Latest news with #Dunnigan
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Fearless consultant physician and scourge of PFI dies
Died: April 18, 2025 Matthew Dunnigan, who has died aged 93, was a consultant physician at Stobhill Hospital for 27 years who distinguished himself, both in his studies on delivery of health care, and in the clinical arena. When health leaders in Glasgow were planning a reduction in acute bed numbers in the 1990s, Dr Dunnigan forensically analysed the planning models and showed the health board's plans would not cope with an increasingly frail and elderly population. Sadly, his detailed analysis was repeatedly ignored with the resultant consequences we are all living with today. The late 1990s was a period of major hospital closures and the building of new hospitals under the exorbitant Private Finance Initiative (PFI) throughout the UK. All of these schemes entailed selling off NHS land and hospitals with major reductions in beds. Dr Dunnigan extended his forensic analysis of bed planning to Lothian Health Board's plans for the New Edinburgh Royal and many of the new PFI hospital plans in England. He exposed the flawed assumptions regarding bed provisions and in every case the evidence was ignored by the policy makers. His analysis, unlike those of the NHS bed planners, has stood the test of time – the UK now has the lowest hospital bed numbers of all the countries in Europe. Dr Dunnigan's academic curiosity was also in evidence in the clinical arena where he also distinguished himself. Arguably the most meritorious was his work with severely physically and mentally disabled patients in the long-since-closed Lennox Castle Hospital in the 1980s. Read more Dr Dunnigan's attention was drawn to this by observing dehydration in patients being admitted to Stobhill Hospital from Lennox Castle. He suspected that these patients were not being fed adequately. He therefore looked at the intake of the inpatients at that institution and demonstrated severe caloric and nutritional deficiencies, especially in those who were unable to feed themselves. Correction of this led to the patients gaining weight and being more settled and easier to look after. His findings were eventually accepted by the health board who agreed to provide more staff and better nutrition for the patients. Dr Dunnigan was also involved in a study looking at the high incidence of rickets in the recently arrived Asian children to Glasgow in the 1960s. In their homeland, the sun provided all the Vitamin D they required but this was not the case in Glasgow's tenement blocks. Having identified the problem, Dr Dunnigan arranged to have Vitamin D inserted into the flour used to make chapattis, and the rickets all but disappeared. He continued to conduct studies and write about Vitamin D deficiency in South Asians for two decades. Dr Dunnigan contributed in a number of other clinical areas including unexplained fluid retention in women and Dunnigan's Syndrome which described a rare type of genetic lipid disorder. Matthew Dunnigan was born in 1931 to what he described as poor but honest parents in a steel house in Clydebank. Matthew continued: 'my parents were both keen on self-improvement, evening classes and 'getting on'.' His mother taught primary classes of 50-60 children as a 19-year-old until marriage prevented her from continuing. His father, who left school at 15, was self-educated and became a cost accountant. As a young child Matthew suffered from scarlet fever, which then was a life-threatening illness. This necessitated several months in hospital without any contact with his family. Perversely, this experience was to be repeated in the last years of his life through Covid. The family moved to Troon during the Second World War and Dr Dunnigan attended Marr College where he was Dux. He entered Glasgow University to study medicine, graduating in 1955. After completing his national service, he chose endocrinology as his specialty. He also completed an MD (with honours) under the guidance of the renowned cardiologist Dr JH Wright. He was appointed consultant physician at Stobhill Hospital in 1969 and following his retiral in 1996 continued as a senior research fellow at Glasgow University. His strengths included being a gifted orator, having a wonderful way with words and the ability to back up his arguments with thoroughly analysed data. He was always an inquisitive physician which was to the considerable benefit of his patients. Within all of these activities, his family were front and centre in his life. He cared lovingly for his wife Anna of 57 years in her final illness. He is survived by his son Matthew and daughter Sarah, both of whom are distinguished academics in Edinburgh. FRANK DUNN and ALLYSON POLLOCK
Calgary Herald
08-05-2025
- Calgary Herald
Martin: Recent sex case cautionary tale for teachers
