Latest news with #Eircodes
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Dylan Scannell told Cork chef: 'I am going to smash you when I see you', Cobh murder trial hears
The man who denies murder in Cobh texted the deceased on the day saying: 'I am going to smash you when I see you… I am going to chop your fingers off.' This evidence was given in the trial of 30-year-old Dylan Scannell, of O'Rahilly Street, Cobh, Co Cork, who denies murdering Cork chef Ian Baitson, in Eurospar car park, Newtown Road, Cobh, on March 19, 2024, but admits his manslaughter. March 19 is the date of death in hospital four days after the incident in the car park. Evidence was heard by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork that the deceased bled heavily after being struck to the left leg with a sword. Detective Garda David Kelleher testified that Ian Baitson's phone was found at the scene in the car park of Eurospar in Cobh on the day in question and a forensic extraction of all the data on the phone was undertaken. WhatsApp messages WhatsApp communications between Ian Baitson, and the accused, whose name appeared in the contacts of Dylan Scannell, consisted of 314 interactions — mainly texts but also including voice notes, images and missed or declined calls between August 2023 and March 2024. Many of the messages consist of arrangements to 'meet for coin', and for Ian Baitson to pay money in various amounts to Dylan Scannell. In the course of these, Ian Baitson said he owed various amounts in the order of hundreds of euro and disputed in one text: 'There is no way I owe you €2,500, not a f***ing chance… You want to check that. I know that myself. Not a chance, lad. Don't even think to say I owe that… I actually have it wrote down myself… I am telling you now, lad. Who do you think you are? Ha. I am skitting how you think you can say that. Ha… I owe you less than €500." Dylan Scannell texted in reply: 'Who do I think I am? Are you taking the piss? Or do you want it that way?' The deceased texted: 'Lad, I am not taking the piss. I never got that much. Are you getting snappy towards me?... It is not even near to the bill. I will send you what I wrote down.' Dylan Scannell replied: 'If you think this is snappy, you delusional.' Mr Baitson later texted: 'I would never bullshit you, ever.' This exchange occurred on February 20 2024. In later texts, the deceased said he had two cousins from Coolock, and the accused wanted to know their full names and their Eircodes. The accused texted on March 10: 'My buddy reckons he knows them,' adding they might be near a particular bar in Coolock. Mr Baitson said they would not be down to Cobh, adding: 'They run a big operation too, so I am not going to hound them.' Later on March 10, Mr Baitson texted: 'Lad, I want to sort out this shit, I am not continuing on this no more… €185 on Thursday and we are done… I pay this €185 on Thursday, that is the end of it, you can delete my name, we are done, bud.' The accused texted: 'It is €2,500, not €25,000. You wanted to do it this way. I was being fair. Who is your cousins and where do they live? Where are you now?' The deceased texted: 'I owe you €185 from the bill. I am not trying to make any situation. I have no more to do with you or anyone else. So-called friend I thought you were. To pull that bullshit makes me sick, lad.' The accused replied: 'Listen to me now you cheeky prick. I stopped a fella from cutting your mickey off a couple of months ago and you think you can speak to me like that.' The deceased texted back: 'Lad, I know you did, I am not speaking shit to you… If my job was to collect for you, no way would I steal from you.' Other texts disputed whether €350 or €310 were paid by the deceased to the accused through a third party. Two days later, there was a voice note from the accused saying: 'You scumbag.' The deceased texted: 'Be on your own, Thursday, when I give you €185… I will see you Thursday with the last €185.' The accused replied: 'You will see me sooner than that. Trust me… Have something nice for you.' After a number of texts from Dylan Scannell on March 12, Ian Baitson replied he was busy and not in Cobh. After further contacts from Dylan Scannell, Mr Baitson texted: 'Is there something wrong with you, lad? I am busy. Pretty straightforward.' Dylan Scannell replied: 'No, bud, just asking where you are — pretty straightforward.' Two days later, Mr Scannell texted threatening texts of a sexual nature and said he was going to come to his home. At 5.14am on March 15, the deceased texted: 'Was that a threat last night, was it?' The accused replied: 'Call it whatever the fuck you want, I am going to smash you when I see you… Cheeky c***. Mr Baitson replied: 'I am joking, lad. Sense of humour. See you after.' Dylan Scannell texted: 'Have that few quid. Who do you think you are? Think you are a hard man? I am going to chop your fingers off, you smart c***.' The two men arranged by text to meet at Eurospar car park. At about 8.30pm, the deceased texted he was going there. Dylan Scannell texted back: 'No, I will tell you when to leave.' Ian Baitson replied: 'OK, bud.' About 10 minutes later, he texted: 'Go now', and the deceased replied — in what was the last communication of the 314 interactions on WhatsApp — 'On my way.' A video montage from various CCTV was also shown to the jury without commentary of streets in Cobh and of the Eurospar carpark at the relevant time, without commentary of any kind. The trial continues. Read More Witness at Cobh murder trial said he saw man holding a sword and striking another man on the leg
