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Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
€1.9m settlement for boy severely injured after alleged delayed C-section
A boy born in Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise who was allegedly delivered after a delayed Caesarean Section and who suffered "severe personal injury" has had a €1.9 million settlement in his favour approved by the High Court. The now 16-year-old was born in January 2009 at the hospital, which has been subject to investigation over patient safety. The child's mother sued the HSE on behalf of her son for alleged medical negligence for what she said was a breach of statutory duty to adequately provide medical services to her and her son in 2009 at the Co Laois hospital. The court heard that the mother was due to give birth in January 2009, and had attended all of her antenatal appointments, culminating with a clinic at the hospital four days after her due date. No "significant abnormal conditions in relation to the pregnancy were present" at that point. The mother was admitted to hospital five days after her due date, but had "slow and irregular" pain. A cardiotocography trace (CTG) was carried out and was found to be "abnormal", as the unborn baby displayed "frequent decelerations" in his heart rate. However, despite the abnormal readings, the CTG was discontinued. A second CTG was carried out at 8.45am the same morning that showed decelerations and abnormalities up to around 12.30pm. It was claimed a form of oxytocin was then administered to augment labour. It was claimed that the readings from the CTG were not reproduced in a legible fashion and were difficult to interpret. A decision was made to deliver the child by emergency Caesarean Section and he was born at 1.36pm, allegedly 80 minutes after a decision to perform the Caesarean was made - 50 minutes outside the usual timeframe. It was claimed that the newborn then suffered "extreme difficulties" with breathing, due to hypoxia, and that there was a delay in his resuscitation. In addition, an altercation between members of the hospital staff occurred during the attempts at resuscitation, it was alleged. During a second attempt at intubation, a doctor was interrupted by an anaesthetic doctor without invitation who attempted to force an oxygen mask on the child, it was claimed. It was alleged that the anaesthetist "brushed aside" the attending doctor and raised his voice, shouting "for fuck sake, just bag him". The doctor was eventually able to drain meconium - a baby's first stool - from the child through suction, after which safe intubation was performed. The doctor, it was submitted, was "considerably interrupted in his attempts to intubate and resuscitate the plaintiff by actions of the anaesthetist doctor". 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 In the aftermath of his birth, the newborn was noted as being in pain, jaundiced, vomiting with streaks of blood, having hypoxic metabolic acidosis, high blood pressure and was in need of ventilation. He spent 11 days in intensive care, and an MRI scan showed his kidney and brain had an infarct, resulting in "severe personal injuries", it was claimed. At the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told by John Healy SC, instructed by David O'Malley of Callan Tansey solicitors, for the plaintiff, that a final settlement of €1.9 million for breaches of duty by the defendant, albeit without an admission of liability, could be recommended to the court for what he said was the child's "turbulent" introduction to the world. Mr Justice Coffey approved the settlement and addressed the plaintiff, who was present in court, saying he was pleased to see him "looking so well and I wish you all the best for the future". Reacting to the settlement, solicitor David O'Malley, in a statement on behalf the family, said: "The family welcomes the settlement and for the security it will provide [the plaintiff]. "They would like to acknowledge the efforts of the State Claims Agency and their legal representatives in facilitating mediation to resolve this case. The purpose of civil society is to prevent similar events recurring. "The family questioned the birth, having witnessed the Portlaoise maternity enquiry and the aftermath in 2012. "Unfortunately, the same avoidable failings, namely delayed delivery, inadequate CTG (cardiotocography) tracing and misuse of Oxytocin still remain as main causes of hypoxia in Irish infants in 2025. "Also, in the year 2025 there are no cooling units to counteract hypoxia in infants outside of Cork and Dublin. It truly is a second-tier maternity system outside of The Pale. "The family echoes calls by advocate groups to urgently review maternity care in Ireland. One cannot think of a more important right than the right to breathe and be protected at birth." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gardai hunt youths who set up elaborate hoax in cruel roadside stunt
