Latest news with #Keogh
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
‘Urgent action' needed to prevent kids ‘being exposed to harmful content' ahead of video sharing site age checks laws
"URGENT action" to prevent children "being exposed to pornography, violence and other harmful content" is needed ahead of new laws coming into effect, a TD has said. 2 Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh has urged for stricter enforcement of age verification on video sharing websites Credit: Fine Gael The legislation, which is set to come into effect on July 21, will require platforms to verify user ages when accessing adult content. Speaking on the issue, Deputy Keogh said: "As a newly elected TD and as Chair of the Children & Equality Committee, pushing for initiatives that protect children's mental health from harmful online content is a top priority. "Access to pornography nowadays is a free for all and is completely unregulated." She added: "If a parent discovered that their teenager had been exposed to pornography while watching television at a friend's house, it's likely they would be permanently banned from visiting, and the friend's parent could be reported to Tusla. READ MORE ON IRISH NEWS "Yet we give teenagers smartphones with open access to the internet, where they regularly encounter misogynist and toxic content online, especially on well-known pornographic websites." Online Safety commissioner Niamh Hodnett has said that video-sharing platforms will be supervised by Coimisiun na Mean to ensure verifications are in place by July. For explicit websites based outside of Ireland, the commission will work with the European Commission and regulators across the EU. It follows calls by Tanaiste Most read in Irish News Harris warned that such use represented a "ticking time bomb" and that while the current age of digital consent in Ireland is 16, there are a lot of "workarounds" to it. Deputy Keogh has said: "It is welcome that the commission is working with European and UK counterparts to align age verification standards, as we can learn from other countries in models that they have adopted, what has been successful and what we could do differently. 'I support recent comments by Tánaiste Simon Harris, who said users here should be at least 16 before they can have a social media account, in line with Ireland's Digital Age of Consent. 'URGENT ACTION NEEDED' 'I truly believe urgent action needs to be taken across the board to prevent children being exposed to pornography, violence and other harmful content online.'. Keogh added that she looks forward to engaging with the commission and social media platforms through the Oireachtas Children's Committee. However, she noted: "The Online Safety Commissioner must ensure these new measures are robustly enforced and that non-compliant websites are named and subject to the appropriate sanctions." 2 The new legislation will require platforms to verify user ages when accessing explicit content Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Army driver court martialled over allegedly not obeying toilet break order
A driver in the Defence Forces has appeared before a military court over his alleged repeated failure to stop a coach to allow troops to go to the toilet on a trip between Finner Camp in Co Donegal and Dublin six years ago. A summary court martial heard the driver eventually pulled in on a hard shoulder and told his passengers that 'anyone who needs to p*** and s*** can go there.' Private Aidan Graham, who is based in the Curragh Camp Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty to 11 charges contrary to military law at a hearing at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, Dublin on Monday. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The accused is charged with various breaches of the Defence Act 1954 over his alleged conduct on March 15, 2019 while driving 20 troops back to their base at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, Dublin from training in Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Pte Graham is accused of four counts of disobeying a lawful command of a superior officer including two in relation to refusing to stop the bus at a service station. Five other charges relate to accusations that Pte Graham used threatening or insulting language or behaving in an insubordinate manner towards his superiors including remarking to one NCO: 'I'm sick of this f*****g s***, I'm going home. I've been on the road since 5am.' The military court heard he is also charged with showing aggressive behaviour to two corporals in Cathal Brugha Barracks. Pvt Graham was separately charged with dangerous driving of a service vehicle over the aggressive manner in which he pulled the coach onto a hard shoulder. He was also accused of displaying conduct that was prejudicial to good order and discipline over telling other soldiers that they could 'p*** and s***' on the side of a road. Opening the case for the prosecution, counsel for the Director of Military Prosecutions, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Keogh BL said the accused had shown disobedience and insubordination during a routine transport detail of the Defence Forces. Lt Col Keogh said Pte Graham had repeatedly refused to obey lawful commands and had used vulgar and threatening language as well as driving in a dangerous manner which placed other troops at risk. He told the military judge, Colonel Michael Campion, that Pte Graham's belief that he was the person in charge of the vehicle and was not bound to follow orders was 'without merit.' Counsel said the orders to make a stop on a 200km-plus journey were 'necessary and reasonable.' 