Latest news with #Corrigan
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Gardaí were waiting when Dublin man arrived to collect €1m drug consignment
Lee Corrigan, Chapel Gate, Aylesbury, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was sentenced to five years imprisonment, the final two-and-a-half years suspended. He pleaded guilty to attempting to possess 49kgs of cannabis valued €998,100, for sale or supply at Toolfix, Ecco Road, Dundalk, on January 4, 2023. The defendant did the job for "a few days' pay' because he was under pressure over a drugs debt. He said he was asked to collect something. He was shocked to discover the value of the consignment. Dundalk Circuit Court heard that the day before a pallet had been delivered to the premises. It was not addressed to Toolfix but had its eircode. The managing director was not familiar with the company the delivery had come from. Also, it was for a brand of tools they didn't stock. He opened the boxes and hidden inside were clear plastic vacuumed-packed bags of what looked like cannabis. He contacted Gardaí. Toolfix later received a call from a man saying that a pallet had been incorrectly delivered to them and that he would send someone to pick it up. When Mr Corrigan arrived in a Ford Transit van Gardaí were waiting and arrested him. Inside the vehicle investigators found a letter purportedly to be from FedEx stating that it had incorrectly made a delivery to Toolfix instead of another commercial premises. The document was of poor quality containing grammatical mistakes. Gda Ashley McEvoy continued that Mr Corrigan told Gardaí he smoked 1g of cannabis every couple of days. ADVERTISEMENT He admitted being caught red-handed. He was asked to collect something and suspected it was around €1,000 of cannabis. He was shocked at the amount of cannabis A man had sent him a screenshot of Toolfix. The defendant added that he 'stressed out' and in debt for 'a couple of thousand'. He had previous convictions for possession and possession for sale or drugs and had been fined €400 for each offence in the district court. Gda McEvoy said it had not been indicated to Gardaí that a threat had been made to Mr Corrigan's family. It was stated on his behalf that he was in a 12-year relationship and that his daughter had been born shortly before this incident. Mother and child were still in hospital at the time. It had been a difficult pregnancy. He was under a cocaine debt and made a decision to collect these drugs. Mr Corrigan was employed in a mechanics firm where he was well regarded and had been promoted. He had missed his sister's wedding in Liverpool because of the bail conditions. Judge Dara Hayes said that the previous offending was of an entirely different magnitude. It was of concern that the defendant minimised his role to the probation officer. It was the recommendation of the Probation Service to finalise the matter. Mr Corrigan had mental health difficulties and was assessed at low risk of reoffending. He was clearly much loved by his family. He had taken steps to put things right in his life. However, the judge added that to be entrusted with the responsibility of collecting this amount of cannabis was a significant involvement in serious criminality. A five-year sentence was imposed, the final two-and-a-half years suspended on condition the defendant places himself under Probation Service supervision for 12 months post release. A destruction order was made for the drugs. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Northern Ireland journalists face attacks and death threats, says Amnesty report
Journalists in Northern Ireland routinely face attacks and death threats from paramilitary and organised crime groups that act with impunity, according to Amnesty International. Reporters have been physically assaulted and told they will be shot, stabbed, raped or blown up, making Northern Ireland the most dangerous place in the UK for journalism, a report said on Tuesday. It documented more than 70 attacks and threats since 2019 but found there were no prosecutions for threats from paramilitary groups, the most significant source of the intimidation. 'Journalists in Northern Ireland are facing a sustained campaign of threats, intimidation and violence from armed groups, which makes it the most dangerous place in the UK to be a reporter,' said Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International UK's Northern Ireland director. 'They are being threatened, attacked and even killed for shining a light on paramilitary groups and others who seek to exert control through violence. This creates a climate of fear that many assumed was consigned to history when the Good Friday agreement was signed.' The lack of prosecutions has emboldened paramilitaries – loyalist and republican – and fostered a sense of impunity, Corrigan said. 'When journalists are under attack, press freedom is under attack. The state must create a safe environment where journalists can work freely and report without fear of reprisals. It is currently failing to do so.' Journalists' cars have been damaged – in some cases battered with poles laced with nails – and some reporters have been given ultimatums to leave Northern Ireland. Two journalists have been killed, Lyra McKee in 2019 and Martin O'Hagan in 2001. Some of those interviewed for the 96-page report, titled Occupational Hazard? Threats and Violence Against Journalists in Northern Ireland said they had protected their homes with bulletproof windows and doors and alarms linked to police stations. Police visited Allison Morris, the Belfast Telegraph's crime correspondent, nine times between December 2023 and October 2024 to warn about threats from paramilitary or criminal groups. 'I'm convinced someone's going to kill me at some point,' said Morris. 'I always think I'll never die of natural causes. Most of the time, I pretend that the threats don't annoy me, but clearly, they do. This is not a normal way to live.' The report urged the Stormont administration to establish a media safety group, comprising police, prosecutors and journalists and urged the police to review the procedural response to threats and to pursue investigations that lead to successful prosecutions. Ch Supt Sam Donaldson said the Police Service of Northern Ireland took journalism safety seriously and would consider the report and its recommendations. In recent years the PSNI has developed a joint strategy with local editors and the National Union of Journalists, said Donaldson. 'Journalists do not have to tolerate threats and crimes as part of their role. That has been our recent, consistent message.' Seamus Dooley, the NUJ's assistant general secretary, said it was not normal that journalists lived in fear decades after the Troubles, adding: 'That really is not the sign of a normal functioning democracy.' - The Guardian Read More Income gap widened significantly under previous Government, new report finds