Gardaí in Co Donegal are seeking three young men who placed used bags stuffed with ketchup that resembled a body to frighten a motorist. The incident, which happened in the village of Milford on Sunday night last, left a terrified motorist thinking they had hit a real person. The shocking incident occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday on the R245 at The Pans, Cranford at around 12:30am. The motorist jumped out of their car and made a shocking discovery. After getting out of the car the driver found the body shaped object was dressed in dark clothing that had been stuffed with bags and covered in ketchup. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were left shaken following the bizarre incident. Damage was also caused to the car as a result of the collision. 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 A Garda spokesperson said 'We are following a definite line of enquiry in relation to this incident and we are anxious to speak with anyone who may have travelled in that area and who may have observed a white car with three young males on board parked up nearby. 'This car is believed to have been in the area around the time of the collision and then immediately left in the direction of Carrigart'. Anyone who may have travelled along that route with a dash-cam between midnight and 1am on that date is urged to make the footage available to Gardaí. 'If anyone travelled within the Carrigart area between 12.30am and 1.30am with a dash-cam, we ask them to get in touch with us also,' Garda Doherty added. 'We are very anxious to progress this investigation and we appeal to the males in question to make contact with Gardaí in Milford on 074 9153060. As already stated, we are following a definite line of enquiry and all available CCTV is being sought and examined. Those involved in this very serious matter are advised to make contact with investigating Gardaí." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meet Finglas community Gardai who foster positive relationships with locals
We left Finglas Garda Station shortly after 5pm. The rain, which had hammered down for most of the day, had just begun to ease. The respite from the downpours also coincided with the start of The Irish Mirror's time with officers from the station's community policing unit on Saturday, June 14. We joined Garda Aidan McHugh, Garda Sharon Clarke and Sergeant Noel Monaghan. We got first-hand experience of what it's like to police an area that usually comes to national prominence for all the wrong reasons. The officers believe the negative connotations some members of the public have about Finglas are unwarranted and once the high-profile incidents are removed from the equation – it's a regular community with hard-working families. Garda Sergeant Noel Monaghan from the Finglas community unit with Irish Mirror reporter Danny De Vaal Locals are still reeling after programmes like Inside the K made the area appear like a warzone, when in reality, they were a collection of incidents that took place over a number of years. While all three are still regular gardai, they view themselves slightly differently from those in other units. The first main difference is the patrol vehicle. Apart from a few 'Garda' markings embossed on the bonnet and door. It doesn't have a fluorescent wrap like regular patrol vehicles. The white SUV is non-descript, and the officers feel it makes them more approachable when driving around. Gardai from Sgt Monaghan's unit spend considerable time getting to know youngsters in the area through school talks and while out on patrol. Conversations revolve around the score of the previous night's football match with some gentle ribbing thrown in for good measure. Their particular beat also allows them to spend more time engaging with locals compared with officers on the regular unit. Shortly after leaving the station, two young children came up to the window as we meandered through a housing estate. Garda McHugh and Garda Clarke knew them both from various school talks over the years. The young boy, who was no older than 10, told Garda McHugh he was going to get a "yup bro haircut" the next day and, without missing a beat, also said he's worried about his hairline. They were just two of the various characters we met along the way. Another was a man, who was looking after the car park for a ceilidh. After we pulled up, he asked what was going on. He was relieved to find out it was just a patrol and nothing untoward was unfolding under his watch. After he asked what the score of the Dublin v Derry match was, he told both officers about his various ideas on how he would set the world right. Both interactions may seem banal, but they showcase how relaxed locals in the area are when interacting with officers from Sgt Monaghan's unit. The Guards said they built up the rapport over a long period of time and said some children from the area initially hated the force because of their family – but over time they realised they had nothing to fear. The Irish Mirror went on patrol with Gardai from the Finglas Community Unit (Image: REACH PLC) The community cops stressed they want young people to know they're not the "enemy" and are there to help. Garda McHugh, Garda Clarke and Sgt Monaghan all play a central role in helping young people stay on the right path. The dedicated officers are involved in various initiatives in the area – such as the local summer projects and late-night football leagues. Sgt Noel Monaghan explained: "We don't want kids to be thinking 'there's that bad guard.' "We'd rather that when we're driving around or out on the mountain bikes, we want kids to come over and say 'hello' to us and get to know us in a friendly way." He also said officers on his unit spend a lot of time in schools and deliver talks on a range of topics – including road safety, online safety, and drugs – that are tailored to specific age groups. Sgt Monaghan said he believes his officers' work is having a positive impact but acknowledged it was impossible to help everybody. He said: "We can't say that we divert all the kids or no kids – we don't know. But we'd hope that what we're doing is impacting some of them and steering them on the right path. "It's an unquantifiable thing we're doing. "Even if it helps one child have a better life, I think that's good." A young man rides a scrambler through a housing estae (Image: REACH PLC) Meanwhile, Garda McHugh also said officers attached to the community unit need to balance their responsibilities and avoid getting involved when other units carry out raids. He explained: "We try to stay away from doing searches or warrants where the doors might be put through or there might be a physical altercation in the house – [because] that might be kids' only interaction with the guards [at that point]." Garda McHugh added: "We want to teach them from Montessori onwards – we're here as a point of help." Sgt Monaghan added: "We like to stop and talk to people and let them know we're out and about. Lots of kids will know who they are, they will stop and wave and the lads will stop and chat to them. It's all about engagement." They also said the downfall of gang boss Mr Flashy and the Gucci Gang should serve as a cautionary tale for young people on the brink of criminality. The Finglas thug, who was only recently unmasked as Glen Ward, is currently behind bars in Portlaoise Prison on firearm charges. The gangster, 32, led the Gucci Gang, which at its peak was considered one of the country's most violent, dangerous and reckless criminal gangs. But tireless work by the Gardai in Dublin eventually led to the gang being dismantled. Glen Ward AKA Mr. Flashy Garda McHugh says Ward's conviction is a major win for Gardai and sends a powerful message to young people that a life of crime doesn't pay. He said: "So the work that was done here from different units to take a big criminal organisation like that down, it does send an example and warning to the younger lads who are on the edge of maybe going down a similar path." Garda McHugh said the Gucci Gang's takedown shows that those who "go around threatening people" or "selling drugs" will face "repercussions" and be "locked up". He continued: "For us, it is a benefit; the younger people will see that there is a negative to it. "It is not all flashy clothes and nice gear." Garda McHugh, who has worked in Finglas for nearly 20 years, said the gang knew members of the community were in fear of them, which meant most locals were afraid to interact with the Gardai. He explained: "For the people in the area, having them out of the area is great as well. "There was obviously an element of fear, people wouldn't talk to you, they wouldn't engage with you and only after the fact - you'll see people are far quicker to say 'hello' to you as you're driving by - before that they'd just keep their heads down, they didn't want to be seen talking to guards." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Sexualised' Molly Malone statue causing 'upset' amid new plans to stop groping
Council chiefs have given up posting stewards at the Molly Malone statue to stop tourists from molesting it and are now scrambling to find a more permanent solution, The Irish Mirror can reveal. Dublin City Council believes the practise is "ingrained" into sightseers and confirmed it is exploring the idea of installing flower beds around the base as a possible fix. Rubbing the famous fishmonger's breasts for luck is believed to have been thought up by a cheeky tour guide in 2012. Council bosses acknowledged that when the marshals were in place, people would cooperate, but once they were gone, the Suffolk Street effigy would be groped again. The act has led to Molly Malone's chest area becoming discoloured from being rubbed by countless tourists on a daily basis - but we can also reveal that preparations are underway to have it restored. Tourists often rub Molly Malone's cleavage, believing that it brings good luck (Image: Getty Images) In April, it was announced that stewards would patrol around the famous statue for a week on a pilot basis from the start of May. As part of the pilot programme, the wardens stood adjacent to the statue, located outside St Andrew's Church, and intervened if any