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Garda chief to meet media regulator over disinformation following Dublin City attack
Garda chief to meet media regulator over disinformation following Dublin City attack

Irish Examiner

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Irish Examiner

Garda chief to meet media regulator over disinformation following Dublin City attack

A senior garda boss who strongly criticised online disinformation about the man who attacked gardaí in Dublin on Tuesday is to meet the media regulator to urge greater responsibility from social media companies. The assistant commissioner for the Dublin metropolitan region, Paul Cleary, said that people 'with their own agenda' spread disinformation about the incident in order to 'inflame situations'. Footage of part of the attack and the aftermath was uploaded onto social media, which commentary from various accounts stating the perpetrator was an immigrant or a foreigner. One post from Conor McGregor said: 'A member of An Garda Síochána stabbed this evening, on duty, by one of the Irish Government's new to the parish imports through its human trafficking racket.' The post was viewed 300,000 times and liked by over 3,000 accounts. On Wednesday morning, Mr Cleary said he was very concerned about social media posts and said gardaí had to be on the lookout for any follow-on violence or harassment. 'Unfortunately, we see it every day and we have some people with their own agenda trying to use incidents like this to inflame situations for their own ends,' he told RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland. He urged people to get their information from credible sources. Very inaccurate misinformation and disinformation went out online after this incident very quickly 'So it is concerning, and we would ask people to make sure that the source of their information is credible.' Irish citizen The Irish Examiner understands that Mr Cleary has sought, and secured, a meeting with Comisiún na Meán, the media regulator, in relation to the incident and to push for social media companies to do more on disinformation and the dangers than can bring. It emerged on Tuesday night that the suspect was born in Ireland and is an Irish citizen. He comes from a Pakistani background, with an address in Portlaoise, but is also thought to have an address in Dublin. The 23-year-old is not thought to have come to the attention of gardaí before this incident. The injured garda, a young probationary, was brought to hospital, but he was due to be discharged. Sources said the injuries could have been worse and that his anti-stab vest might have saved him. The officers, based at Bridewell Garda Station, subdued the man with pepper spray and batons. Due to the factors in the case, the Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service has been brought in to support investigators in establishing a motive for the attack. It is analysing evidence from digital devices and social media posts and information from family, friends, religious contacts, and associates. Garda Representative Association vice president Niall Hodgins, who is also a representative for the Dublin North Central garda region, said: 'I wish to extend our heartfelt wishes to our injured friend and colleague, and wish him a speedy recovery. "This young probationary member was subject to a quite terrifying and unprovoked attack, and only for his bravery and that of his colleagues this incident could have resulted in far worse and unthinkable consequences."

Women using cocaine as ‘low fat alternative' to alcohol sees sharp rise in drug use
Women using cocaine as ‘low fat alternative' to alcohol sees sharp rise in drug use

Sunday World

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • Sunday World

Women using cocaine as ‘low fat alternative' to alcohol sees sharp rise in drug use