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EXPO Q1 Earnings Call: Resilient Results as Macro Uncertainty Impacts Guidance
Scientific consulting firm Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO) announced better-than-expected revenue in Q1 CY2025, but sales were flat year on year at $137.4 million. On the other hand, next quarter's revenue guidance of $130 million was less impressive, coming in 0.6% below analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.63 per share was 20.4% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy EXPO? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $137.4 million vs analyst estimates of $134.6 million (flat year on year, 2.1% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.63 vs analyst estimates of $0.52 (20.4% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $45.72 million vs analyst estimates of $34.59 million (33.3% margin, 32.2% beat) Revenue Guidance for the full year is $529 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $532.6 million EBITDA guidance for the full year is $141 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $143 million Operating Margin: 32.3%, up from 22.4% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 4%, down from 6.5% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $3.95 billion Exponent's first quarter performance was shaped by a stable mix of demand across its reactive and proactive consulting services, with management highlighting continued strength in litigation-driven work. CEO Catherine Corrigan pointed out that while technical staff headcount began the year below typical levels due to prior resource alignment, sequential hiring and high utilization rates helped maintain revenue stability. Corrigan noted, 'Exponent's first quarter results exceeded expectations, reinforcing both the resilience of our diversified business model and the value we deliver.' Looking ahead, management cited macroeconomic uncertainty and client caution as drivers of a softer revenue outlook. CFO Rich Schlenker explained that some clients are delaying proactive projects, especially in regulated and consumer sectors, and that utilization rates will be affected by holiday timing and ongoing project delays. Corrigan emphasized that Exponent remains focused on hiring in areas with robust demand, particularly in advanced vehicle technology and digital health, even as clients navigate shifting supply chains and regulatory challenges. Exponent's leadership attributed its flat year-over-year revenue to steady demand for its dispute-focused (reactive) services and a modest decline in proactive consulting. Forward guidance was influenced by client caution and timing-related project delays. Reactive services stability: Litigation and failure analysis work, particularly in chemicals, transportation, and utilities, continued to drive activity, as these needs are less sensitive to economic cycles. Proactive services softness: Proactive engagements, including product development and regulatory support, experienced some delays as clients reconsidered project timing in light of macro uncertainty. Industry mix and supply chain shifts: Management observed that supply chain realignments—particularly clients diversifying away from China—created new opportunities for Exponent's advisory work, although these benefits take time to materialize. Headcount and utilization trends: Sequential headcount growth and utilization in the mid-70% range helped offset the initial staffing headwind; the company expects to finish the year with higher technical staff levels than at the start. Regulatory and policy environment: The evolving regulatory landscape, especially around chemicals and advanced technologies, is expected to sustain demand for Exponent's services, even as clients experience slower regulatory responses and heightened scrutiny in some sectors. Management sees the coming quarters defined by a mix of industry transformation, regulatory complexity, and shifting client priorities, all set against a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty. Reactive demand as buffer: Exponent's heavy weighting toward reactive services, such as litigation and dispute resolution, is expected to limit downside risk in periods of economic softness. Supply chain and regulatory shifts: Opportunities tied to clients' supply chain diversification and increased regulatory oversight, particularly in chemicals, energy, and life sciences, may drive new engagements as these trends accelerate. Strategic hiring in growth areas: Continued investment in talent for sectors like automated vehicles, digital health, and asset risk modeling is positioned to support long-term service demand, though management remains cautious about near-term visibility. Jasper Bibb (Truist): Asked about the relative growth of proactive versus reactive services. Management explained that reactive services grew modestly, offsetting a slight decline in proactive work. Andrew Nicholas (William Blair): Questioned the drivers of the softer utilization outlook for the next quarter. Management noted holiday timing and some client-initiated project delays as the primary factors. Andrew Nicholas (William Blair): Sought clarity on whether delays in proactive work might persist or resolve later in the year. Management said guidance assumes current trends persist, but improvement is possible if delayed projects resume. Josh Chan (UBS): Inquired about the impact of macroeconomic uncertainty on client decisions. Leadership responded that while some discretionary work is delayed, core reactive engagements remain steady. Josh Chan (UBS): Asked about FTE growth plans given a less predictable environment. Management stated it will continue targeted hiring in high-demand areas, aiming for net headcount growth by year-end. In the coming quarters, we will watch closely for (1) signs that delayed proactive projects—especially in consumer electronics and regulatory consulting—resume as client confidence improves, (2) continued sequential growth in technical headcount and utilization as hiring ramps up, and (3) evidence that supply chain realignments and regulatory shifts translate into new advisory work. The persistence of litigation-driven demand and Exponent's ability to navigate changing regulatory frameworks will also be key indicators of execution. Exponent currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 37.9×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? The answer lies in our free research report. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. 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Belfast Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
NI doctor warns of ‘enormous gap' in health services: ‘How much worse does it have to get?'
