Latest news with #Neary
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Gerry Adams plants Freedom Tree in Mayo to honour farmer who donated land to community
Mr Neary invited the former Sinn Féin president to be a guest speaker and to plant the Crann na Saoirse (Freedom Tree) at the event on his land in Madogue near Charlestown. The event was attended by Gerry Adams, Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh, local councillor Gerry Murray, Mr Neary's friends and members of the wider community. A well-known figure in East Mayo Mr Neary, aged 82, made headlines in 2015 when he won an appeal to be buried on his own land, making him the third person in Ireland to be granted this permission. In 2022 he donated his 40-acre farm to Mayo County Council and the Western Forestry Co-op, on the condition that the land would never be sold or redeveloped. It has since been turned into a Woodland Park for the community. The site has been planted with 39,000 trees that are native to Ireland, including oak, rowan and birch. The oak tree planted during Sunday's ceremony symbolises strength, truth, courage and wisdom, values that Mr Neary holds dear as a lifelong Irish republican. Speaking to the Irish Independent at the ceremony, Mr Adams said he was 'delighted to come down and plant this Crann Na Saoirse and to look to the future.' 'The oak is part of our culture, part of our history but the notion of planting this today and that it will grow tall in a new united Ireland, I think it's very assertive and hopeful. It's a good way to both acknowledge Martin's work but also it's our stake in the future.' He continued, 'I read Martin Neary's book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an insight into the plight of people in Mayo and West of the Shannon, how he remained faithful to the land, his community, to his family and his great act of generosity of bequeathing his 40 acres to this community and it's now a Woodland for all of us to enjoy.' Along with the oak tree, a limestone plaque was unveiled to commemorate the day. The plaque was made by Dominic Fannon from Aghamore, Mayo. Speaking after the ceremony Mr Neary joked that while his hearing isn't the best, he didn't struggle to hear to Mr Adams' speech, 'I heard what Gerry Adams had to say, I was very impressed. I never thought he would come to this village but by God he did and I think he enjoyed it. It was very nice.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Referring to Mr Neary as Mo Chara, Mr Adams paid tribute to the Mayo man's deep connection to the land, 'Every plot of land, every stone wall, every ruin sparks a memory for Martin of those who once lived here. In Martin's own words he tells a story of his life in East Mayo, of his love for this land, of his county, his community, his culture and of our country. He is rooted in the land, in your community and his community.' Deputy Conway-Walsh spoke highly of Mr Neary when she addressed the 50-strong crowd, 'Today is about Martin. He is one of the most unassuming, kind people that I have ever met. His generosity is beyond anything a lot of us could imagine. I am thrilled to be here today and that his wish of having Gerry Adams here to plant the tree has been granted. It's a very joyful day for us here in Mayo.' Cllr Murray has worked with Mr Neary since the start of his objective to be buried on his own land. He gave the crowd an insight into why Mr Neary chose to donate his land to the council, 'His second objective was to gift this 40 acres of land and his home to the people of the communities of Charlestown and Swinford. After looking at various configurations we decided that the local authority was the best structure to hold and entrust [the land] for the people of the county for generations to come.' 'We made the conclusion that local government will always be with us in some shape or form. I want specifically to thank Mayo County Council for promoting and driving this project and making a huge investment in it. Another major investment is being made by the council to upgrade this particular Woodland Park.' The Crann Na Saoirse ceremony marked a heartfelt tribute to Mr Neary and his vision to return his land to the people. His donation ensures that the land he worked on and looked after all his life will benefit the community as a Woodland Park for years to come. The oak tree stands as a living tribute to Mr Neary's enduring love for his land and community.
