Latest news with #Tuam
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: Disturbing revelations by RTÉ Investigates about nursing homes
The revelations in the RTÉ Investigates programme about the standard of care in some private nursing homes were deeply disturbing. Readers may be aware of some of the cases of neglect cited in those investigations, of vulnerable elderly people being abandoned or ignored, left at risk of dangerous falls, or in some cases left in unchanged incontinence pads. Little wonder that David Robinson, a consultant geriatrician at St James's Hospital in Dublin, described the situation as such : 'It's abuse — there's no other word for it.' He is absolutely correct. It would be grimly fascinating to hear someone make a counter-argument that the treatment shown somehow does not constitute abuse. It is no slight on the journalists involved, however, to say that while these specific instances are shocking, they are hardly surprising. On a regular basis, we are reminded that whether it is young children in creches, teens reported as missing from Tusla care, and now the abuse of the elderly, our citizens are regularly betrayed by the systems and structures set up to care for them. In the specific area of elder care, older readers may remember other shocking revelations 20 years ago in the case of the Leas Cross nursing home, revelations which led to calls for legislation and enforcement to ensure that never happened again. Judging by this week's revelations, nothing has changed, That is not the only question facing the State. The bland apologies of the corporate owners of the homes are as meaningless as they are predictable, but it has emerged that Hiqa inspected the homes concerned repeatedly in recent years — with the most recent inspection of one home finding that the institution was 'short-staffed', with some residents who were at a high risk of malnutrition. It seems surprising that swifter action was not taken in this particular instance. Then again, the impending excavation of the Tuam babies' burial ground this week reminds us that the State can fail its citizens no matter what age they are. Shameful obstruction of Leona Macken Earlier this week, the HSE apologised to Leona Macken in court over 'failings' which occurred in caring for her. Ms Macken and her husband Alan had taken an action against the HSE, and the court heard evidence which indicated that her 2016 and 2020 smear tests by Quest Diagnostics should not have been reported as negative. The court concluded that the delay in identifying pre-cancerous abnormalities led to her cancer diagnosis. A mother of two young daughters, she now has incurable metastatic cancer. This is clearly a nightmare for the Macken family, and huge credit is due to Leona Macken for her bravery — not only in pursuing this action, but in advocating strongly that other women go for smear tests. She has pointed out in interviews that while those tests did not work for her, they can work for other people. Minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill also apologised to Ms Macken this week, and added: 'She should not have had to fight for her records. 'They need a resolution to their case, and they do not need additional stress through going through the court process,' she said. This was a reference to Ms Macken having to fight for an audit of her records, something which — as pointed out by the minister — was bound to cause additional stress at a severely testing time for the family. This unwillingness to co-operate with individuals seeking answers has uncomfortable echoes in a case which was in the headlines last week. The O'Farrell family, of Monaghan, spent almost 15 years seeking information from several State agencies about the man who killed their son and brother Shane in a hit-and-run incident, only to be stonewalled by many of those agencies. This form of reflexive obstruction is shameful and seems driven by an overwhelming urge to protect institutions at all costs, irrespective of the stress that that puts on individuals. Ms Macken's grace and dignity this week, and her attitude, should embarrass those who placed that stress on her. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here True community pub in Kerry The story coming out of deepest south Kerry has something of the Ealing comedies about it. A community is downhearted by the prospect of losing its pub, only to rally to the cause and buy it. Things looked grim when Humphrey Ó Conchuir and Noreen Uí Chonchuir, towners of the Inny Tavern (Tábhairne na hÚine) in Dromaid, south Kerry, decided to retire. A lack of prospective buyers seemed to doom the establishment to dereliction but Forbairt na Dromoda Teo — the local community social enterprise organisation — stepped in. It raised enough funds for a deposit, as well as securing a bank loan for the property. When there was a shortfall, they launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has generated almost €107,500 to date. Some of that support has come from ex-pats, but some has also come from people who have seen similar facilities disappear in their own part of Ireland and who don't want the same to happen elsewhere. Not every community has that kind of support — or an organisation with the drive of Forbairt na Dromoda Teo — but it is good to see a rural area make a stand against decline and depopulation. Read More Irish Examiner view: Scene of shame at Tuam may give closure
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Irish Times
Man (60s) dies after crash in Co Galway
A man in his 60s has died after a crash in Tuam, Co Galway, on Friday evening. The vehicle he was driving hit a tree on a local road in Blackacre shortly after 10.30pm. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the single vehicle collision. The man, who was the sole occupant, was unresponsive and taken to University Hospital Galway, where he later died. The road has been closed for a forensic examination by Garda collision investigators, with local diversions in place. READ MORE Gardaí are appealing for witnesses who may have been in the area, including road users with camera or dashcam footage, to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tuam Garda station at 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
BreakingNews.ie
17-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (60s) dies after road crash in Co Galway
A man in his 60s has died in a crash in Co Galway. The single-vehicle collision happened on a local road in the Blackacre area of Tuam shortly after 10.30pm on Friday. Advertisement The driver was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Galway, where he was later pronounced dead. The local coroner was notified, and a postmortem is being arranged. The road remains closed for a technical examination of the scene. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tuam Garda Station at 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Exhumation of Tuam babies' mass grave to begin in June, confirms intervention director
The long-awaited exhumation of the Tuam babies' mass grave will get underway in June, the Director of the Authorised Intervention has revealed. A statement issued on Tuesday morning on behalf of Daniel MacSweeney, who is leading the works in Co Galway, said the intervention – the first of its kind in Ireland – 'is due to start in the second half of June this year, pending the appointment of the excavation contractor.' Mr MacSweeney said he expects to confirm exact dates in mid-May when the excavation contractor and forensic team have spoken to the 'families of people who were in the Tuam institution, survivors, advocates, residents living in proximity to the site, and others who have been most impacted.' He explained that the burial site will be 'forensically sealed at all times during the excavation," and that the team is "hoping to facilitate on-site visits for survivors and family members at the beginning of the excavation.' In 2014, local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children who died in the religiously run home from 1925 to 1961. Since then, a number of test excavations in 2016 and 2017 confirmed that the remains of children found at the site were from the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. When the nuns sold the land in the early 2000s, they exhumed the remains of their colleagues who were buried in the nearby Bon Secours private hospital but left the children in the mass grave. There was outrage all over the world when the story emerged that 796 children were buried in large chambers in a septic tank on the grounds of the home and were not given a proper burial. In 2014, local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children who died in the religiously run home from 1925 to 1961. Picture: Laura Hutton/ A Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the circumstances of 14 homes and four county homes, and survivors received a State apology in 2021. Families and campaigners have long called for the children to be removed from the site and given a proper burial. Mr MacSweeney added: 'Our work is centred around the people and groups who have been most impacted by the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam. 'This includes families, survivors, and the Tuam community. Our work will be conducted in accordance with international standards and best practice, and in keeping with our core values. 'Substantial and meaningful planning has gone into this unique and incredibly complex excavation. As part of this, we are in the process of appointing a talented, high-calibre multidisciplinary forensic team and a main excavation contractor. 'The excavation will take place in two parts. Further details on the forensic approach being taken will be shared at the start of the excavation.' Annette McKay's sister, Mary Margaret O'Connor, died while in the Tuam home in 1943. She told the Irish Examiner, 'I am absolutely delighted that finally we have concrete news. 'It is very emotional considering it has taken us over 10 years to get to this point, where we finally might see the end of a terrible story and we can lay these little ones to rest.' For more information about the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam, see
