at first hand. I eventually got on to a civil servant who has not yet being infected with the secrecy virus.?

Dept. of Justice: Still closed and secretive September 11, 2014 in Uncategorized by Anthony | 3 comments The former Secretary General at the Department of Justice, Brian Purcell, resigned from his office on 28 July last. Purcell resigned following a damning report that found a ‘closed, secretive, silo-driven culture’ at the department with ‘significant leadership and management problems.’ I rang the Dept. of Justice today for an update on Mr. Purcell’s position and experienced that closed, secretive culture at first hand. I eventually got on to a civil servant who has not yet being infected with the secrecy virus.?

Mr Pringle told the minister that not only had the judge used confidential information obtained from gardai to sway a court, but that the information used was incorrect. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/judge-received-garda-leaks-on-private-citizens?

"Only in Ireland can a politician break the law, and the whistleblower suffers." - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-lose-vital-crime-resources-to-sargent-probe?

Irish Left Review | Phil Hogan, the Embodiment of the Crony Capitalist Links Between Business and Politics in Ireland

Irish Left Review | Phil Hogan, the Embodiment of the Crony Capitalist Links Between Business and Politics in Ireland,Criticism of the government’s nomination of Phil Hogan as Ireland’s EU Commissioner has tended to focus on his lobbying, in 2012, to prevent a Traveller family accessing social housing.  On this basis, independent MEP Nessa Childers has reasonably described the nomination as a “step backwards for equality”. The other main strand of criticism concerns his signing off on bloated consultancy payments for the establishment of Irish Water, an issue that Sinn Fein in particular is highlighting.  Again, the criticism is legitimate and important, as is the fact that he spent the summer appointing former Fine Gael and Labour councillors to state boards and that he quashed inquiries into planning irregularities (including in his own fiefdom of Carlow) when he took office as Minister for the Environment. - See more at: http://www.irishleftreview.org/2014/09/10/phil-hogan-embodiment-crony-capitalist-links-business-politics-ireland?

for deaf children | Search Results | Oconnellpadd13's Blog

For Deaf Children |  | Oconnellpadd13's Blog,“For deaf children, there can often be "No Cry For Help”. Until today, this story has remained a secret. Some fear it is just the tip of something much uglier and that the abuse of deaf children across the country is far more widespread.?AND WHEN THERE IS A CRY FOR HELP DO THEY GET IT???????CHECK”ALL”REPUBLIC  OF  IRELAND’S ABUSE HELP LINES?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004...: 14 Apr 2005: Dáil debates (KildareStreet.com)

Garda Síochána Bill 2004...: 14 Apr 2005: Dáil debates (KildareStreet.com)I welcome the proposed replacement of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board by the independent Garda Ombudsman Commission. Citizens have complained about the length of time it takes to deal with complaints. In one case a complaint was made to the Garda Síochána Complaints Board by Mr. Kevin Tracey, 11 Park Lane, Chapelizod, Dublin 20. He called to my clinic and that of the Minister and effectively asked for a complaint he had made to the board to be dealt with and reported. He made that complaint approximately two or three years ago. I have a file containing quite serious allegations which he has made. It is disappointing that the board did not report on his complaint. It is unfair that no report is available on serious allegations made. In the case of Mr. Tracey’s complaint, the new Garda Ombudsman Commission would have the resources and the structures to deal with it in an efficient manner?

Bank rep confronts elderly lady over jailed son's loan | SouthernStar | News

Bank rep confronts elderly lady over jailed son's loan | SouthernStar | News,Lynette O’Donoghue of AEI criticised the gardai for aiding  a private financial firm by helping them do their ‘dirty work’?What's New?

Fr Brian D'Arcy defends attendance at Quinn rally - RTÉ News

Fr Brian D'Arcy defends attendance at Quinn rally - RTÉ NewsHe added that it would be a very bad day when a priest could not offer support to people in trouble.?

Stag party garda cleared of affray after kicking man to protect brother - Independent.ie

Stag party garda cleared of affray after kicking man to protect brother - Independent.ieA GARDA has been cleared of affray after a judge found "he was entitled to kick a man who attacked his brother" during a drunken brawl. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/stag-party-garda-cleared-of-affray-after-kicking-man-to-protect-brother?