'He did not act in ignorance. He acted in defiance,' remarked Lt Col Keogh. Corporal Paul Burke gave evidence that he assumed there would be no issue when other soldiers had asked him on the journey if the driver could stop for a toilet break. However, he said Pte Graham replied that he was not stopping as he had been on the road since 5am and had 'places to be.' Corp Burke said the driver complained that soldiers would take more than 10 minutes if he stopped as they would also go for food. He recalled how Pte Graham drove faster as he got near the service station. Corp Burke said he did not know what to do after the driver also refused to stop when asked by another NCO. After the bus was pulled into a hard shoulder, Corp Burke said he would not let 20 soldiers in uniform go to the toilet on the side of a road as someone would take a photo which would appear in newspapers and social media. The trial heard that it was established that nobody else on the coach was qualified to drive the vehicle to allow Pte Graham to be relieved of his duties. Corp Burke described the driver's demeanour as 'crazy.' When they arrived at Cathal Brugha Barracks, he said he was twice told to 'f*** off' by Pte Graham when he ordered him to get out of the bus. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Pat O'Brien BL, Corp Burke denied that the driver had told him before leaving Finner Camp that he was not planning to stop as he had to collect his kids. 'That's a lie' he replied. Sergeant Derek Rochford, who was a corporal at the time, admitted that the driver had told him at Finner Camp that he was in a rush as he had to be back as quickly as possible 'for another detail.' After the incident on the hard shoulder, Sgt Rochford said he did not feel it was safe to ask Pte Graham to stop again. The witness said he took it as a threat when the driver told him at Cathal Brugha Barracks to be careful as he was taking matters further. Sgt Rochford said Pte Graham showed no respect for rank and just wanted to get home. Under cross-examination, Sgt Rochford said he was in charge as the most senior NCO but denied the driver was asked to go to a stop that was 10 minutes off the route. Several other passengers who were on the bus also gave evidence about the driver's refusal to stop for a toilet break apart from pulling in on a hard shoulder. An officer in the Defence Forces' transport division told the court martial that a superior officer can tell the driver of a military vehicle what to do. However, Commandant Ciaran Haughton said a document would need to be endorsed for any deviation from the driver's detail. Comdt Haughton said he believed a driver had to show due respect to the rank of his passengers under military standing orders. However, Mr O'Brien claimed an NCO was not allowed to endorse such a document as they were not defined as officers under the Defence Act. In reply to questions from the judge, Comdt Haughton said toilet stops were generally only not allowed when transporting ammunition for security reasons but were encouraged for the welfare of personnel on other trips. The witness said comfort breaks were not normally recorded on documentation but added: 'but probably should be per regulations.' The hearing was adjourned and resumes on Tuesday.
RTÉ News
30-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Defence Forces private refused to stop bus for toilet break, court hears
A driver in the Defence Forces has appeared before a military court over his alleged repeated failure to stop a coach to allow troops to go to the toilet on a trip between Finner Camp in Co Donegal and Dublin six years ago. A summary court martial heard the driver eventually pulled in on a hard shoulder and told his passengers that "anyone who needs to piss and s**t can go there". Private Aidan Graham, who is based in the Curragh Camp Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty to 11 charges contrary to military law at a hearing at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks in Dublin. The accused is charged with various breaches of the Defence Act 1954 over his alleged conduct on 15 March 2019 while driving 20 troops back to their base at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines in Dublin from training in Finner Camp