Latest news with #McPhillips
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Mechanic drove into Garda car inside GAA club grounds after high speed chase, court told
The court was told how the vehicle appeared to be trying to capture the attention of gardaí who were on patrol at the time by stopping in the middle of the road and recording officers on a mobile phone. Conor McPhillips led gardaí on a high speed chase across Monaghan in a pursuit that ended in a GAA club grounds. A mechanic went 'buck mad' when he led gardaí on a high speed chase before turning and driving into a garda patrol car inside the grounds of a GAA club, a court has heard. Conor McPhillips (32) Kincorragh, Smithborough, Co Monaghan was eventually stopped after his attempts to give gardaí the slip moments after entering the vicinity of Tyholland GAA ended in failure during the early hours of July 21 last year. McPhillips appeared at a sitting of Monaghan District Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, no insurance, refusing to provide a specimen to gardaí and of having no driving licence in place in the wake of the incident. Conor McPhillips on the steps of Monaghan Courthouse. Sgt Lisa McEntee outlined how gardaí had been drawn to the movements of a VW Passat shortly before 4am after it was spotted being driven in an erratic manner. The court was told how the vehicle appeared to be trying to capture the attention of gardaí who were on patrol at the time by stopping in the middle of the road and recording officers on a mobile phone. Moments later, the vehicle proceeded out the N2 and towards Emyvale where its driver failed to stop despite attempts by gardaí to signal to its driver to pull in. As the VW Passat continued towards Emyvale, gardaí temporarily lost sight of the vehicle before noticing it then travelling behind the patrol car minutes later. The same vehicle carried out what was described in court as a 'dangerous' overtaking manoeuvre by crossing a number of traffic islands in the Gortmoney area of the county. As gardaí set off in pursuit of the vehicle once more, its driver undertook a second dangerous overtake a short time later before it was spotted circling around a roundabout 'numerous times' as it made off in the direction of Tyholland. It was there, the court was told McPhillips entered the grounds of Tyholland GAA with gardaí following in hot pursuit. Conor McPhillips on the steps of Monaghan Courthouse. Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 13 2025 Sgt McEntee said it was at that stage, gardaí observed the accused turn his vehicle and drive directly into the garda patrol car, causing damage to its front bumper in the process. Judge Raymond Finnegan was informed how McPhillips proceeded to drive around the outside perimeter of the Monaghan club side's pitch before he subsequently exited the vehicle and was arrested. Defence solicitor Martin Cosgrove described his client's actions as a 'big outing for a first outing' in light of his lack of any previous convictions. 'He has no real explanation and just went buck mad that night,' said Mr Cosgrove as he handed in €400 on behalf of McPhillips for the damage that was caused to the garda patrol car. The local solicitor insisted that while there was no damage inflicted upon the pitch or gates of Tyholland GAA which McPhillips rammed during the course of the chase, it was conceded his 'cooperation wasn't great' with gardaí when he was brought to a local garda station following his arrest. 'This is worthy of a prison sentence,' replied a visibly irritated Judge Finnegan as he ordered McPhillips to spend a spell in the holding cells of Monaghan Courthouse while he considered his verdict. When the accused was brought back up shortly before lunchtime, McPhillips said that experience was one he did not wish to encounter anytime soon again. 'How would you like nine or ten months in it because from what I heard this morning you deserve it for the way you conducted yourself,' said Judge Finnegan. McPhillips responded by insisting his actions on the night of the incident were 'completely out of character', something which drew a terse response from Judge Finnegan. 'Do you know how many times I have heard that in here? Everything is out of character when you end up in the court,' he said. McPhillips was consequently fined €500 for one of the dangerous driving charges and banned from driving for two years, as well as being fined €500 for the section 12 refusal alongside an accompanying four year ban. A €350 fine, meanwhile, was also handed down for driving without insurance. In 'taking into consideration' the no driving licence charge and criminal damage charge given the €400 compensation which was handed in earlier, Judge Finnegan told the 32-year-old: 'You are a very lucky man Mr McPhillips.' In the aftermath of that ruling, Mr Cosgrove applied for a brief postponement to McPhillips' disqualification in view of the fact he lived at home with his parents and was presently bringing his mother to medical appointments for treatment to a shoulder injury. Those overtures, however, fell on deaf ears as Judge Finnegan insisted his client needed to recognise the error of his ways. 'No, I won't do it (postpone driving ban),' he said. 'Let him pay for a taxi as he needs to take responsibility.'
