Nope, this isn’t a joke. David Lee (30) has been banned from every single pub in Dublin city after fleeing into a bar lounge to avoid Gardaí.
Lee struck a guard over the head with an object he picked up from a table after he chased him into the pub. The judge at Swords District Court decided the most fitting punishment was to ban Lee from ALL pubs in Dublin for 12 months and a four-month sentence suspended for one year.
Pretty unique punishment but we’re not sure how well it will be enforced…
The news came in a flash. First, the Sunday World reported the story. Major media outlets in Ireland followed suit. It was a case that at first look, appeared eerily similar to the young girl in Greece who it is believed was taken from her parents ilegally.
A 7-year-old blue eyed, blonde haired girl was taken by the Gardaí from her family, as is their right under the Child Care Act if there is reason to believe a child is at immediate risk.
The young girl was taken from her home and put into HSE care. The immediate question of “Why?” recieved the response that the Guards were not satisfied with the explanation and documentation that the family provided. The reason they were even at the family home in the first place? Because the child didn’t look like her siblings.
As the story broke, we reported it with the facts we had at hand. We made no speculation, we presented the facts. After this inital report, we did not report further on the issue as the Gardaí and HSE examined the situation. Yesterday, the young girl was returned to her family after DNA tests proved she was the biological child of the parents in question.
An innocent family endured unceessary distress, had their child ripped from their arms, to then have her returned with an apology. In the aftermath, we ask, “What The Hell Happened?”
The inevitable inquiries will take place; the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children will converse with the HSE and Gardaí. Earlier today, Alan Shatter admitted that there was possibly some undue influence in the decisions that were made in regards to this little girl.
While time will tell if there is blame to be laid at the authorities doors, we need to accept a little bit of the blame too. We all need to have a think at how we responded initally to the news, the thoughts that went through our head, if we tried these parents without trial or jury and if you, even if it was only a little bit, made an assumption based on their ethnicity.
Would this have happened to a white family? A wealthy family? Would it have happened to you? If we can answer “no” to any of these…
Racism is still alive in Ireland. We all need to have a look at what part we play.
A 30-year-old man from Cavan who was abducted yesterday has been found safe and well.
Photo source: Garda Station
Richard O’Donovan, who is originally from Navan and lives in Virginia, was attacked and bundled into a car in the town. He was driving a blue-grey 2003 Monaghan registered BMW 3 series car when a silver BMW X5 crashed into it in the Swiftbrook Estate at around 3.30pm yesterday.
The man was attacked by one of the people in the X5 and bundled into their vehicle and taken away. Just before 10am this morning, gardaí received a phone call informing them the 31-year-old father-of-three was safe.
Gardai are waiting to question O’Donovan after he recieves hospital treatment as they believe the abduction was planned.
An incident room has been set up in Bailieborough Garda Station and gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them on 042 9694570.
The Irish taxpayers will have to fork out 3.6 million euro for hosting the G8 Summit last June.
The cost of policing the summit ran to at least 3.64 million according to Garda operating costs. But on Guard still said “It was certainly less than what was anticipated”, because the event was so low key.
The summit, which took place in Co.Fermanagh, saw around 900 Garda officers mount “Operation Shield” to counter any potential trouble that might have occurred.
Socialist Party TD, Joe Higgins, said the figure is “simply outrageous”, adding “spending that amount of money is simply outrageous against the backdrop of cuts to public services. The ordinary people have to pay for [the G8’s] protection.
This news came on the same day a survey showed that one-in-five Irish people have as little as 20 euro left at the end of the month.
– 500 people outside Dáil
– 100 more brought traffic to a stand-still on O’Connell Bridge
– Protestors from O’Connell Bridge now headed to Leinster House
500 protestors have gathered on Molesworth Street and an additional 100 brought traffic to a halt at O’Connell Bridge in Dublin this evening.
Photo source: thestar.ie
On the day the Dáil reconvened from its Summer break, protestors took to the streets of Dublin to demonstrate their frustration at the Irish government. Numbers have grown over the day.
Around 500 people are gathered behind barriers outside the Dáil. Gardai pushed back the crowd and also used pepperspray on them. One man has been taken away by ambulance to hospital.
At a another protest on O’Connell Bridge, around 100 anti-austerity protestors have brought rush-hour traffic to a halt. Buses have now been parked on Westmoreland Street, Bachelors Walk and the bridge itself as protestors refuse to move.
These protestors have now moved from the bridge and it is believed they are headed to join up with the other protest at Leinster House.
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