Latest news with #ofCourt
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Grace' solicitor comments on report are an 'alarm call'
Comments made by the General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court about the case of 'Grace' have been described as remarkable and an alarm call about this "appalling process" by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection. Grace is the pseudonym of a woman, now in her 40s, who has been in the care of the State all her life. She has profound intellectual disabilities and is non-verbal. The findings of the near decade-long Farrelly Commission investigation into the Grace foster home abuse case, is still raising questions two weeks on from its publication. Caoilfhionn Gallagher said Marie Claire Butler is obviously limited in what she can say for legal reasons, but these "serious and extensive concerns" by Grace's legal team must now be added to the grave concerns raised by survivors, families, whistleblowers and others involved in the inquiry process. Minister for Children Equality and Disability Norma Foley is to meet with Ms Butler, the solicitor who represents the interests of Grace after she issued a statement claiming that extensive submissions made to the commission by lawyers representing the woman were not included or referred to in any way in the its final report. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Gallagher said there needed to be an inquiry into the inquiry and a quick-fire review of what went wrong procedurally to ensure it can never happen again. "She was let down over a very long period of time, from 1989 to 2009, for 20 years," said Ms Gallagher. "When she was in an environment that she should not have been in and 16 years later, she continues to be failed. "So, for me, I think we've got to look at, first of all, what is going to be done in relation to accountability for Grace and for Grace's family. Second, what is going to be done about accountability and the investigation which never happened in phase two for the other families and survivors." There has been significant criticism of the €13 million investigation into allegations that Grace was seriously abused while in foster care. The commission, chaired by Senior Counsel Marjorie Farrelly, found there was a fundamental failure on the part of the South Eastern Health Board and HSE in their duty of care to Grace. It found evidence of serious neglect and financial mismanagement but did not find any evidence of sexual or emotional abuse. Ms Gallagher added that whatever happened next must involve listening to Grace and her advocates. The last process was re-traumatising, she said, and did not deliver answers and accountability despite costing millions of euro and taking a long time. She said all eyes were on the Government to see what it could do about the vacuum in accountability and the disgraceful failures of the process. "It wasn't the Government's own process, but now the ball is in the Government's court to do what it needs to do, to put matters right for Grace and for the other survivors." 'Silenced her again' The Chief Executive of Inclusion Ireland said that the intervention by the General Solicitor into the Grace case "tells us a story" and we should listen to that. Also, speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Derval McDonagh said it is a myth that people who are non-verbal do not communicate because they do have ways of communicating and Grace has been silenced again by not including her evidence. "It's a myth to say that people with intellectual disabilities who are non-speaking don't communicate." She said that "Grace communicates in different ways. And that is just as valuable as any verbal communication. "And unfortunately in this instance it seems to be that her testimony, gathered carefully by her team over many years, was ignored or set aside. And it's simply not good enough. That has silenced her again. It has retraumatised her", Ms McDonagh said. She added that the Commission report has "left families utterly broken". "We have to listen to that. We can never do this again". Ms McDonagh said that the next steps have got to be co-designed and led by survivors and their families, and any investigation into the inquiry has to be speedy. She welcomed the meeting between the Solicitor General and Minister for Children Norma Foley. "We look forward to hearing the outcome of that meeting. And the next steps, they need to be swift, and they need to be just for Grace and other survivors".
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Sex offender on probation arrested, accused of attempted kidnapping in Alexandria
A sex offender was arrested on Tuesday, a day after he allegedly abused and attempted to kidnap a juvenile, according to the Alexandria Police Department. Christopher Devon Braxton, a 25-year-old Pineville resident, was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center #1 on charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile, sexual battery and attempted simple kidnapping. Braxton also was booked on a probation violation charge, which means he remains in jail despite bail being set at $75,000. The incident happened in the West Sycamore area of Alexandria, which is off Brown's Bend Road. No other details were released. An investigation is continuing, and the department asks anyone with "additional information about this incident or any encounters with Braxton" to call 318-441-6416 or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867 or through its Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster app. Braxton became a sex offender when he took a plea bargain on April 10, 2024, to a felony charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile. He was sentenced to five years in prison, which was suspended, and he was placed on three years of supervised probation. Keisha Renee Green: Alexandria woman found in contempt for fleeing sentence in baby's death, gets 45 more days Verna Francis death: Alexandria man returned from Dallas to face homicide charge in September death of woman Stormy Cofer case: Rapides judge denies inappropriate relationship with convicted murderer He also was ordered to register as a sex offender for 15 years, according to online Rapides Parish Clerk of Court records. Days after his sentencing, he was granted permission to continue parenting his young son and to drive him to and from school, records show. No court dates have been set yet in the new matter. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Police: Pineville sex offender on probation tried to kidnap juvenile
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Parents of girls injured in Panama City Beach golf cart crash sue the driver, accused of DUI
PANAMA CITY BEACH — The parents of two teenage girls who were seriously injured while driving a golf cart earlier this month have sued the other driver, a 61-year-old man who faces DUI charges. On Feb. 4, two girls, ages 15 and 16, were driving a golf cart in Panama City Beach's Bay Point neighborhood when they were struck head-on by Stanley Barker, 61, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened in the roadway in front of 332 Wahoo Road. When troopers arrived, the girls were unconscious with serious injuries. The were taken to the hospital. The report said Barker was walking near the scene and attempting to leave when a trooper placed him in a patrol car. Troopers performed sobriety tests on Barker and ran a breathalyzer. The results led them to charge Barker with DUI causing serious bodily injury. After the incident, one of the girls had to go to Alabama for treatment of her injuries. Friends of the families set up GoFundMe accounts to help pay medical bills. Both the teens are in good condition but still receiving medical treatment, according to updates from the families shared to local Facebook groups. Represented by lawyers from the Perry & Young, the parents of both girls are seeking damages in excess of $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs, according to an initial complaint in court documents from the Bay County Clerk of Court. In summary, the complaint claims that Barker was negligently operating his vehicle while under the influence. It says both girls experienced serious and debilitating bodily injuries and that resulting losses are either permanent or continuing. Barker is currently facing two charges of DUI causing serious bodily injury and one charge of leaving scene of a crash with serious injury, according to court documents. The case docket indicates he entered a written plea of not guilty. According to the report from the FHP attached to the case docket, Barker told troopers he had cancer and was recovering from kidney surgery at the time of the crash. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Parents sue man charged with DUI in PCB crash that injured teen girls