in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Pvt Graham is accused of four counts of disobeying a lawful command of a superior officer, including two in relation to refusing to stop the bus at a service station. Five other charges relate to accusations that Pvt Graham used threatening or insulting language or behaving in an insubordinate manner towards his superiors including remarking to one NCO: "I'm sick of this f**king s**t, I'm going home. I've been on the road since 5am." The military court heard he is also charged with showing aggressive behaviour to two corporals in Cathal Brugha Barracks. Pvt Graham was separately charged with dangerous driving of a service vehicle over the aggressive manner in which he pulled the coach onto a hard shoulder. He was also accused of displaying conduct that was prejudicial to good order and discipline over telling other soldiers that they could "piss and s**t" on the side of a road. Opening the case for the prosecution, counsel for the Director of Military Prosecutions, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Keogh BL said the accused had shown disobedience and insubordination during a routine transport detail of the Defence Forces. Lt Col Keogh said Pvt Graham had repeatedly refused to obey lawful commands and had used vulgar and threatening language as well as driving in a dangerous manner which placed other troops at risk. He told the military judge, Colonel Michael Campion, that Pvt Graham's belief that he was the person in charge of the vehicle and was not bound to follow orders was "without merit". Counsel said the orders to make a stop on a 200km-plus journey were "necessary and reasonable". "He did not act in ignorance. He acted in defiance," remarked Lt Col Keogh. Corporal would not let soldiers go to toilet on roadside, court hears Corporal Paul Burke gave evidence that he assumed there would be no issue when other soldiers had asked him on the journey if the driver could stop for a toilet break. However, he said Pvt Graham replied that he was not stopping as he had been on the road since 5am and had "places to be." Cpl Burke said the driver complained that soldiers would take more than 10 minutes if he stopped as they would also go for food. He recalled how Pvt Graham drove faster as he got near the service station. Cpl Burke said he did not know what to do after the driver also refused to stop when asked by another NCO. After the bus was pulled into a hard shoulder, Cpl Burke said he would not let 20 soldiers in uniform go to the toilet on the side of a road as someone would take a photo which would appear in newspapers and social media. The trial heard that it was established that nobody else on the coach was qualified to drive the vehicle to allow Pvt Graham to be relieved of his duties. Cpl Burke described the driver's demeanour as "crazy." When they arrived at Cathal Brugha Barracks, he said he was twice told to "f**k off" by Pvt Graham when he ordered him to get out of the bus. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Pat O'Brien BL, Cpl Burke denied that the driver had told him before leaving Finner Camp that he was not planning to stop as he had to collect his kids. "That's a lie," he replied. Sergeant Derek Rochford, who was a corporal at the time, admitted that the driver had told him at Finner Camp that he was in a rush as he had to be back as quickly as possible "for another detail." After the incident on the hard shoulder, Sgt Rochford said he did not feel it was safe to ask Pvt Graham to stop again. The witness said he took it as a threat when the driver told him at Cathal Brugha Barracks to be careful as he was taking matters further. Sgt Rochford said Pvt Graham showed no respect for rank and just wanted to get home. Under cross-examination, Sgt Rochford said he was in charge as the most senior NCO but denied the driver was asked to go to a stop that was ten minutes off the route. Several other passengers who were on the bus also gave evidence about the driver's refusal to stop for a toilet break apart from pulling in on a hard shoulder. An officer in the Defence Forces' transport division told the court martial that a superior officer can tell the driver of a military vehicle what to do. However, Commandant Ciaran Haughton said a document would need to be endorsed for any deviation from the driver's detail. Comdt Haughton said he believed a driver had to show due respect to the rank of his passengers under military standing orders. However, Mr O'Brien claimed an NCO was not allowed to endorse such a document as they were not defined as officers under the Defence Act. In reply to questions from the judge, Comdt Haughton said toilet stops were generally only not allowed when transporting ammunition for security reasons but were encouraged for the welfare of personnel on other trips. The witness said comfort breaks were not normally recorded on documentation but added they "probably should be per regulations". The hearing was adjourned and resumes tomorrow.