tourists went to feel her bust. When the initiative was announced, Dublin City Council Arts Officer Ray Yeates also said he had concerns about the safety of people climbing onto the plinth to touch the statue. The Irish Mirror contacted Dublin City Council to ask what the outcome of the pilot was and if it had any plans to appoint stewards on a permanent basis. In response, a spokesperson said: "The Stewards were in situ for one week in May. "When approached not to touch the statue, people were generally cooperative, but without stewards the behaviour returns and is ingrained apparently as part of your visit to Dublin. "Tour guides also cooperated very well by asking their groups not to touch the statue. "It is difficult to change this behaviour, so we are exploring other avenues of protection for the sculpture, including installing flower beds around the base." The council added: "Of immediate importance is the restoration of the sculpture, which was reviewed by a conservator recently. "The patination is damaged, and we are currently organising the restoration of it." It comes as emails sent to Mr Yeates and the council, which were released to the Irish Mirror following a Freedom of Information Request, show Dubliners were divided about the practise. One email sent to Mr Yeates on the day it was announced that stewards would be appointed to guard the statue read: "I thought it would be useful if you heard counter arguments to the ones that have led to your very humorous decision to protect the dignity of our brass attractions around the city. "Making decisions like this based on extreme views are never a good idea. "We are being pulled to the extremes everywhere in the world, and we need to centre again. Maybe the sculptor wanted a more serious piece of work but that's not how it was perceived and we are where we are." The emailer added: "Rubbing the statue is a silly, slightly risqué piece of nothingness. I can't say I have ever been bothered to engage but I see it for what it is. "Please spend your money on promoting the arts and maybe if you don't have need for the budget give it to one of the departments that deal with Garda forums or general matters of urban decay." Another email sent to Mr Yeates from a young woman said seeing the statue being "sexualised" causes her "extreme upset". One person emailed Dublin City Council to say: "Rubbing the statue is a silly, slightly risqué piece of nothingness" (Image: Getty Images) The email, which was sent before the stewards initiative was announced, read: "Is there a way we can darken the areas of the Molly Malone statue, where the dark colour has been worn off from people touching her and taking photos, specially the breast area? "I'm a young girl, I walk past it everyday on my way to school, and seeing an admirable woman be sexualised and degraded causes me extreme upset." The email also said she worries about the impact the act will have on young girls and believes it represents Dublin in a "poor light". She added: "I'd like to think Dublin is a place where women can feel safe and celebrated, rather than objectified and dehumanised." While another said the practise was a "really awful depiction of how the city values its female historical figures" and asked if the council had plans to deal with it. The monument of Molly Malone was created by Jeanne Rynhart. It was initially located near the bottom of Grafton Street, but was moved to Suffolk Street in 2014. Controversy has been growing about the practise of rubbing the statue's breasts for a while. It led to the 'Leave Molly mAlone' campaign earlier this year, which was spearheaded by singer-songwriter Tilly Cripwell and urged the public to stop molesting the statue. 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
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tears in court as married father of four jailed for rape of vulnerable farmhand
A married farmer from Co Cork has been sentenced to a total of 19 years in jail for raping another man twice, but he will serve less than ten years for just one of the offences. Thomas 'Tossy' Nyhan, 60, Crookstown, Co Cork, was sentenced to 11 and a half years, with the final year suspended, for raping the man in April 2019. Nyhan, who has four children, received a second sentence of 8 and a half years for raping the man in January 2011. The rapes occurred at a location in Limerick, the court heard. As both sentences are to run concurrent to each other, Nyhan will only serve part of the longest sentence. The sentences were backdated to June 23 last, when Nyhan first entered custody. He has no previous convictions. Nyhan had contested two counts of anal rape of the victim, but he was unanimously convicted by a jury of both rapes following an 11-day trial held at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, last May. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring had previously lifted reporting restrictions last May, allowing Nyhan be named. The judge also directed that the victim was entitled to his anonymity and ordered that he not be identified. The victim told the trial that the rapes were so painful they were like 'barbed wire' inside him. The victim wrote in a victim impact statement that there were "not words strong enough to capture the pain" he had suffered. "He (Nyhan) raped me twice. This was not a moment of confusion. It was cold, calculated and violent – he knew what he was doing – and eight years later he did it again," the man said. "This is what he chose. This is who he is. I trusted him and told him about my trauma and vulnerabilities and he controlled, degraded and violated me in the most horrific way." The man said that Nyhan spoke about his own children during one of the rapes, which the victim described as "twisted and inhumane". He said he disclosed the second rape to his GP in 2019, because, he said, he 'could not hold the weight of his abuse any longer". Later, he told Gardaí he had also been raped by Nyhan in 2011. The man told how he continues to feel like he is being watched and feels "trapped" by feelings of being "constantly sick with anxiety". 'I am a ghost of the man I used to be. I am broken, alone. I have no one, because my barriers are always up," the man said. "He (Nyhan) is a rapist and that will follow him for the rest of his life and it should." The victim encouraged others similarly affected by sexual crimes to seek help and try and bring the perpetrators to justice: 'Please hear this – standing up and speaking out is one of the most hardest things but it is powerful and life-changing.' 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 Previously, the victim asked Ms Justice Ring to impose a sentence on Nyhan that reflected his crimes: 'Let it say this matters – we matter. Please show what I lost matters. What he did matters.' The man thanked the jury "for listening and for believing me – that has meant more to me than you will ever know". When questioned by Gardaí in May 2019, Nyhan accepted sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim, yet he denied raping him. The prosecution case was presented in court by senior counsel Fionnuala O'Sullivan and barrister Lily Buckley, who were instructed by Aoife O'Halloran, Chief State Solicitor's Office, after an investigation by Gardaí attached to the National Garda Protective Services Bureau, (NGPSB), at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick City, which deals solely with sexual crimes. During the trial, and under cross-examination by Nyhan's barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, the victim agreed that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011. The victim described as 'lies', unfounded claims by Nyhan that he had asked the farmer for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhan's 'crotch' a number of times and removed his own clothes to have sex with Nyhan. The victim told Mr Nicholas: 'I told him (Nyhan) to stop, I didn't like it.' When asked by the barrister what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied: 'I was just scared, I just froze.' The victim described as 'bullshit' further unfounded claims by Nyhan, put by the barrister, that the victim had been in possession of 'a knife' at the time and that Nyhan 'was afraid' he'd harm himself, and that Nyhan 'pretended to go along' with sex. The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and 'thrust' himself into the victim telling him he 'loved' him, despite the victim's pleas of 'No'. The victim told the court Nyhan's denials were 'lies'. 'It was like barbed wire... it was like hell, like something burning you,' the victim said, breaking down in tears. Nyhan's wife, Mary Nyhan, supported her husband to court every day of his trial and throughout the criminal proceedings. Before he was being led away to prison today, members of Nyhan's family cried, roared and hugged him. DNA Swabs taken by forensic Gardaí of a stain at the scene of the 2019 rape matched Nyhan's DNA profile. The judge said Nyhan had told the victim that 'he couldn't have sex' with his wife. 'Nyhan said to the victim if he had sex with him he could go home and have sex with his wife. He then took the victim into a bedroom, took off his pants and had anal intercourse.' Commenting on Nyhan, the judge said: 'He is a man without prior criminal convictions, and to all intents and purposes lived the quiet, hard-working life of a farmer.' The judge said Nyhan, who was represented by Mark Nicholas SC, Liam Carroll BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan, had acted in a 'serious and sinister' fashion. 'It is clear that Nyhan knew that the victim had not told anyone of the 2011 rape, and thus he had the confidence to rape again in 2019, assuming that the victim would stay silent again,' the judge said. In mitigation, the judge took into consideration Nyhan's age, no previous convictions, health difficulties and that he has been a hard-working family man. If you have been affected by the contents of this article, support is available from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre at 1800 778888 or Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
