Latest news with #Dowling
RTÉ News
20 hours ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
European Central Bank expected to cut interest rates again
The European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point later today. The move would bring its main rate to 2% which would automatically benefit tracker mortgage customers and feed through to many other borrowers. The ECB's move comes after inflation in the countries which use the euro fell to 1.9% last month below the bank's target rate of 2% last month. That leaves the door open for the bank to reduce rates for the eighth time in 12 months. The bank has been steadily cutting the cost of borrowing since last summer from their high of 4% as inflation has become more subdued. If rates are cut today it means a mortgage holder with 15 years left to run on their loan, would see repayments fall by €100 per month for every €100,000 borrowed. Mortgage broker Michael Dowling said while tracker customers have benefited most people on variable have been "ignored" by the banks. However, the banks have argued they did not pass on all the ECB's rate increases during the cost-of-living crisis. Mr Dowling said "all the banks have adjusted their fixed rates downwards". The Irish mortgage market has changed significantly over recent years with customers opting for better value in fixed products when are now the most popular. At the end of last year 66% of mortgage holders or 461,121 customers were on fixed rates, 16% or 112,000 were on variable rates and 18% or 126,000 were on trackers. While mortgage rates have fallen, the returns for borrowers have also dropped. On the economic horizon observers will be closely watching comments from the ECB's president Christine Lagarde on the bank's assessment of the eurozone economy and consumer prices as Europe negotiates with the Trump administration on tariffs.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
RTE Liveline search heats up as reality star tipped to replace Joe Duffy
TV and radio host Brian Dowling has been tipped to take over Liveline. RTE star Joe Duffy confirmed he is set to retire from the station later this month, with his last Liveline broadcast set for Friday, June 27. Rumours of Duffy's successors include Daithi O Se and Jennifer Zamparelli – but now Celebrity Big Brother star Brian Dowling has also been thrown into the mix. According to Ladbrokes, Dowling is now 6/1 to take over from Joe after the Kildare native announced he would no longer be co-hosting his 98FM show with Suzanne Kane from this Friday. Dowling indicated he will continue on the Six O'clock Show and will continue to film the Salvage Squad this summer. Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes commented: 'Brian Dowling could be the ideal candidate to fill in for Joe Duffy when he leaves Liveline. He has definitely got the personality and punters think he may have an outside chance of landing in the hottest seat in Irish radio right now.' Speaking about her departure, Suzanne said: 'A little life update (isn't that what they call it?) After nearly 5 years, l'm stepping away from my role presenting 10AM to 1PM on 98FM. Anyone who knows me, will know how much I adore radio and the Bauer family inside Marconi house, but for now, it's time to let the 'Good Times' roll for someone else. 'A word to the amazing team, I loved the madness and radio nerdiness that we all shared and how much we cared. Radio is really special and that's because of the people who do the heavy lifting to make it all come together. I'm glad to have been on this rollercoaster with you all. 'To everyone who listened to the show. I loved sharing my life and my kids with the soundest listeners on 98FM. We've been through a lot together & thank you for always turning up for me, it means more than any of you will know.' She continued: 'Lastly, a quick word to my kiddos Oisín, Hannah & Sadie. Thank you for letting me have a go of my dream radio job and playing ball every morning, even the really tough ones, so I could be in front of the mic by 10am and of course, Joey- the voice of support, the constant, the reassurance, who always has the reminder 'We'll figure it out, we always do'.' Dowling added his statement, writing on Instagram: "When I joined Suzanne back in March of 2023, I had ZERO radio hosting skills. Blake was only 6 months old & baby Blu was only a twinkle in our eyes. It took me a minute to get into my new groove, but when I did, WOW, I honestly have had the best time & have genuinely laughed every day; even on those bad days, being part of this show ALWAYS puts a smile on my face. "Here we are now 2 years & 3 months later & I'm still laughing & smiling. I have learned so much about an industry I've been in for nearly 24 years, presenting mainly television shows but now my love for radio easily equals my love for telly. A MASSIVE HEARTFELT. Thank you to the team, Russell and Cathal. You guys make the show what it is, and especially to you, Pat Gill, for making this experience UTTERLY JOYFUL for me. Also, to you, James Brownlow, thanks for taking the risk on me. "It has never ever felt like work; I mean, how could it when I'm playing the likes of Britney, S Club & JLO, to name but a few. I am so looking forward to a slower Summer; I'm not actually sure if I can operate on a slower pace."