Article content Article content Those are adjectives a Calgary judge suggested could describe the conduct of a former city teacher who had a sexual relationship with a just-graduated, 17-year-old student. Article content Justice Sean Dunnigan could probably have added 'creepy' to that list. Article content But criminal? Not so much. Article content And while Dunnigan's decision to acquit Jason Selby on a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor has some concerned it might open the door to similar conduct, fear not. Article content Article content In his 31-page decision handed down last week, the Calgary Court of Justice judge made it clear the unique circumstances in the relationship between Selby and the teenage girl fell on the shy side of criminal behaviour. Article content Article content But Dunnigan cited a litany of factors, absent from the Selby case, which could find an educator running afoul of the law. Article content To be clear, the judge did not in any way condone Selby's conduct by finding the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the now-fired teacher committed a crime. Article content Instead, Dunnigan's decision should serve as a warning to other teachers about the dangers of getting too cozy with students. Article content He noted Selby, who had earlier been the girl's homeroom teacher and taught her English in the first semester of Grade 12, didn't, like many sex offenders, groom a young and vulnerable target. Article content Dunnigan found there was no 'grooming, pressure, threats, incentivization or persuasion on the accused's part.' Article content In other words, the teen wasn't lured into a sexual relationship by an older, wiser adult who took advantage of someone's naiveté. Article content Article content Selby, who taught the girl at Western Canada High School, first had sex with her at his home in July 2018, a little more than a week after her final exam and more than a month before she turned 18. Article content But because she was old enough to consent, the Crown was obligated to prove the teacher was in a position of trust or authority over her. Article content While both the prosecution and defence agreed his position of authority ended with her graduation, the issue was whether he still had a trust relationship with her. Article content Despite her consent to the sexual relationship, which lasted nearly two years, Selby was looking at a minimum 12-month sentence if he was found to have taken advantage of a trust situation.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ex-QMJHL player Noah Corson to serve jail time in Quebec sex-assault case
MONTREAL – Former Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League player Noah Corson has been sentenced to two years less a day in jail for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Corson, 27, the son of former NHL player Shayne Corson, received his sentence from Quebec court Judge Paul Dunnigan on Monday in Drummondville, Que., about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal. Dunnigan found Corson guilty on Feb. 9, 2024, saying he did not take all reasonable measures to verify the age of the victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban. The English-language logo for the QMJHL is seen in an undated handout graphic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-QMJHL, *MANDATORY CREDIT* She was assaulted in 2016 in Drummondville during group sex involving two other minors accused in the case. The other two, both 17, pleaded guilty in youth court. Corson was 18 at the time of the assault and played with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Crown had sought a 30-month sentence, while the defence had argued for a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community. Corson had testified he believed the girl was at least 16, which would have been a valid defence if he had done everything he reasonably could have to verify her age. His failure to do that was enough to determine his guilt, the judge said in his 2024 ruling. During sentencing, Dunnigan noted findings in a pre-sentence report that said, 'the accused's background being that of hockey, the internal culture linked to it could have influenced his thinking or that popularity and success could have given way to a relative feeling of impunity and a certain objectification of women.' Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up Corson's lawyers are appealing the guilty verdict. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
CBC
25-04-2025
- CBC
Teacher who had sex with 17-year-old former student not guilty of sexual exploitation