'loophole' | 'There's a lot more stigma and shame for women entering treatment' . According to the Rutland Centre rehab clinic's 2024 annual report, a 'growing national crisis' has evolved through the use of cocaine in this country. While children are storing cocaine in their school lockers, the centre's head of clinical services, Emma Kavanagh, described how young women feel like cocaine will not impede their weight-loss journeys or progress in the gym. 'If they were to use alcohol, it would negatively affect those things,' she also told 'So, cocaine is nearly kind of a loophole to get a buzz without having to ingest additional calories.' . News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29 Cocaine accounted for 23 pre cent of all admissions last year to the private rehab clinic, the new figures reveal. This is up from 17 per cent in 2023 and is 'one of the sharpest single-year increases the Rutland Centre has recorded for any substance', the Dublin-based centre warned. Rutland CEO Meave Mullany told RTÉ Radio how women traditionally face more barriers to entering treatment than men. 'There's a lot more stigma and shame for women entering treatment,' she said. 'There's a lot more considerations around childcare, around family life, so they tend not to come forward for treatment as frequently or as often as men do. Ms Mullany said according to people coming in for treatment cocaine is 'literally everywhere'. 'It's in the lockers, it's in school, it's after sport,' she said. 'We even hear from clients coming into treatment that there's an app that people can use to order it by drones,' she remarked. In response to this crisis, the centre has announced plans to open a dedicated inpatient detox unit later this year. Read more More than 200 people received intensive treatment through Rutland's residential and outpatient programmes in 2024, as staff answered more than 16,800 calls and facilitated over 11,000 aftercare attendances. According to the Health Research Board's latest drug treatment figures, cocaine is now the most common problem drug among new treatment cases, accounting for over 30% of all new presentations, and overtaking cannabis for the first time. Men made up two-thirds (66 per cent) of those treated at the Rutland Centre in 2024, with women accounting for 34 per cent. The age group with the most people seeking help was those aged 25 to 44, who represent more than half of all clients. 'These figures highlight the age and gender realities of addiction in Ireland today, with younger adults and men continuing to face particularly acute risks,' the facility said in a statement. The Rutland report also revealed that 94 per cent of residential clients completed the full treatment programme, while 89per cent of those who moved into aftercare remained in active recovery. Many former clients attribute Rutland their life-changing recovery to the Rutland with one former client, Chris, saying that when he arrived four years ago, he was 'completely broken'. 'The 35 days in the house was the hardest of my life. I finally had to face me. 'Now I look back and recovery hasn't just been about sobriety, it's about growing up and reconnecting with the people I love.' He added: 'Halfway through, I wanted to leave, I wanted to run – but that same night something clicked, no one else was going to do this for me. I needed to show up for myself. What's happened since still blows my mind.'

'Devil is in the detail' of tariff agreement with US
'Devil is in the detail' of tariff agreement with US

Irish Daily Mirror

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Irish Daily Mirror

'Devil is in the detail' of tariff agreement with US

A tariff rate of 15 per cent is 'challenging' but avoids a rate of 30 per cent – which would have 'closed the market' in the US, Ireland's enterprise minister has said. Peter Burke said that the EU-US deal avoids both a trade war and EU counter-measures, which would have had an effect on the north-south economy. He said 'the devil is in the detail' of the trade agreement finalised on Sunday by Donald Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. 'We had a lot of modelling carried out on the various different options, and some were very perverse, that would have closed the market if you had over a 30 per cent tariff with a stacking mechanism,' Mr Burke told RTÉ Radio. 'The key thing is that there will be a number of carve outs. Obviously, aviation has been cited as zero-for-zero, but also in relation to agrifoods and potentially spirits.' Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke (Image: Collins) The bloc is set to face 15 per cent tariffs on most of its goods, including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals entering the US and 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products, including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals – as well as EU purchases of US energy worth $750 billion over three years. Mr Burke said it was his understanding that the 15 per cent tariff on the pharmaceutical sector would be a maximum rate. He added: 'I think the president of the Commission has been very clear that 15 per cent will be a ceiling.' It is still unclear from the deal, agreed five days before Mr Trump's threat of a 30 per cent tariff would have come into effect, will mean Ireland will need to invest in US energy, he added. 'This all has to be worked out yet, as you can appreciate, I'm only hearing this for the first time last night, and we have nothing on paper.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed the agreement struck on Sunday, saying that while Ireland 'regrets' the baseline tariff of 15 per cent, it welcomed the certainty for businesses. Mr Harris said further detail was needed around how tariffs would affect sectors including pharmaceuticals. Ireland remains vulnerable to a slow down in trade with the US economy, due to exports of products such as alcohol, dairy and beef. The Irish government has also expressed concern at how tariffs could affect pharma multinationals based in Ireland, which employs about 45,000 people here, as Mr Trump had signalled he intended to target that industry. In addition, 65 per cent of all aircraft are leased through Ireland globally. Business group Ibec said although the uncertainty may be dissipating, the agreement was 'punishing' for Europe. The group's chief executive Danny McCoy said 'Europe has capitulated on this' and 15 per cent is 'very substantial'. 'I don't think it's a great deal if I'm really honest,' Simon McKeever, of the Irish Exporters Association, said. He said the deal was not a good one for Irish businesses and said the EU was negotiating with 'one if not two hands tied behind our backs' because of the EU's reliance on the US in relation to defence and security. He said questions remained about the effect it would have on Northern Ireland given the UK had a lower tariff of 10 per cent in place. 'There's a huge amount of this that is extremely uncertain,' he said. Last week, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the Irish government would spend €9.4 billion on its budget in October, based on a zero-tariff scenario for next year. He and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said these estimates would need to be revised if there was a shock to the Irish economy. Mr Burke said it was not naive to base the government's economic scenario on a zero-for-zero trade agreement with the US. 'No it wasn't because we didn't know what we were to be faced with,' he said on Monday. 'We do need to find out what happens in other areas, because this is very complex. 'It depends what happens with China, that's a very significant market that a deal hasn't happened yet. 'It really impacts what happens with our exporters here in Ireland as well, because so much product is in danger of being redirected into EU market. 'We also don't know what separate carve outs are going to emerge for the different sectors that are so vulnerable from an Irish perspective. 'Until we get flesh on the bones and all those areas over the coming weeks, we'll be in a better position then to really put forward what budgetary parameters (we) will end up with.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. 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