RTÉ News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Single scull a silver lining for crewless Fiona Murtagh
Back in November, Fiona Murtagh put behind her a challenging few months to return to the National Rowing Centre in Cork. More than three months had passed since the bitter disappointment of the Paris Olympics, and the Galway native was struggling to plot out her future. Murtagh and Aifric Keogh – part of the women's four in Tokyo alongside Eimear Lambe and Emily Hegarty that swept to an unlikely bronze – travelled to France as serious medal contenders in the women's pair. Podium finishers in every race that season, they could only manage a sixth-place semi-final finish. Having experienced such highs in Tokyo (Murtagh and Keogh became, and remain, the only Galway athletes to claim an Olympic medal), a combination of underperformance and the lack of a post-Games plan hit the 29-year-old hard. Keogh retired and of the coaches that were involved in the Paris Games, only Dominic Casey remains, with Rowing Ireland yet to fill the vacancy left by high-performance director Antonio Maurogiovanni's departure. "After Paris I took a break, I really wasn't sure what to do, I had nothing planned," Murtagh told RTÉ Sport. "In hindsight, it was not a good idea. I really fell off a cliff. People were retiring, coaches were leaving. There was a lot of uncertainty in the air. I was a sweep rower (two hands on one oar, as opposed to sculling where each rower uses two oars). I was trying to think, 'where do I fit in?' 'Where do I belong in this organisation now?'" Once the dust had finally settled on Paris, Murtagh began to plan ahead. Inevitably, she kept circling back to her sport. "I knew myself I had so much more to give, I just didn't know how that was going to be done." Enter Dominic Casey, Ireland's most successful rowing coach. It was his suggestion to try out the single-scull. Eased back into the boat, it was now a fresh challenge of working solo. That first day back in November, it was a case of old habits dying hard. After the warm-up, she waited in the areas reserved for the fours and quads, the pairs and doubles; lining up where the singles took off from didn't enter her mind. "After a few months off, you are on edge," she says. "Without thinking I just stood beside the pair, waiting for Aifric and Giuseppe (De Vita, high performance coach). It was that moment, 'they're not here'." Those early months were a steep learning curve. The pace was "crawling" and old techniques had to be discarded; how she approached the catch (the oar entering the water) and moving through the leg drive may not seem massively different to the untrained eye. For Murtagh it was night and day. In the past, Keogh had taken charge of steering in the pair, while as part of the four, Lambe looked after the calls. Now the responsibility landed squarely on her shoulders. "Even though you know how to do them, it's about owning it," she says. There were no goals set in those early days, just reassurance and guidance from Casey. The lack of pressure was a rare treat, the sole focus simply getting to grips with the solo adventure. At the turn of the year, the winter labour was beginning to bear fruit. At her first trial she was second to Mags Cremen. For the final European trials, she was first past the finish line. She went to the European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, earlier this month, full of nerves and possibilities. "I won my heat and it was instilling confidence in me throughout the regatta. I was more confident in my start, I always backed my middle. When I won the semi, I knew I was in with a chance." Seven months after beginning her sculling journey in Cork, Murtagh was back on the podium. "Throughout the last season, I never thought about winning at the European championships until I got there," she says. "If you told me after Paris if I'd be sitting here, with a European silver in the single, I'd be like 'you're lying to me'." She's not wedded to the idea of sculling in Los Angeles. It could pan out that way, but "you never know what Dominic has in mind". The mental and physical demands will stand to her regardless, Murtagh feeling the fittest she has ever been. This weekend she is in Switzerland, part of a strong Irish squad competing at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, the next chapter in her journey. "I'm still learning," she says. "People laugh at me when I say I'm a novice. In the single. It's a good thing. I'm motivated to learn that skill. "It's different. It's not me doing it for someone else, it's me doing it for me. There is a lot of self-growth and self-realisation to want to do that."
Sky News AU
26-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Cash Converters, travel agents MTA cop business register fines
Cash Converters and travel agents MTA have been fined by the consumer watchdog over franchise registration failures. Both franchisors paid $16,500 fines following infringement notices from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The consumer watchdog says failing to meet registration requirements causes a power imbalance. 'The Franchising Code of Conduct applies to franchising in Australia to help address some of the problems caused by the power imbalance in the franchise relationship,' ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said. 'A franchisor's failure to maintain up-to-date information on the register undermines transparency for prospective franchisees, and the reliability and integrity of the (Franchise Disclosure) Register.' NewsWire has contacted Cash Converters and MTA for comment. The federal Treasury oversees the Franchise Disclosure Register, which gives free information to anyone interested in a franchise operation. The ACCC received a $7m funding boost earlier this year to crack down on registry compliance. The consumer watchdog says the database is an important protector for small businesses. 'The requirement for franchisors to maintain accurate and up-to-date public profiles on the register ensures prospective franchisees and other stakeholders have clear and accurate information to help them make informed business decisions, including whether to enter into a franchise agreement,' Mr Keogh said. Perth-headquartered Cash Converters has about 74 franchisee-owned stores in Australia, and 79 shops are run by the corporation, the ACCC estimates. MTA, based on the Gold Coast, has an estimated 488 franchisees across the country. Originally published as 'Power imbalance': Cash Converters, travel agents MTA cop business register fines