Social Sharing A teacher having sex with a 17-year-old former student weeks after she graduated may have been "distasteful, ill-advised or perhaps even immoral" but Jason Selby is not guilty of sexual exploitation, a Calgary judge ruled Friday. Selby was accused of being in a position of trust or authority over the teen when he first had sex with her on July 7, 2018, a couple of weeks after she graduated from Western Canada High School. At the time, Selby was 35 years old and a teacher at the school. The identity of the complainant in this case is protected by a publication ban. The two began a two-year sexual relationship that continued after she turned 18 that August. In Canada, the age of consent is 16 years old. But if a person is in a position of trust or authority, their sexual partner must be at least 18 years old. Parliament didn't define 'cooling off' period In this case, the sole issue at trial is whether Selby's position of trust or authority continued in the weeks after the complainant graduated between the first sexual encounter and her 18th birthday on Aug. 13, 2018. Justice Sean Dunnigan ruled that he was left in doubt as to whether Selby remained in a position of trust after graduation. "The significant age gap between the parties and the existence of a prior teacher/student relationship might make the accused's decision to begin an intimate relationship so quickly after graduation appear on its face to be unseemly, distasteful, ill-advised or perhaps even immoral," wrote Dunnigan. "However, neither Parliament nor the courts have sought to prohibit a teacher absolutely from having a relationship with a former student or to define a socially acceptable 'cooling-off' period." Selby 'very emotional' After the decision was handed down, defence lawyer Alain Hepner said he was "pleased" with the verdict and said his client is "very emotional." "I's been a long, drawn-out process," he said. "It's been three years in trial and it's a roller-coaster." Selby was the complainant's homeroom teacher in grades 10 and 11. He also taught her Grade 12 English in the fall semester of 2017. The piecemeal trial took place over a number of dates in 2023 and 2024. 'Hallmarks of concern' absent In his acquittal of Selby, Justice Dunnigan noted the accused did not groom the complainant during her time as a student, pointing out several "hallmarks of concerns expressed by the courts" that are absent in this case, including: A childhood bond with the accused from a young age. Parental entrustment. The complainant being dependent on the accused for emotional support. A power imbalance beyond their age difference. Evidence of prior intimacy or sexual activity during their pre-existing relationship. Authority or control over the complainant. A particular naivete, vulnerability or weakness on the part of the complainant. During the trial, the judge heard that after the complainant finished her final Grade 12 exam, she visited Selby in his office at his request and the two discussed meeting for coffee. Selby told the girl to call him by his first name and gave her his cellphone number. The two began texting and made plans to meet up. Their first visit took place on July 7, 2018, at Selby's home. 'I could get in a lot of trouble' Soon after she arrived, Selby told the teenager she could not tell anyone they were texting and meeting up. "People could get the wrong idea," he said at the time. "I could get in a lot of trouble." The two smoked a joint in Selby's hot tub and he commented on how attractive he found her. They ended up having sex that night in Selby's home and continued to meet up and have sex. The relationship ended in May 2020. The complainant testified she started to feel strangely about her relationship with Selby and told her therapist about it. She said she began to worry the same thing could happen to her sister. She reported Selby to police and charges were laid in July 2021.
CBS News
21-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Colorado State basketball fans pack Fort Collins restaurants as Rams move on to second round of NCAA tournament
Hundreds of diehard Colorado State University basketball fans packed into several restaurants and bars in Fort Collins Friday, as the Rams took on the Memphis Tigers in the first round of the NCAA tournament. "It is exciting as heck to watch the Rams in the NCAA tournament, and to see what the coach has done with this team," said Shawn Dunnigan, a CSU season ticket holder for 15 years. Dunnigan and many others gathered at C.B. & Potts in Fort Collins for one of the several official watch parties. The game, which started at noon, was being played in Seattle. The Rams went on to win their first NCAA tournament game since 2013 when they knocked down the Missouri Tigers. Dunnigan said it has been fun watching the Rams succeed and make it to the big dance several times in recent seasons. And, he has enjoyed seeing the teams be led by players with NBA-caliber talent. "First it was (David) Roddy, then it was Isaiah Stevens and now it is Nique Clifford. It is just fantastic to see the talent that comes through this program. Every year it is different and every year it is exciting," Dunnigan said. The parties are also great for local businesses, resulting in restaurants like C.B. & Potts having to nearly turn away some guests due to being at capacity on a Friday morning and early afternoon. Dunnigan said he is optimistic the Rams have at least a couple more wins in them as their current winning streak is at 12. "I picked them to go to the sweet 16," Dunnigan said. "Go Rams." The Rams will play Sunday against the winner of the Maryland vs. Grand Canyon game.