"ENCOURAGECHANGE"paddoconnell8@gmail.com: Favours feeding the disease of corruption at Public Inquiry

"ENCOURAGECHANGE"paddoconnell8@gmail.com: Favours feeding the disease of corruption at Public InquiryExamining corruption in Ireland.No wonder Judge Dermot Kinlen got Such A rough Ride From The State? - See more at: http://encouragechange.blogspot.ie/2009/05/favours-feeding-disease-of-corruption.?

“Using teargas and the dog squad is an extreme way to deal with kids, and it’s against international protocols. Don’t the authorities have better mechanisms for dealing with children?” said Rodney Dillon, Amnesty’s Indigenous rights adviser, in a statement.?

The segregation of prisoners in jail is important. It is a great mistake from every point of view to permit young prisoners who have lapsed for the first time to get into the company of those who are regular customers of our prisons. - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?1964/2000.?

." The magazine, which represents the views of rank-and-file gardai, claims the process is tainted by the "suspicion of nepotism -- namely political interference". - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/promotion-of-gardai-to-top-jobs-like-secret-lotto-draw?CHECK?

Trouble ahead for gardai and justice minister as inquiries' findings due - Independent.ie

Trouble ahead for gardai and justice minister as inquiries' findings due - Independent.ieGIVEN the scalp rate to date, you'd think the worst was over for the various arms of the State's security apparatuses. The scandals that swamped the Department of Justice and the gardai earlier this year have taken out a Garda Commissioner, a justice minister and came close to toppling the garda watchdog, while a senior civil servant is walking wounded and the Department he presided over got a kicking for being secretive with the public and obsequious with gardai. And it's not over yet. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/trouble-ahead-for-gardai-and-justice-minister-as-inquiries-findings-due?

Chairman John busy sparking fear amongst friends and foes - Independent.ie

Chairman John busy sparking fear amongst friends and foes - Independent.ie,In particular amongst the Coalition there has been much self-satisfied clucking about the evils of a committee chairman over-reaching his powers and going beyond appropriate boundaries.You might think it odd, but politicians believe it is inappropriate for a Dail Committee to ask too many questions.However, this is a State that has almost made public-sector incompetence a constitutional right. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-drennan/chairman-john-busy-sparking-fear-amongst-friends-and-foes-?

Albert Reynolds paid £500 for private eye file - Independent.ie

Albert Reynolds paid £500 for private eye file - Independent.ieThe Sunday Independent can also reveal that Fergus Finlay, an adviser to former Labour leader, Dick Spring, intended to give evidence at the trial that Mr Reynolds was "irredeemably corrupt." - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/albert-reynolds-paid-500-for-private-eye-file-?

Carpenter who is desperately fighting eviction is thrown into Mountjoy Prison - Irish Mirror Online

Carpenter who is desperately fighting eviction is thrown into Mountjoy Prison - Irish Mirror OnlineBut the arrest has baffled his legal team who claim he was nowhere near the house.?

“Little faith” in alleged Garda corruption probe. | Philip Boucher-Hayes

“Little faith” in alleged Garda corruption probe. | Philip Boucher-HayesSeveral I have spoken to are worried that if they are not interviewed the Independent Review Mechanism might be given a very partial or self serving version of events. Because the Garda file is by no means the totality of evidence that should be considered?VERY VERY TRUE?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid, 12th May 2007 Over All These Years I Have Never Once Bumped Into Any Of These "Researchers" Who Are Experts On Crime And Its Causes?

- See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com?

Police corruption and reform high on conference agenda | Irish Examiner

Police corruption and reform high on conference agenda | Irish Examiner,Prof Walsh said: “It is still the case, for example, that standing orders covering all aspects of Garda management and practices are not publicly accessible. The same applies to the existence and contents of Garda policies. For as long as such basic information is kept secret, transparent governance and accountability will remain elusive and the Garda will continue to be one of the most secretive police forces in the Western world.” ?

Access to Garda records

Access to Garda records,You have a number of other rights under the Data Protection Acts, in addition to the right of access described above These additional rights include the right to have any inaccurate personal information about you corrected or erased and the right to complain to the Data Protection Commissioner?

Data Protection - An Garda Síochána - Ireland's National Police Service

Data Protection - An Garda Síochána - Ireland's National Police Service,Data Protection is the safeguarding of the rights of all individuals to
privacy and integrity in relation to the processing of their personal
data.?Those Same "Individuals"Also Have The Constitunal Right To Have Personal Information Corrected,Updated, Where Such Information Is Incomplete Or Misleading?