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary takes heat for 'insulting' comments calling Metrolink a 'waste of money'
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary takes heat for 'insulting' comments calling Metrolink a 'waste of money'

The Journal

time24-07-2025

  • Business
  • The Journal

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary takes heat for 'insulting' comments calling Metrolink a 'waste of money'

RYANAIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE Michael O'Leary has been criticised for his 'insulting' comments on a metro for Dublin, which he called a 'waste' of taxpayer money. The 18.8km rail line, most of which will be underground, is to run from north of Swords to Charlemont in the south of Dublin city centre. Various metro projects for the capital have been proposed in recent decades but none have proceeded to build stage. On Tuesday, the government announced that the MetroLink project would get a €2 billion boost in funding as part of the national development plan, in what Taoiseach Micheal Martin said was 'a very definitive commitment to the metro'. While Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe indicated the latest estimated cost for the MetroLink was €11 billion, O'Leary claimed it would cost €20 billion, 'so about a billion a kilometre'. 'Dublin Airport doesn't need it, Dublin Airport passengers won't use it – they're already well-served by buses,' he told RTÉ Radio on Wednesday, while claiming that less than a third of the airport's passengers use buses. He said that while the tube in London runs from Heathrow and through 'all of London', the Metro will only serve a section of Dublin city's residents – around 100,000 people, he claimed. 'Here's the madness of this. This thing is going to start at Stephen's Green in the morning. If you want to get to our first wave of departures, which leave at about 6.30 in the morning, you need to be at the airport at 5.30am. 'Are you seriously going to drive into the centre of Stephen's Green, where there's no car parking, to get this metro to get to Dublin Airport for 5.30 in the morning? No, you're not. Advertisement 'Let me give you the alternative scenario: for €100 million, this year we could buy 400 buses, and 400 buses would provide exactly the same capacity as this metro from Dublin Airport, in through Ballymun, in through Drumcondra, on bus lanes that already exist.' He claimed the plan had not been properly costed and hit out at the government's handling of public finances. This government wasted €330,000 on a bike shed, imagine what they do with an 18-kilometre underground train from an airport? He also criticised comments by Martin, who said the Irish capital will not be sustainable without a metro. 'Does he not understand that the buses actually will all be electrified by the end of this decade, which will actually be greener than light rail?' Labour TD Duncan Smith said O'Leary's criticisms of public infrastructure were as sure 'as night follows day'. 'Dubliners are stuck in daily gridlock. MetroLink is their best chance at affordable, reliable transport that serves communities, not corporate profits. 'As a consistent advocate for MetroLink in Swords, I find it insulting to hear this kind of drive-by commentary from someone who clearly doesn't rely on public transport to get to work. 'Dublin deserves better than a transport plan from a billionaire whose only experience with buses is when he is pretending to be one.' When asked about his endorsement of Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and junior minister Robert Troy during the general election campaign, O'Leary claimed 'they're not in government' and criticised Martin again. 'I endorsed Peter Burke, who actually topped the poll despite the criticism. I also endorsed Robert Troy – and they're not the government.'

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