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Lilywhites ready to bloom in maiden Joe McDonagh Cup final
It's been a busy few years for Brian Dowling. Aside from managing the Kildare senior hurlers, was also involved with St Kieran's College's Leinster schools' winning team this year following two All-Ireland titles as manager of the Kilkenny camogie team. Now Dowling is working the oracle with the Lilywhite hurlers as they head to Croke Park this Sunday for their first Joe McDonagh Cup final (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player) as a result of four successive wins in the group stages of the competition. They meet Laois who they beat by 11 points - 4-20 to 1-18 - at O'Moore Park, but Dowling says that win will count for nothing on Sunday. "We'll have to raise our level again," he says. "Beating Laois the last day will count for nothing; they are in the exact same position as us now. They are a top-class team with a brilliant manager in Tommy Fitzgerald and a brilliant coach in Niall Corcoran and it will be a great game, I think. Two very good teams will be going hell for leather." Back in 2018, at the annual Kildare GAA convention a 32-page, five-year strategic plan was launched. The Kildare Hurling Action Plan was divided into three main strands – club hurling development, club-school links, and building a club hurling profile. The hurling community in the county wanted to increase numbers playing the game to a high standard. They wanted top-flight league hurling for the county team and there was always the objective of doing well in the Joe McDonagh Cup. Back then they were in Division 2B. Now they have promotion to Division 1B secure and Sunday's McDonagh Cup to look forward to. Behind the scenes former Kildare full-back and county GDA John Doran is driving development and this year's Under-20 side had 11 clubs represented. "We targeted to get to the top two this year," Dowling said. "We felt if things went well, we could get there. "After losing to Kerry it didn't look like it would happen but as the year went we were delighted. We are always seeing improvements but things to work on also. "Winning the Westmeath was a tough game; a big one and it was there to be won. From there we are hurling with confidence." Dowling said he was delighted to get the job and following consultation with his friend and predecessor, David Herity, he felt there was a chance to do something. "It was nice in one way to play Christy Ring last year as we had the chance to get things going. "We could build the thing from there and this year we were promoted to Division 1B, but it's all coming from an incredible effort by different people. "On the pitch the players work hard three nights a week but then focus on video work, S&C and ball-wall sessions outside training. "Outside of the team there are a lot of good people involved - this progress hasn't just happened, and Colm Nolan, Adrian Kinsella and Eoin Stapleton have put in a huge amount of work at development and underage level, alongside John Doran. "It's great to see these people after matches and see how happy they are. But we have another huge test on Sunday and that's all we are focused on."
Irish Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
'It made my eyes burn.' Dentist avoids jail over "appalling" animal cruelty case
A dentist has been given a suspended prison sentence of four and a half years and a lifetime ban on owning animals after what a judge described as 'one of the most appalling cases of animal neglect' he had ever come across. Karen Saunderson, 68, who comes originally from Liverpool with an address in England, pleaded guilty to ten offences contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 over the condition in which a large number of animals were discovered at the rental property where she lived at Templelusk, Avoca, Co Wicklow on November 19, 2016. The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering, feeding, neglect and a failure to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Lawyers for Mr Saunderson – who is also known as Sanderson – claimed her property was used 'as a drop-off point for certain unwanted animals'. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard an animal welfare inspector and Gardaí who visited the living area of the property complained that their eyes were burning from the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals. A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Conor Dowling. The inspector gave evidence that an overweight pig which was found squealing and lying on its side in a filthy stable had to be put down later that day to prevent it from further suffering. Mr Dowling said the animal was unable to get to its feet, had overgrown hooves and no water. He described a terrible stench from other stables, where he found 12 dogs living in muck and faeces with no water with some of the animals obviously 'stressed'. One Mastiff who had a withered leg had to be euthanised a week later. Mr Dowling said a German Shepherd, who was discovered to be pregnant, gave birth to a litter of nine pups the following week. Some were deformed and none survived. However, most of the other dogs and all the horses were successfully rehomed. Mr Dowling told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that he sought assistance from Gardaí because of the scale of what he encountered. He outlined how dogs spilled out of the living area of a loft building when the door was opened. The court heard a total of 31 dogs, ranging from small puppies to giant breeds, were found in the loft with dog faeces everywhere. 'It was a stressful and chaotic environment,' said Mr Dowling, who believed that a large pool of liquid on the floor was urine from the dogs. 