Latest news with #Murtagh
Irish Examiner
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Prison service pleaded with Government to delay court cases to address chronic overcrowding
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) pleaded with the Department of Justice to stop scheduling extra court sittings and to consider using cells in Garda stations for prisoners. A message from IPS director of operations said they had done everything in their power to deal with overcrowding in jails, as numbers in custody approached 5,000. However, the senior official said they had now run out of options and 'decisions outside of their control' meant the number of people in prison would continue to rise. The email was sent last summer as the IPS struggled with high levels of overcrowding, which have since deteriorated further. The director of operations — whose name was withheld on security grounds under Freedom of Information laws — said there were 'no easy or palatable decisions' left. He said the UK government had just introduced emergency measures and delayed some court cases due to its own problems with overcrowding. The message said there were eight steps that needed to be considered or reconsidered as a 'matter of urgency' to ease pressure on Irish jails. This included: 'Cancellation of scheduled additional court sittings and a commitment that no further additional sittings will be arranged pending prison capacity being addressed.' He also called for the decision to appoint or reassign criminal judges to be reconsidered and cases involving asylum claims be dealt with in 'alternative facilities'. The director of operations said Ireland should also consider delaying court cases and using Garda cells to house prisoners. He added: '[We should] reconsider the proposal to unilaterally increase the rate of remission provided for under current legislation.' The email said a new policy on bail was needed urgently to ensure people awaiting trial for 'non-serious offences' were not sent to jail. An eighth suggested measure was redacted from the records on the basis it could compromise the security of the prison system. The email was forwarded to the Department of Justice in May along with an update from the governor of Mountjoy Prison, Ray Murtagh. The governor's message said: 'We now have an historical number of 912 prisoners in custody this morning, and when I previously expressed concern we were at 858. 'I now have all my additional 114 bunk beds filled and an additional 57 on mattresses.' He said the C base of Mountjoy was at full capacity, and a newly arrived batch of 12 prisoners would also have to sleep on mattresses on the floor. 'We are currently over 120% capacity, and this has placed significant unprecedented pressure on the prison,' wrote Mr Murtagh. He added he could see 'no abatement' in sight and other prisons in Dublin and Laois were also running over capacity. The records were only released this week by the Irish Prison Service following an appeal under FOI. The number of prisoners in custody has since smashed the 5,000 barrier, and on Monday of this week reached more than 5,500. That included 588 on temporary release as authorities have sought to ease pressure on a system that is operating at 119% of capacity. Asked about the correspondence, a spokesman said: 'The Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the courts. 'As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.' He said temporary release was used on a case-by-case basis, and they were working closely with the Department of Justice to ensure a safe working environment for staff and for prisoners.
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I didn't know what killer was capable of, says Nadine Lott's dad who hopes show on murder will help others spot signs
THE dad of murder victim Nadine Lott hopes a new TV show on his daughter's murder will help other young women. David Lott made the claim as the Last Night Out programme will be screened for a second time on 3 Nadine Lott was killed at her home in Arklow, Co Wicklow, on December 13, 2019 3 Daniel Murtagh was jailed for life for Nadine's brutal murder The show, which also aired last Wednesday, tells the story of Nadine, 30, was Murtagh - who has never shown any remorse for the murder - was later It is the first time a major documentary has been made on Nadine's murder. Read more on Nadine Lott Although Nadine had never reported any incidents of domestic abuse during her relationship, Murtagh became jealous of her after she moved on and had created a successful life for herself. David said: "The programme is a fitting tribute to Nadine and shows the wonderful legacy that she left behind. "We know that thousands of people watched the first one and it's great to see it being shown again. "None of us knew what Murtagh was capable of but if there are young women out there who see similarities in his behaviour and men they are with then they should think twice about their future. Most read in The Irish Sun "The only person Murtagh cared about was himself and when he knew that Nadine was better off without him he took her life. "Nadine was such a special person and we've no doubt that the programme can help other young women. 'GREAT FEEDBACK' "We already have great feedback and we know that it will make people think. If men are behaving like Murtagh then their partners are better off without them." The hour-long show features contributions from Nadine's mum Claire, sister Phoebe and her friends. The show is on Sky channel 156. 3 Nadine's dad hopes a new TV show on her murder will help other young women
Irish Independent
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Fiona Murtagh rescued from the water in dramatic scenes at Irish Rowing Championships
In disruptive crosswind conditions at the National Rowing Centre, the Galway woman was in charge of the senior single sculls final but fell in with 500 metres to go and had to be rescued. There were moments of real worry before she scrambled from the water into the launch. Mags Cremen of UCD went on to win the title. 'Because it's an easterly wind, the waves are quite big,' Murtagh told the Irish Independent. 'My blade (oar) clipped the water and just shot out of my hand. It was like a bullet. And by the time I realised it was out of my hand my face was in the water. Just one of those things!' 'That was my first flip in a single. And it's been captured on TG4 and on YouTube and on national television,' she says, laughing. 'We can teach the kids flip drills (with the video)!' While the European and World Cup silver medallist was impressively calm as she told her story, she had difficulty breaking free. 'My foot got caught, so it was a bit tricky getting out of the boat,' she says. 'My heel restraint was quite tight, so my ankle got stuck. I was stuck under the boat for a bit. Which is a little bit scary. But the safety launches are great. 'But, sure, it was a good race. Fair play to Mags (Cremen) and the girls, they kept their heads above the water!' Cremen, rowing for UCC, had rowed steadily to stay in a clear second place. She did not see Murtagh go in as she was concentrating on keeping her bladework clean in rough conditions. 'Unfortunate for her,' she said, adding that she was delighted to get a win for UCC in her last regatta with the club, as she finishes up in the college. The men's single was much less dramatic. Skibbereen's Fintan McCarthy was peerless as he flew clear of his challengers, including the Olympic bronze medallist from Paris, Philip Doyle. 'I just clipped too many waves,' Doyle said. 'I stopped the boat about three times.' The Belfast Boat Club man wanted to get back into the Ireland double, and stepped back from the Ireland system when it was not happening. However, he said he will now go back into the squad. Neptune also rued the waves. They were leading the men's junior 18 coxed four when they caught a crab (missed a stroke). Coláiste Iognáid came through to win. Enniskillen added the women's junior 18 eight to the men's title in fine style. UCD will wear black armbands for the women's and men's senior eights final later in the day to mark the passing of rowing great Tom Sullivan. A phenomenal coach and teacher, he guided UCD to the Ladies Plate title at Henley Royal Regatta and coached UCD women's crews well into his eighties. UCD's women's crew have renamed their boat Tom Sullivan for their final.