Dr Clodagh Corrigan, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, warned there is a life expectancy gap of seven years between those who are well off and those who are not when it comes to patients across the region seeking medical help. She also questioned what existing services would need to be sacrificed to fund investment in tackling waiting lists. It comes after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced last week that patients waiting longer than two years for an operation will be able to claim back money if they pay for a procedure in the Republic of Ireland. The Department of Health said patients would require prior approval before accessing the scheme. It is part of a £215m plan outlined by the Health Minister to help tackle growing hospital waiting lists. Dr Corrigan has been working in emergency departments for the last 14 years. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, she said there is an 'enormous gap' in access to services in Northern Ireland where better services are provided to those who 'can afford it'. 'We are in a dire situation and our waiting lists are the worst in the UK,' Dr Corrigan said. 'There is an enormous gap in health access and in poverty in Northern Ireland. 'The average life expectancy for those who are the most well off and those who are the least well off varies by just over seven years. 'If we are in any position where we are providing a better health service and better access to health for those who can afford it, we are going to see that disparity become even greater and people who can't afford to pay for healthcare up front really suffering and with poorer outcomes.' Mr Nesbitt said full details of the investment plan to tackle waiting lists have yet to be outlined and the full range of eligible procedures covered by the cross-border scheme are not yet known. He added that, initially, £10m will be invested in the waiting list reimbursement scheme, which will begin in June 2025. Dr Corrigan questioned what existing services would have to suffer to fund this multi-million-pound investment plan. 'How much worse is the care that we are providing our patients on a day to day basis going to have to get to fund these million-pound savings the minister is looking to invest in the waiting lists?' she questioned. 'We are working within this ever-expanding need and we need more and more to stay afloat. 'With the resources we've got we can't maintain where we currently are, we need more investment and we need to see that leftward shift to primary care. 'Our GP colleagues see one in 10 of our population every week, that is not sustainable, we need that money to be invested well and invested in what's going to make a difference at prevention level.'
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Wicklow students still have no access to school bus
Councillor Melanie Corrigan is calling again for a communal bus service to connect the children in Kilmacanogue with the three schools that they are attending in Greystones. This, she said, would help those children who can't attend the nearest schools in Bray due to a shortage of spaces, to access their schools in Greystones more easily. Last year, the community in Kilmacanogue launched a petition which received over 160 signatories seeking a better service, which was sent in to the National Transport Authority. Cllr Corrigan said currently the students are either being driven or have to get two buses and she is urging the Department of Transport's school transport system to facilitate this change. In previous years, when parents applied under the Bus Eireann school transport scheme, they were told that the children were not attending the nearest schools so therefore did not qualify. Under the school transport scheme review, Cllr Corrigan said an expansion of the current eligibility criteria was recommended which would allow the children in Kilmacanogue to qualify. A phased implementation of the plan commenced in 2024 between the Department of Education and the Department of Transport with a view to expanding the provision of transport and reduce the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys. Cllr Corrigan believes this approach, and the provision of a school bus service from Kilmacanogue to access the three schools in Greystones, would significantly improve the daily commute for these students, making their journey to school more manageable and convenient, and taking cars off an already busy road. Cllr Corrigan has been working with a group of parents in Kilmacanogue to raise this issue and get a bus service. She said this is part of a wider campaign to get a public bus service from Kilmacanogue to Greystones. In 2024, a petition was set up with over 250 supporters looking for such a bus service. A lot of people from Kilmacanogue, a growing village, work, go to appointments, socialise and shop in Greystones and a bus service connecting the two areas is something the community wants. Cllr Corrigan said she has written to the Education Minister, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Wicklow TD Edward Timmons to seek support for this issue.