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Eleven counties have more ‘voters' than adults living in them as dysfunctional state of national register outlined
The eleven worst offenders comprise: Sligo (111.8pc), Donegal (107.5), Leitrim (106.2), Longford (105.3), Monaghan (104.1), Galway county (101.8), Cork county (101.4), Westmeath (101.2), Carlow (101), Cavan (100.9) and Mayo (100.4). The bloated registers -- of people who are dead, have been duplicated in the system or have emigrated -- are replicated across the country. None of the local authorities has an accurate register, the Electoral Commission said today, making all election turnout figures meaningless. Now the Electoral Commission wants a drive from local authorities to clear up their registers as much as possible in time for the November presidential election. It means that many people can expect emails and letters asking for clarification or extra detail in relation to registrations. Electoral commission chief, Art O'Leary, said he has been receiving two polling cards "every election" for the people who lived before in his house. He said he had sent them back to the local authority -- and encouraged all others who do so -- and did not expect to receive them again for the Presidential poll. At the launch of a report outlining the "shoddy" nature of the nation's registers, it was admitted that some councils are checking or listening to death announcements on the radio. Others use field officers, but there is still a reluctance to delete emigrants who might be coming back. Australia has just announced a new record of over 100,000 Irish-born residents. "We don't believe any of the registers are sufficiently accurate," said Tim Casey of the Commission, which is not yet tasked with, or seeking, the creation of a national register. Only the four Dublin local authorities "talk to each other" in terms of the transfer of elector addresses, but the others do not. A new project aims to have all the local government electoral registers in the one place by the end of next year, but this "will not solve the problem of itself." In recent years, local authorities have been seeking PPS numbers, dates of birth and Eircodes from people seeking to register for the first time. There was controversy on LiveLine two years ago over the demand for "confidential" information, and the provision of a PPS number is not mandatory. People can still register on a "manual route" involving the Gardaí. Since October 2022, only an individual themselves can register. In the past postal information was sought from addresses -- an anonymous return system which led in some cases to the registration of household pets. "In future the cat will have to have a PPS number," remarked Art O'Leary of the Commission.
Irish Independent
22-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Emergency services warn farmers after rescue delays on Irish farms
Dr Jason van der Velde, pre-hospital emergency medicine specialist and clinical lead with the HSE National Telemedicine Support Unit, said confusion over locations continues to delay emergency crews in farm rescues. 'They [farmers or contractors] might be able to describe a certain field and know exactly where they are, but if you go to try and translate that to somebody sitting in a control room up in Tallaght, it's impossible,' he said. 'Relying on local knowledge can be difficult – this is always going to be a problem. 'The Eircodes have made such a huge difference since they were introduced.' Dr Van der Velde said it is not just farmers who need to know their Eircodes, but anyone working on the land. 'It may be your farm, but often it's not – it could be friends, family or contractors. 'Unless you know the Eircode to the entrance, how are you going to describe to somebody in Tallaght how to get to the place where you are? 'If you're going to be working someone's land for the day, just write it down. It's very easy to find.' Even with an Eircode, mistakes still happen, he warned. 'Just in recent weeks, we had a reliable Eircode and travelled as per Google Maps. But we got there and it wasn't the field – the entrance was on the other side of the land. 'That then becomes difficult because you could be literally driving another 10 minutes, going down another road, another road, another road to get access.' ADVERTISEMENT About 19pc of injuries are machine accidents and 13pc are livestock, but 71.5pc of deaths occur in the farmyard Farm safety remains a huge concern, with injury and fatality rates in agriculture eight times higher than any other Irish industry. 'About 19pc of injuries are machine accidents and 13pc are livestock, but 71.5pc of deaths occur in the farmyard,' he said. 'It's not just the farmer getting hurt, it's family members. Over 90pc of all injuries are family. Parents over 65 account for 50pc of annual fatalities and children under 17 make up 23pc.' Dr Van der Velde is running a farm safety educational tour with West Cork Rapid Response across the Beara Peninsula from May 24 to June 1