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Outlander: Blood of My Blood stars admits cast member 'couldn't stop laughing' during pivotal scene
Stars of the upcoming Outlander prequel have opened up about what it was really like working on the Starz drama's first-ever spin-off Cast members of the eagerly awaited Outlander prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, have been sharing amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes. As the first spin-off of the highly popular Starz drama, it is set to unveil the beginnings of Claire (portrayed by Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser's (played by Sam Heughan) parents in August. Taking on the esteemed roles are Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy as Jamie's ancestors living in 18th Century Scotland, while Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine play Claire's parents during WWI. In anticipation of the show's release, the cast has shared their experiences of recreating epic love stories set in the past. However, Jamie Roy, who stars as Brian Fraser, confessed that one of their co-stars possesses an undeniable sense of humour that threw off their concentration on set, reports the Scottish Daily Express. In an Outlander Instagram video, Roy reminisced: "Rory [Alexander), who plays Murtagh, got the giggles. "And it just spread through everybody like an infectious disease and everybody couldn't stop laughing." Murtagh, a notable figure from the original Outlander series, had been initially played by Duncan Lacroix. Spread across two time periods, this new prequel will revisit younger iterations of cherished characters including Murtagh and Jamie's uncle, Dougal MacKenzie, with Sam Retford taking over from the much-loved Graham McTavish. "But we had to keep on going," Roy explained. "So, when the camera wasn't on us and it was just on Harriet, all of our faces were having to, you know... "We're looking anywhere other than her eyes. Because we would just burst out laughing." It emerged during the subsequent questions that the cast enjoyed considerable downtime during which they engaged in watching a markedly different series also rooted in Scotland. Quizzed about which reality TV competition their characters might triumph in, Julia Moriston's actress Corfield instantly responded: "Traitors." To that, Irvine, who portrays Henry Beauchamp, recollected: "We did a lot of Traitors on set, didn't we?" With the premiere of Blood of My Blood less than two months away, excitement is burgeoning amongst fans at the seamless rapport evident within the new ensemble. "I'm hoping that some of those giggles are going to be on a blooper reel or something, because I would pay to see that!" remarked one eager viewer. Another enthusiast offered: "You don't have to keep convincing me this cast is a worthy successor to the original Outlander cast. I got it. They are amazing!" A third admirer posted: "Already OBSESSED with this cast!! Also, THANK YOU casting gods!" Do remember to pencil into your diary the highly anticipated debut of the pioneering spin-off series from Outlander arriving imminently. Outlander: Blood of My Blood premieres Friday, 8th August on Starz. Outlander is available to stream on MGM+ via Prime Video.
Sunday World
01-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man threw chairs in Dublin takeaway after staff refused his demands for free food
In another incident, Christopher Murtagh (32) threw a plant pot into a buggy with a baby inside as he passed on the street, leaving the mother 'alarmed' A man who smashed equipment and threw chairs around a takeaway when staff refused his demands for free food has been jailed for his 'outrageous' behaviour. In another incident, Christopher Murtagh (32) threw a plant pot into a buggy with a baby inside as he passed on the street, leaving the mother 'alarmed'. Sentencing him to 15 months in prison, Judge John Hughes said Murtagh had acted as if he was entitled to free food, and was fortunate he was not charged with assaulting the baby. Murtagh, with an address at Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage in the first incident. Dublin District Court heard Murtagh went to Eat More takeaway, Ballybough Road, on January 8, 2020, and requested that staff 'provide him with free food' as he did not want to pay. He became irate when he was refused and damaged a monitor that was used to type up orders, by knocking it down on to its face on the counter and cracking the screen. Murtagh then threw two plastic chairs from the seating area over the counter and in the direction of staff. The prosecuting garda said he recognised the accused in CCTV footage. There was no witness available as the takeaway had since closed Defence barrister Paul Larkin Coyle said the accused would say that 'it wasn't him' and he was not in the takeaway that day. The court heard there was no witness available as the takeaway had since closed. Judge Hughes said the garda was familiar with Murtagh and the footage was clear in quality. Murtagh did not give evidence and the judge convicted him. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 1st In the separate public order incident, the court heard Murtagh was behaving erratically on Store Street on July 17 last year when he threw a plant pot into a passing buggy and though the baby was unharmed, the mother was alarmed. He became abusive to the investigating garda, pushed against him and motioned as if he was going to head-butt him. He kicked out and struggled as he was arrested. When taken to the garda station, he head-butted an acrylic-glass screen multiple times, screaming that he would fight the jailer. 'Mr Murtagh's behaviour was outrageous, to go into a takeaway, demanding free food as if you had an entitlement to it, then when you can't convince the proprietor and employees you start damaging equipment and throwing chairs around,' the judge said. 'No wonder they've ceased to trade, what business could stay open?'