Irish Examiner
02-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Families criticise delays to inquiry into epilepsy drug valproate
Families have criticised inordinate delays to the opening of an inquiry into the prescribing of valproate to pregnant women for epilepsy. Families affected by the prescribing of sodium valproate, which can cause serious birth defects and development disorders, were told last year that the inquiry would begin "within weeks" but there is now no timeline of it starting. The Department of Health has blamed the delays on data protection issues, but Ciara McPhillips, solicitor for the patients' advocacy group OACS Ireland, said: 'It seems incredible that it is taking so long. In October 2023, when the Department of Health was seeking to appoint a chairperson they advised OACS in writing that they were already working on the necessary data protection framework. 'And yet here we are 20 months later and 12 months on from the appointment of a chair and the inquiry has not commenced because of data regulations.' Ms McPhillips, partner with Micheal Boylan LLP, said signing off on data regulations is the responsibility of the health minister. 'We now understand, on foot of recent parliamentary questions, and a direct email from the minister, the regulations are with an arm of the Attorney General's office and that they are being worked on,' she said. Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway Walsh will now raise the delay in the Dáil. 'I absolutely share the frustrations,' she said. 'There is no explanation whatsoever for why it should take this long. It is really just putting the parents through more excruciating anxiety and pain, and these parents have suffered enough already.' Debbie Adams, whose two daughters, aged 13 and 11, live with Fetal Valproate Syndrome said: 'I've no faith in the system. 'This should not have happened. This has changed the trajectory of our family's life.' A department spokeswoman said regulations under the Data Protection Act 2018 are required to give a robust legal basis to the inquiry, including for data protection. The statutory instruments are being drafted 'as a priority', she said. 'When these have been finalised, it is anticipated that the public facing elements of the inquiry will commence shortly thereafter,' she said.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Prima Facie Performance Spotlights Urgent Justice Issues For Survivors During Rape Awareness Week
Press Release – Elephant Publicity HELP Auckland will mark Rape Awareness Week with a special charity performance of the acclaimed play Prima Facie, starring Cassandra Woodhouse and directed by Michael Hurst, followed by an expert panel discussion on sexual violence, justice, and change in Aotearoa. The event, taking place on Monday 5 May at the Westpoint Performing Arts Centre, is part of HELP's wider Do Something HELPful campaign encouraging public action during New Zealand's national rape / sexual assault awareness week. Fresh off critical acclaim, Prima Facie, written by Suzie Miller, tells the story of a defence barrister whose world is turned upside down when she herself becomes a victim of sexual assault. The play has drawn national attention for its unflinching portrayal of justice system inequities for survivors. Following the performance, audiences are invited to a powerful panel discussion featuring: Cassandra Woodhouse, producer and actress, Prima Facie Thiyona Singh, Dear Em Embassador, youth advocate and law student Miffy Barling, HELP Auckland Court Support Advocate Dr Emily Henderson, legal academic researcher and former politician The panel will be moderated by Kathryn McPhillips, Clinical Psychologist and Executive Director of HELP Auckland, a nationally recognised expert on sexual violence prevention and recovery. 'Every day at HELP, we see the barriers survivors face in seeking justice and the ways systems often fail them,' said McPhillips. 'Events like this create public conversations we urgently need, for us as a community to find the ways forward.' The issue has never been more urgent: 2024 saw the highest number of sexual offence charges on record… With a total of 7,742 charges (an 11% increase on the previous year) and 3,526 convictions. 