Sunday World
02-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man ‘racked and pointed gun in violent clash' in west Dublin, court hears
According to gardaí, John Neary brandished the gun during the confrontation, though no weapon was recovered A young man was seen 'racking' a handgun and pointing it at people during a violent clash between two 'factions' in west Dublin, it is alleged. According to gardaí, John Neary brandished the gun during the confrontation, though no weapon was recovered. He is facing a jury trial on weapons and public order charges after a judge ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level. Mr Neary (25), with an address at Fonthill Cottages, Clondalkin, appeared in Blanchardstown District Court charged with violent disorder and producing 'what appeared to be a handgun' in the course of a dispute. A garda sergeant told Judge David McHugh the DPP consented to the case being heard in the district court, subject to the issue of jurisdiction being considered. Outlining the allegations, he said gardaí were called to an incident of violent disorder 'between factions' at Greenfort Park, Clondalkin, on March 29, 2023. It was alleged the accused was seen in possession of a handgun, which he brandished. According to gardaí, Mr Neary 'racked the gun and pointed it at three unknown males'. Nobody was injured and no weapon was recovered No gun was recovered but there was CCTV evidence, the court heard. The sergeant said shots were fired by another male towards the other 'faction' but nobody was injured and no weapon was recovered in relation to that either. Judge McHugh refused jurisdiction after hearing the summary of the prosecution's evidence. He adjourned the case to a date later this month for further DPP directions. Mr Neary, who has not yet entered pleas to the charges, was remanded on continuing bail. Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Overlooking sexual harassment against health staff ‘risks patient safety'
Medics claim that overlooking these incidents allows other toxic behaviours 'to perpetuate'. It comes as members of the British Medical Association (BMA) called for NHS trusts to include active bystander training – which aims to equip people with the skills to challenge unacceptable conduct – in mandatory training programmes. Delegates at the union's annual representative meeting (ARM) in Liverpool also voted for the BMA to lobby for a national anonymous reporting system for victims of sexual harassment. Dr Helen Neary, co-chairwoman of the BMA consultants committee, said: 'People are bystanders at all levels, and a working culture that turns a blind eye to this behaviour is also a risk to patient safety, enabling other poor behaviours to perpetuate.' The motion urged NHS organisations to probe allegations of sexual misconduct using trained investigators external to the trust. Dr Neary added: 'No one should feel unsafe at work. Yet the appalling truth is that doctors, disproportionately women, are still subject to sexual harassment, abuse and assault in the workplace – often by their fellow doctors. This has to stop. 'Not only is it obviously completely unacceptable and has a devastating impact on victims, but also affects the quality of care and workforce capacity as poor behaviours will do nothing to retain staff in the NHS.' In March, the latest NHS staff survey found one in 12 (8.82%) of workers were the target of unwanted sexual behaviour such as offensive comments, touching and assaults. The proportion was similar to that reported in 2023 (8.79%) when the question was first asked as part of the survey. Last October, NHS England launched a new national sexual misconduct policy framework to ensure trusts had robust policies in place for staff to report incidents. Speaking to delegates at the BMA ARM in Liverpool, Professor Bhairavi Sapra said that while the framework is a 'very welcome first step', it is not mandatory. 'It is up to individual employers to adopt it, and even then, perpetrators can simply move on from one employer to another without accountability for those in positions of power to prevent this behaviour,' she added. 'Worse still, there is no national reporting mechanism. That means if someone wants to report an incident months later in a different workplace, they face an uphill battle, often alone. 'Survivors have told us why they don't come forward. They fear being told they're overreacting. 'They fear retaliation or reputational damage. They fear nothing will change, and sadly, they are not wrong. 'Investigations, when they do happen, are rarely trauma informed, often the process itself can feel like another form of harm.' Dr Neary said: 'As the trade union and professional association for all doctors in the UK – from those beginning their careers as medical students to retirement and beyond – the BMA welcomes the legal obligation placed on the NHS to protect employees from sexual harassment. 'This vote makes some excellent suggestions on how this work can go further, including anonymous reporting, that will encourage those concerned about coming forward to do so, and better equipping doctors on how they can support colleagues when they witness sexual harassment at work.' Prof Sapra also claimed the 'power imbalance' in the medical profession is 'stark', adding: 'Junior staff rely on senior medical staff for training, for references and for their very careers. 'That dependency makes them especially vulnerable and often silent.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'It is totally unacceptable that NHS staff experience sexual misconduct or harassment at work – this behaviour has no place in the health service, and all organisations must take robust and compassionate action to prevent it. 'The NHS Sexual Safety Charter has been adopted by every Integrated Care Board and NHS Trust in England, which encourages consideration of external, independent investigators in complex or sensitive cases – and all NHS organisations should ensure that those leading these processes are properly trained to handle them with the seriousness and sensitivity they require.'
Rhyl Journal
24-06-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Overlooking sexual harassment against health staff ‘risks patient safety'