FoI Act set to include gardaí | Irish Examiner

FoI Act set to include gardaí | Irish Examiner

An Garda Siochana, transparency and access to information – The Story

An Garda Siochana, transparency and access to information – The StoryPrecisely one month later, the force responded to my request, and refused access citing “national security” and commercial sensitivity. I immediately appealed to internal review, as is my right under AIE Regulations. The Gardai failed to reply. ?

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions?Have I the right to access personal data about me held by
An Garda Síochána?

Yes, subject to the provisions of the Data
Protection Act 1998/2003, every individual has a right to access personal data about him or her held
by An Garda Síochána.?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

The Department of Justice and Equality: Government Consultation on Justice Reform - Proposal to establish an independent Policing AuthorityThe Government agreed that it is important that there be a "full public debate on the issue of policing and justice reform". The intention is to have new structures, including the establishment of a new independent Policing Authority, in place before the end of the year? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie/ENCOURAGECHANGE.?

More red tape or a better thin blue line? | Irish Examiner

More red tape or a better thin blue line? | Irish ExaminerA Cabinet committee chaired by Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to research and consider the structure of a new Garda Authority. Not only does this mark a major change in policing, it also seems to herald the end of the old regime in terms of the control wielded by the Department of Justice and its minister?

Supreme Court rejects Dayanidhi Maran’s plea to restrain CBI from filing chargesheet in Aircel-Maxis case | The Indian Express

Supreme Court rejects Dayanidhi Maran’s plea to restrain CBI from filing chargesheet in Aircel-Maxis case | The Indian ExpressMeanwhile, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO that drew the Supreme Court’s attention to wrongdoing in 2G spectrum allotments, has also accused the CBI director Ranjit Sinha of trying to shield Maran and Reliance Telecom.?

No 'blue wall' within force - senior garda - Herald.ie

No 'blue wall' within force - senior garda - Herald.ieA SENIOR garda said she hopes there is no "blue wall" within the force where officers remain silent rather than report colleague's behaviour.?

Google manager appointed director of rights commission

Google manager appointed director of rights commissionThe commission has been formed following the merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission and is charged with promoting the human rights and equal status in society?HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL STATUS?JOKE OF COURSE?

Google manager appointed director of rights commission

Google manager appointed director of rights commissionThe commission has been formed following the merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission and is charged with promoting the human rights and equal status in society?HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL STATUS?JOKE OF COURSE?

Google manager appointed director of rights commission

Google manager appointed director of rights commission?She previously worked with PR firm Carr Communications?

Google manager appointed director of rights commission

Google manager appointed director of rights commission?She previously worked with PR firm Carr Communications?

Google manager appointed director of rights commission

Google manager appointed director of rights commission?

Couple evicted from home may ‘sleep in a van’

Couple evicted from home may ‘sleep in a van’He said he and his wife had not been “sitting on our arses” doing nothing since the sworn statement had been made, but they lacked the money to seek alternative accommodation.?

Juvenile Justice, Child Care and the Children Act, 2001

Juvenile Justice, Child Care and the Children Act, 2001 However, the delay in providing such units and the inadequate number of beds provided prompted a High Court judge, Mr. Justice Peter Kelly, to hold three Government Ministers in contempt of court in 2001.?

BBC News - Rotherham child abuse scandal: 1,400 children exploited, report finds

BBC News - Rotherham child abuse scandal: 1,400 children exploited, report finds?

Prof Jay said the first of these reports was "effectively suppressed" because
senior officers did not believe the data. The other two were ignored, she
said.




The inquiry team found that in the early-2000s when a group of professionals
attempted to monitor a number of children believed to be at risk, "managers gave
little help or support to their efforts".




The report revealed some people at a senior level in the police and
children's social care thought the extent of the problem was being
"exaggerated".?

"Dealing with injustice" Irish Times article by Marie Murray (Psychologist)

"Dealing with injustice" Irish Times article by Marie Murray (Psychologist,Injustice is unpalatable to all age groups. It confuses the child, angers the adolescent, appals the adult and outrages those who have seen its consequences too often. This is because they know the many human systems in which injustice may locate itself and "justify" its lodging. Some injustices are inequalities experienced by sections of society because of the circumstances of their birth: their gender, skin colour, mental capacity, physical ability, age, wealth and the unwillingness of the surrounding society to challenge unequal treatment based on these facts. Other injustices may arise randomly, by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time; by being unable to prove one's victimhood; or by finding that there is no adequate legal redress for what one has suffered in an unprovoked attack upon oneself or upon one's family.
)?