74% of the sexual offences related to children under 16 years of age. The 2023 New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey found over one in four New Zealand adults (27%) have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime. Reports of sexual assault at schools and universities have risen nearly 50% since 2019, according to police data. HELP Auckland is also calling on the public to join their Do Something HELPful campaign — encouraging people to take on a personal challenge during May to raise funds and awareness for survivors. Fundraising ideas range from fitness challenges to random acts of kindness, all with the goal of funding vital crisis, therapy, and education services. 'As a society, we need to take urgent action to end sexual violence,' said McPhillips. 'We're inviting New Zealanders to stand with survivors by signing up to Do Something HELPful this May.' Event Details: What: Prima Facie performance + expert panel discussion When: Monday 5 May, 6.00pm Where: Westpoint Performing Arts Centre, Western Springs, Auckland Tickets: $15 for students and $30 for adults, available at Eventbrite Media are warmly invited to attend for free — interviews available on request. Links:
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Prima Facie Performance Spotlights Urgent Justice Issues For Survivors During Rape Awareness Week
HELP Auckland will mark Rape Awareness Week with a special charity performance of the acclaimed play Prima Facie, starring Cassandra Woodhouse and directed by Michael Hurst, followed by an expert panel discussion on sexual violence, justice, and change in Aotearoa. The event, taking place on Monday 5 May at the Westpoint Performing Arts Centre, is part of HELP's wider Do Something HELPful campaign encouraging public action during New Zealand's national rape / sexual assault awareness week. Fresh off critical acclaim, Prima Facie, written by Suzie Miller, tells the story of a defence barrister whose world is turned upside down when she herself becomes a victim of sexual assault. The play has drawn national attention for its unflinching portrayal of justice system inequities for survivors. Following the performance, audiences are invited to a powerful panel discussion featuring: Cassandra Woodhouse, producer and actress, Prima Facie Thiyona Singh, Dear Em Embassador, youth advocate and law student Miffy Barling, HELP Auckland Court Support Advocate Dr Emily Henderson, legal academic researcher and former politician The panel will be moderated by Kathryn McPhillips, Clinical Psychologist and Executive Director of HELP Auckland, a nationally recognised expert on sexual violence prevention and recovery. 'Every day at HELP, we see the barriers survivors face in seeking justice and the ways systems often fail them,' said McPhillips. 'Events like this create public conversations we urgently need, for us as a community to find the ways forward.' The issue has never been more urgent: 2024 saw the highest number of sexual offence charges on record... With a total of 7,742 charges (an 11% increase on the previous year) and 3,526 convictions. 74% of the sexual offences related to children under 16 years of age. The 2023 New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey found over one in four New Zealand adults (27%) have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime. Reports of sexual assault at schools and universities have risen nearly 50% since 2019, according to police data. HELP Auckland is also calling on the public to join their Do Something HELPful campaign — encouraging people to take on a personal challenge during May to raise funds and awareness for survivors. Fundraising ideas range from fitness challenges to random acts of kindness, all with the goal of funding vital crisis, therapy, and education services. "As a society, we need to take urgent action to end sexual violence," said McPhillips. "We're inviting New Zealanders to stand with survivors by signing up to Do Something HELPful this May." Event Details: What: Prima Facie performance + expert panel discussion When: Monday 5 May, 6.00pm Where: Westpoint Performing Arts Centre, Western Springs, Auckland Tickets: $15 for students and $30 for adults, available at Eventbrite Media are warmly invited to attend for free — interviews available on request. Links:
USA Today
06-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
What's the secret to a good night's sleep? It might have to do with your sleep position.