Medics claim that overlooking these incidents allows other toxic behaviours 'to perpetuate'. It comes as members of the British Medical Association (BMA) called for NHS trusts to include active bystander training – which aims to equip people with the skills to challenge unacceptable conduct – in mandatory training programmes. Delegates at the union's annual representative meeting (ARM) in Liverpool also voted for the BMA to lobby for a national anonymous reporting system for victims of sexual harassment. Dr Helen Neary, co-chairwoman of the BMA consultants committee, said: 'People are bystanders at all levels, and a working culture that turns a blind eye to this behaviour is also a risk to patient safety, enabling other poor behaviours to perpetuate.' The motion urged NHS organisations to probe allegations of sexual misconduct using trained investigators external to the trust. Dr Neary added: 'No one should feel unsafe at work. Yet the appalling truth is that doctors, disproportionately women, are still subject to sexual harassment, abuse and assault in the workplace – often by their fellow doctors. This has to stop. 'Not only is it obviously completely unacceptable and has a devastating impact on victims, but also affects the quality of care and workforce capacity as poor behaviours will do nothing to retain staff in the NHS.' In March, the latest NHS staff survey found one in 12 (8.82%) of workers were the target of unwanted sexual behaviour such as offensive comments, touching and assaults. The proportion was similar to that reported in 2023 (8.79%) when the question was first asked as part of the survey. Last October, NHS England launched a new national sexual misconduct policy framework to ensure trusts had robust policies in place for staff to report incidents. Speaking to delegates at the BMA ARM in Liverpool, Professor Bhairavi Sapra said that while the framework is a 'very welcome first step', it is not mandatory. 'It is up to individual employers to adopt it, and even then, perpetrators can simply move on from one employer to another without accountability for those in positions of power to prevent this behaviour,' she added. 'Worse still, there is no national reporting mechanism. That means if someone wants to report an incident months later in a different workplace, they face an uphill battle, often alone. 'Survivors have told us why they don't come forward. They fear being told they're overreacting. 'They fear retaliation or reputational damage. They fear nothing will change, and sadly, they are not wrong. 'Investigations, when they do happen, are rarely trauma informed, often the process itself can feel like another form of harm.' Dr Neary said: 'As the trade union and professional association for all doctors in the UK – from those beginning their careers as medical students to retirement and beyond – the BMA welcomes the legal obligation placed on the NHS to protect employees from sexual harassment. 'This vote makes some excellent suggestions on how this work can go further, including anonymous reporting, that will encourage those concerned about coming forward to do so, and better equipping doctors on how they can support colleagues when they witness sexual harassment at work.' Prof Sapra also claimed the 'power imbalance' in the medical profession is 'stark', adding: 'Junior staff rely on senior medical staff for training, for references and for their very careers. 'That dependency makes them especially vulnerable and often silent.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'It is totally unacceptable that NHS staff experience sexual misconduct or harassment at work – this behaviour has no place in the health service, and all organisations must take robust and compassionate action to prevent it. 'The NHS Sexual Safety Charter has been adopted by every Integrated Care Board and NHS Trust in England, which encourages consideration of external, independent investigators in complex or sensitive cases – and all NHS organisations should ensure that those leading these processes are properly trained to handle them with the seriousness and sensitivity they require.'
Leader Live
24-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Overlooking sexual harassment against health staff ‘risks patient safety'
Medics claim that overlooking these incidents allows other toxic behaviours 'to perpetuate'. It comes as members of the British Medical Association (BMA) called for NHS trusts to include active bystander training – which aims to equip people with the skills to challenge unacceptable conduct – in mandatory training programmes. Delegates at the union's annual representative meeting (ARM) in Liverpool also voted for the BMA to lobby for a national anonymous reporting system for victims of sexual harassment. Dr Helen Neary, co-chairwoman of the BMA consultants committee, said: 'People are bystanders at all levels, and a working culture that turns a blind eye to this behaviour is also a risk to patient safety, enabling other poor behaviours to perpetuate.' The motion urged NHS organisations to probe allegations of sexual misconduct using trained investigators external to the trust. Dr Neary added: 'No one should feel unsafe at work. Yet the appalling truth is that doctors, disproportionately women, are still subject to sexual harassment, abuse and assault in the workplace – often by their fellow doctors. This has to stop. 'Not only is it obviously completely unacceptable and has a devastating impact on victims, but also affects the quality of care and workforce capacity as poor behaviours will do nothing to retain staff in the NHS.' In March, the latest NHS staff survey found one in 12 (8.82%) of workers were the target of unwanted sexual behaviour such as offensive comments, touching and assaults. The proportion was similar to that reported in 2023 (8.79%) when the question was first asked as part of the survey. Last October, NHS England launched a new national sexual misconduct policy framework to ensure trusts had robust policies in place for staff to report incidents. Speaking to delegates at the BMA ARM in Liverpool, Professor Bhairavi Sapra said that while the framework is a 'very welcome first step', it is not mandatory. 'It is up to individual employers to adopt it, and even then, perpetrators can simply move on from one employer to another without accountability for those in positions of power to prevent this behaviour,' she added. 'Worse still, there is no national reporting mechanism. That means if someone wants to report an incident months later in a different workplace, they face an uphill battle, often alone. 'Survivors have told us why they don't come forward. They fear being told they're overreacting. 'They fear retaliation or reputational damage. They fear nothing will change, and sadly, they are not wrong. 'Investigations, when they do happen, are rarely trauma informed, often the process itself can feel like another form of harm.' Dr Neary said: 'As the trade union and professional association for all doctors in the UK – from those beginning their careers as medical students to retirement and beyond – the BMA welcomes the legal obligation placed on the NHS to protect employees from sexual harassment. 'This vote makes some excellent suggestions on how this work can go further, including anonymous reporting, that will encourage those concerned about coming forward to do so, and better equipping doctors on how they can support colleagues when they witness sexual harassment at work.' Prof Sapra also claimed the 'power imbalance' in the medical profession is 'stark', adding: 'Junior staff rely on senior medical staff for training, for references and for their very careers. 'That dependency makes them especially vulnerable and often silent.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'It is totally unacceptable that NHS staff experience sexual misconduct or harassment at work – this behaviour has no place in the health service, and all organisations must take robust and compassionate action to prevent it. 'The NHS Sexual Safety Charter has been adopted by every Integrated Care Board and NHS Trust in England, which encourages consideration of external, independent investigators in complex or sensitive cases – and all NHS organisations should ensure that those leading these processes are properly trained to handle them with the seriousness and sensitivity they require.'