Garda Commissioner wrote to support withholding judges’ names in FOI request

Garda Commissioner wrote to support withholding judges’ names in FOI request?

Mr Tyndall said the possibility of unjust attack as a reason not to disclose information related to the spending of public money was not sufficient grounds for refusing to disclose the identities of judges.

He also said while individual judges might not be able to respond, the Courts Service could respond to criticism.?

Garda Commissioner wrote to support withholding judges’ names in FOI request

Garda Commissioner wrote to support withholding judges’ names in FOI request?In a groundbreaking decision, Mr Tyndall ruled the Courts Service was not justified in withholding the names of judges in a Freedom of Information application requesting details of their expenses made by The Irish Times.?

Regular meetings between senior gardaí and McCabe proposed

Regular meetings between senior gardaí and McCabe proposed?This commission has not yet started work as its terms of reference have been delayed while a panel of barristers examines up to 220 outstanding allegations of Garda misconduct received from members of the public in light of the whistleblowers affair.?

A half-way house on Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission?

A half-way house on Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission?A lack of clarity regarding what is envisaged, however, represents a cause for concern. Political control; excessive influence by the Department of Justice and reluctance by some gardaí to accept effective oversight require urgent attention. Public confidence in the independence and accountability of the force is at stake.?

Mother-and-baby homes: Ireland wants nothing but the truth

Mother-and-baby homes: Ireland wants nothing but the truth,As anybody campaigning for justice on any issue here will tell you, the terms of reference for any investigation are everything. After all the platitudes about truth and transparency fade from newspapers and airwaves, what you are left examining is the small print of what will and what will not be open for inquiry and investigation.?1964/2014?

Minister will have veto over GSOC inquiries into Garda chief

Minister will have veto over GSOC inquiries into Garda chiefThe Bill states that a minister would be required to provide reasons if GSOC was refused permission to initiate an investigation in the public interest into a commissioner. The question of consent was not mentioned when the Government published the heads of the legislation last month?

Sent asleep by Acceptable Explanation - Independent.ie

Sent asleep by Acceptable Explanation - Independent.ieAbout six weeks later, while driving, Clare Daly TD was stopped, handcuffed and taken to a garda station. A sample was taken and someone informed the media, who had a field day – along with the folk on various social media – insinuating and downright stating that Daly was a drunk driver. By the time the results arrived, showing she had passed with flying colours, Daly had been grossly smeared. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/gene-kerrigan/sent-asleep-by-acceptable-explanation?

Integrity Ireland homepage

Integrity Ireland homepage

Challenging corruption, cronyism, and criminal cover-ups..

 ..and encouraging openness, transparency and justice in Irish institutions

Murder accused tells court he made up stories out of fear | BreakingNews.ie

Murder accused tells court he made up stories out of fear | BreakingNews.ieLawyers for Mr Conmey claim that “newly discovered” facts in the case include the existence of “earlier” contradictory statements from key witnesses and a previously unknown allegation of violence and “oppression” by investigating Gardaí against one of these.?

Gene Kerrigan: Four decades after Una died, Conmey fights to clear name - Independent.ie

Gene Kerrigan: Four decades after Una died, Conmey fights to clear name - Independent.ieMary saw Dick Donnelly that night, his ears dark blue. She said it was "very frightening" that the guards had done this. "The guards were the good guys."? - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/gene-kerrigan/gene-kerrigan-four-decades-after-una-died-conmey-fights-to-clear-name-?

Call for clarity over IRA 'amnesty' - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Call for clarity over IRA 'amnesty' - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk"We will be asking him was there some sort of agreement between the government and the Garda that historic cases would not be looked at again in order to protect the on-the-runs," ?

Ex-prison officers' chief claims removal `political' - Independent.ie

Ex-prison officers' chief claims removal `political' - Independent.ieCross-examined by Mr Frank Clarke SC, for the POA, Mr McEvoy agreed that the rules provided for his automatically losing the post of President once a motion of no confidence was passed and agreed he was unsuccessful in the 1993 election. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/exprison-officers-chief-claims-removal-political?

Former POA secretary put out of 15-year prison home - Independent.ie

Former POA secretary put out of 15-year prison home - Independent.ieMr McEvoy said he had transferred from Portlaoise to Shanganagh following a decision imposed on him. He said his marriage had been broken and his family life torn apart. There were still people in Shanganagh, including nine staff working full time. The State Solicitor said they were not aware of financial hardship resulting from the making of the order and their offer was based on grace and favour rather than by way of obligation. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/former-poa-secretary-put-out-of-15year-prison-home?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.Portlaoise Prison - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaTom Hoare strongly criticized conditions within the prison stating that staff were forced by senior management in the prison to use excessive force against prisoners. He also criticized the then Governor of Portlaoise Prison, William Reilly, and the Minister of Justice Michael Noonan stating "I accuse the minister of negligence in this area. I accuse the management of Portlaoise Prison of being indifferent to complaints. I would hate to be a prisoner making a complaint".^[6] At the Prison Officers Association 1984 conference a delegate from Portlaoise Prison, Larry O'Neill, told the conference: "If Hitler wanted generals today he would find plenty of them in Portlaoise. After the war the Nazis said many of them were doing their duty and that is what the management in Portlaoise are saying today".^[7]? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?

Dáil Éireann - Volume 250 - 16 December, 1970 - Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Reformatory School.

Dáil Éireann - Volume 250 - 16 December, 1970 - Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Reformatory School.

Mr. O'Kennedy: With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propost to take Questions Nos. 109, 110 and 111 together.

The annual capitation grant paid to St. Anne's school, Kilmacud, in each of the past five years was as follows: 1965, £3,620; 1966, £3,930; 1967, £3,910; 1968, £4,510; 1969, £5,480.

This school was last visited in May, 1970. While inspectors' reports on all schools are of a confidential nature I can say that the report of the inspection in question was fully satisfactory. There appears to be a degree of conflict between the school authorities and the courts as to the stage at which an erring girl should be referred to St. Anne's and this matter is under investigation. I am satisfied that the school is, however, fulfilling the basic purpose for which it was originally founded.?

Public Inquiry · Unanswered questions | Oconnellpadd13's Blog

Public Inquiry · Unanswered questions | Oconnellpadd13's Blog,”THOSE WORKING-CLASS CHILDREN THAT ARE CONDEMED TO A LIFE OF HELL BY THE “POWERS THAT BE”?

Daingean: KENNEDY REPORT 1970 PRIVATE PAPERS of Kennedy Committee

Daingean: KENNEDY REPORT 1970 PRIVATE PAPERS of Kennedy Committee?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: Dunlop 'asked to copy file on Ray Burke' - P45

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: Dunlop 'asked to copy file on Ray Burke' - P45Dunlop 'asked to copy file on Ray Burke' - P45: "The lobbyist and former Government press secretary, Mr Frank Dunlop, has claimed that he was asked in 1982 by the then Minister for Justice, Mr Seán Doherty, to give a Cabinet colleague, Mr Ray Burke, a copy of a Department of Justice file into allegations of planning corruption against Mr Burke."?THE"NEW"MANTRA IN IRISH SOCIETY"FOR YEARS THE RICH AND POWERFUL AVOIDED JUSTICE BY USING THEIR WEALTH AND INFLUENCE TO HIDE BEHIND THE LAW(LEGAL SYSTEM)NOW THE ORDINARY PEOPLE WANT THEM TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE COUNTRY? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie/2011/02/dunlop-asked-to-copy-file-on-ray-burke?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: October 2009

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: October 2009Daingean: "I was approached by a retired civil servant named "Risteard Mac Conchradha". He had been a member of the Kennedy committee whose 1970 report signalled the beginning of the end for industrial schools. He wanted me to write about the horrors he and others had uncovered in Daingean"? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie/2009?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: October 2009

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: October 2009Daingean: "As a matter of verifiable record, he had been a progressive reformer who sought to humanise conditions for the boys, but was frustrated at every turn by public and State indifference."STRANGE THEN THAT HIS NAME IS ATTACHED TO DOCUMENTS THAT SENT TEENAGERS TO PORTLAOISE"PRISON"IN THE 1960s? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie/2009?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: October 2009

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: October 2009 "He expressed concern that there were many people who did not want the truth to come out and who 'will work against the commission to make sure that the truth does not come out'."SECRECY AND CRONYISM ARE THE TWO BIGGEST CANCERS IN IRISH SOCIETY,THEN AND NOW. - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie/2009?

WHAT IF?: Ruling of European Court of Human Rights an indictment of our institutions - Crime & Law News from Ireland & Abroad | The Irish Times - Wed, Jan 29, 2014

WHAT IF?: Ruling of European Court of Human Rights an indictment of our institutions - Crime & Law News from Ireland & Abroad | The Irish Times - Wed, Jan 29, 2014Ruling of European Court of Human Rights an indictment of our institutions - Crime & Law News from Ireland & Abroad | The Irish Times - Wed, Jan 29, 2014: Ireland has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1949 and in 1969 it made recommendations on “The Protection of Minors against ill-treatment” including that the State take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of abused children. In 1959 Ireland joined with other UN member states in adopting the “Declaration of the Rights of the Child” requiring special safeguards of care. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains two articles requiring states to provide for special safeguards for children.? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie/2014/01/ruling-of-european-court-of-human.?

Dáil Éireann - 29/Jun/1960 Criminal Justice Bill, 1960—Second Stage (Resumed).

Dáil Éireann - 29/Jun/1960 Criminal Justice Bill, 1960—Second Stage (Resumed).I am thinking now of a young boy or, worse still, a young girl, although the situation does not arise with girls because as a rule courts do not send a girl to prison. Take a young person who gets into trouble and for whom there is no alternative but to give him a term in jail, if he has been cautioned two or three times and manifestly is going to continue on his course of conduct. He gets say one month in jail. How can it be desirable that that young person should be brought into contact with the other type of prisoners who habituate a penal institution like Mountjoy and who are manifestly quite unsuitable as company for a reckless youth, whom all of us are concerned not alone to check but to redeem? I refer not only to those categories of persons who have been guilty of grave moral delinquency but any decent citizen who gets into trouble which brings him into jail. He has had enough woe surely without equating him in jail with tramps, winers, and “knackers” and all the flotsam and jetsam of prison life with which ordinarily he would have no common contact and with which for his own salvation he should never be identified either in his own mind or in the minds of those into whose care he has been committed when he is sent to jail.?

A Department of Justice review into numerous claims of Garda misconduct has been described as meaningless by one of the families whose complaint it is examining. Lucia O’Farrell, whose son Shane, 23, was killed in a hit and run in 2011, said there is a conflict of interest because the review of how gardaí handled his case will be overseen by the barrister who represented her son’s killer in the subsequent trial.

Text Only | Irish Examiner

Text Only | Irish Examiner.Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesperson, Niall Collins, said people will lose confidence in the review process and its integrity if the concerns of families are not taken into account.

“The minister needs to recognise this inadequacy, remember her earlier promise to take these complaints seriously and put it right.

“Simply carrying out a paper exercise will not suffice.

“These cases represent people’s real life experiences and many feel that the justice system has failed them, they deserve at a minimum to be heard by this legal panel at least once,” Mr Collins said.

7 barristers assigned to the 220 cases of garda corruption - Google Search

Foy had previously said in July she was willing to meet Minister Fitzgerald after a meeting was secured by the Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who has since been appointed a junior minister at the Department of Justice.

The committee had previously described Minister Fitzgerald as “obviously supportive of the families… and of the truth”.

Minister Fitzgerald, during her time as a Senator, described the Stardust fire as “one of the worst tragedies ever in Ireland” and said the handling of the investigation was ”no victory for politics”.?

Michael McDowell: How did Justice get so rough?

Michael McDowell: How did Justice get so rough?But we must differentiate between what should be secret and what should be open.???

Michael McDowell: How did Justice get so rough?

Michael McDowell: How did Justice get so rough?Without good leadership and systems of "Real Accountability", the best of people can become dysfunctional. ?

Forgotten families I have always wondered why it was that those who worked the hardest all their lives could end up in a paupers grave? - See more at: http://paddywantstoknow.blogspot.ie/#sthash.sTmvTH5J.dpuf

"""Unbelievably, the last of these asylums was closed only in 1996."?SOCIAL CLASS AND ECONOMICS PLAYED A LARGE PART IN WHO WAS SENT TO THESE INSTITUTIONS,THEN AND NOW?""

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

PERSONAL EFFECTS: a history of possession – Alan Counihan Visual Artist

PERSONAL EFFECTS: a history of possession – Alan Counihan Visual Artist?A great cultural richness is to be found within this material that might tell us much about ourselves and about our society?THEN AND NOW?

- See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com.