'I could not breathe and it made my eyes burn,' he recalled. A video recording of the scene showed the accused tried to claim the dogs had only urinated when inspectors had knocked on the door. Mr Dowling said the accused claimed she walked 30 dogs every day but he said the evidence indicated otherwise as many of the animals had overgrown claws. He said one Mastiff had chronic arthritis and could not even make its own way downstairs, while a spaniel could not walk as it had not properly recovered from an old injury. Another dog had to have a toe amputated as it had been gnawing at an exposed bone. Mr Dowling said he did not believe Ms Saunderson was keeping animals commercially but he found it hard to explain the situation. The inspector said all the horses were underweight and suffering from rain scald and mud fever. He told Judge Patrick Quinn that a decision was taken to remove most of the animals, although the accused was allowed to keep some dogs to whom she was particularly attached. The judge questioned how the situation was allowed to develop that both the defendant and her animals were living in such appalling conditions and squalor without it being reported to the authorities. 'Somebody must have known,' he observed. Mr Dowling replied that he had visited the property on the basis of a 'quite vague' report that gave no sense of the scale of what he subsequently discovered. He pointed out that a vet who called to the property had never been beyond the yard. However, he remarked that someone passing on the quiet road beside the property could have seen the horses in the field and realised there might be an animal welfare issue. Mr Dowling said the costs in the case were calculated at €12,229 but he believed the true figure was a multiple of that figure. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Eanna Mulloy SC, the inspector said he was unaware about Ms Saunderson's claim that she was not the owner of all the animals or that she had issues with her landlord about sewage problems on the property. Mr Dowling said he was also unfamiliar that she was meant to be minding animals for a member of the Traveller community. The court heard Ms Saunderson had moved to Ireland in financially-strained circumstances for a number of years on a 'career break' while she was the subject of a long-running regulatory matter with the General Dental Council in the UK. Mr Kelly noted that her guilty pleas were only entered in January 2025 to offences committed over eight years ago after she had submitted reports over the intervening years that she was unfit to go on trial. Mr Mulloy said Ms Saunderson had a difficult family background and was someone who was 'easily exploited'. He said the kernel of the problem was that his client was a woman who had a soft spot for animals who could not cope with the number she had accumulated but there was a low risk of her re-offending. Sentencing Ms Saunderson to four and a half years in prison and ordering her to pay costs of €15,000, Judge Quinn said it was obvious both she and her animals were neglected and living in 'absolute squalor'. The judge observed he had come across a few other similar cases where someone with a love of animals became overwhelmed by the number of animals they acquired over time. He claimed it was irrelevant that she might have been exploited by others. The judge accepted her neglect was not intentional but due to her own declining mental state. Ms Saunderson sobbed audibly as she heard the sentence would be fully suspended. Addressing the judge, she remarked: 'Thank you very much. I really am so very sorry.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man stopped attack when he saw blood, court told
A man accused of trying to kill a fellow care home resident has told a jury he stopped when he "could see a pool of blood on the floor". At Bradford Crown Court, Graham Dowling is accused of the attempted murder of Kevin Ryan, 61, at Burger Court residential care home in the city last December. He has denied intending to kill the victim, but previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Giving evidence on Thursday, Mr Dowling, 36, of Barkerend Road, said he was acting in self-defence as a fight escalated when he discovered his girlfriend, another resident, had kissed Mr Ryan. Mr Dowling said he stopped punching and kicking when "I realised I could see a pool of blood". He said: "It was self-defence as he flipped my glasses off. I was upset, but not angry. "I had gone to his room and Kev was on his bed. I stamped on his face five times but wasn't trying to kill him. "He was lying on the floor facing the ceiling and I kicked him while he was on the floor and punched him in the face, then I left his room and put my shoes in a bucket of water as they had blood on them." He was asked by the prosecution whether he realised part of the victim's ear had been ripped off, but the defendant said "his ear got cut". He was also asked whether he intended to kill the victim, whom he had known for about a year, and he replied: "No." The court heard Mr Ryan was not able to give evidence during the trial as he was not in a fit state. Prosecutor Gerald Hendron told the jury they were there to work out if Mr Dowling had intended to kill his victim during the fight. He said: "It was a substantial attack as he had a fracture across his face after getting five blows to his head. "The only injuries Mr Dowling got was a scratch to his hand, he didn't have any injuries, and even asked, 'are you dead yet?'" Mr Hendron said that the fact he stamped on Mr Ryan's head showed he had intent to kill. But he added that the stamping on his body was not evidence there had been an attempt to kill. Josh Normanton, defending Mr Dowling, argued he had admitted what he did and called for medical attention, adding there was no evidence he had prepared to kill the victim. He told the jury: "A serious assault occurred, of that there can be no doubt, and Mr Dowling was sadly the cause of those injuries. "But did he have intent to kill or to cause serious harm? "If he wanted to kill him, why when he was crawling on the floor, didn't he finish him off or call immediate medical attention?" The trial continues. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Care home man denies trying to kill fellow resident Man suffered 'five blows' in care home attack HM Courts & Tribunals Service