What's the secret to a good night's sleep? It might have to do with your sleep position. Show Caption Hide Caption What does your sleeping position say about you? A new study is revealing what your sleeping position may say about you. For example, people who sleep on their stomachs are reportedly fun, open-minded and direct. Fox - 5 Atlanta We're all chasing after a good night's sleep. Reaching seven hours of blissful, undisturbed sleep could very well involve placing limits on caffeine intake, drinking chamomile tea and averting our eyes from blue light before bedtime. But if you're still waking up with pain in your neck, shoulder or back, it's possible your sleep position could be throwing off your ability to start the day feeling refreshed. It's not to say you're doing yourself a disservice by spending the night sleeping on your stomach. In fact, 'it's hard to say that there's truly one (sleep) position that supersedes them all. It really is dependent on a person's individual needs and comfort level,' says Miranda McPhillips, an Eastwood Family Endowed Assistant Professor in the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University. How does sleep position affect your health? If you don't have any underlying conditions or musculoskeletal concerns, there's really nothing that should prevent you from sleeping in whatever position you find to be the most comfortable. However, while most sleep positions are generally healthy, you should still prioritize sleeping in a way that supports spinal alignment, says McPhillips. For certain groups of people, 'there's research to show that sleep position certainly matters,' says McPhillips. People with obstructive sleep apnea, for example, should sleep on their side or stomach, rather than their back. When someone with sleep apnea sleeps on their back, there's a risk of their airways collapsing, which can impede their ability to breathe, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. During pregnancy, people should opt for sleeping on their left side, adds McPhillips. This encourages blood flow in the body, and alleviates pressure off the liver, per Mount Sinai. It's also known that newborns should sleep on their back, which helps to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), says McPhillips. Heads up: Stretches for lower back pain can help ease discomfort. Here's 5 to try What's the best sleep position? What side should you sleep on? Consider some pros and cons of some common sleep postures: Side sleeping. Sleeping on your side is generally healthy, and preferred by most people. It's great for people who are pregnant and people with sleep apnea. It can also help reduce snoring, ease heartburn and relieve back pain. However, there's a fine line with side sleeping, because if your spine isn't supported, it could inadvertently contribute to back and neck pain. If you're going to sleep on your side, McPhillips recommends placing a pillow between your knees; this will help take some pressure off of the hips and maximize spinal alignment. Sleeping on your side is generally healthy, and preferred by most people. It's great for people who are pregnant and people with sleep apnea. It can also help reduce snoring, ease heartburn and relieve back pain. However, there's a fine line with side sleeping, because if your spine isn't supported, it could inadvertently contribute to back and neck pain. If you're going to sleep on your side, McPhillips recommends placing a pillow between your knees; this will help take some pressure off of the hips and maximize spinal alignment. Sleeping on your back. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of sleeping on your back is that it reduces pressure on various aspects of your spine. If you prop your pillow up, sleeping on your back can also help to reduce congestion (although if you're laying flat, it could actually contribute to nasal congestion and snoring). As mentioned, this position also isn't recommended if you have sleep apnea. If you're pregnant, you should avoid sleeping on your back, because the weight of the uterus can put pressure on the spine and reduce blood flow to the fetus. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of sleeping on your back is that it reduces pressure on various aspects of your spine. If you prop your pillow up, sleeping on your back can also help to reduce congestion (although if you're laying flat, it could actually contribute to nasal congestion and snoring). As mentioned, this position also isn't recommended if you have sleep apnea. If you're pregnant, you should avoid sleeping on your back, because the weight of the uterus can put pressure on the spine and reduce blood flow to the fetus. Sleeping on your stomach. This position could help with snoring, and if you're someone who has sleep apnea, it's better than sleeping on your back. But sleeping on your stomach isn't the most ideal sleep position; it can be particularly taxing on the spine, and could exacerbate back and neck pain. If you're someone who tends to sleep on your stomach, McPhillips recommends investing in a firmer mattress, which will help prevent you from sinking into the bed (and putting pressure on the spine). Great graphics: What is the best way to sleep? How every sleeping positions can affect your health How to find the best sleep position for you Over the course of a few weeks, use a sleep diary to track what sleep position feels most comfortable for you, suggests McPhillips. For instance, if you're noticing shoulder pain after side sleeping for a week, sleep on your back for a few days to test if it feels better. As always, if you have any sleep-related concerns, it's always safe to visit your primary care provider, and if need be, they can refer you to a sleep medicine specialist. Beyond sleep posture, getting a good night's sleep could also involve following a few essential sleep hygiene practices. Here's what McPhillips recommends:
