Ballymun murder investigation
Gardaí have officially launched a murder investigation into what one member of the force described as the “violent and traumatic” death of mother of two, Lisa Thompson.
Garda Superintendent Darren McCarthy said the 52-year-old had been the subject of “a serious physical assault and had suffered significant injuries” before gardaí discovered her body at a house in Sandyhill Gardens in Ballymun on Tuesday afternoon.
He told reporters at Ballymun Garda station that investigators are examining all lines of enquiry and are keeping an open mind at this time as to the motive for the attack in the north Dublin suburb.
National Maternity Hospital
The Oireachtas Health Committee is to write to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to ask him to defer Cabinet’s approval of the co-location plan for the National Maternity Hospital.
The committee is to ask that St Vincent’s Healthcare Group appear before the committee next Monday to address concerns about the ownership structure but, if that cannot happen, it asks Mr Donnelly to defer the Cabinet decision on the plan, due next Tuesday.
Earlier, Mr Donnelly addressed the committee, assuring members that the new hospital will be completely free of religious influence, offering all "legally permissible" procedures which are currently carried out at Holles Street.
TD harassment
A Fine Gael TD has said a man’s decision to send her sexually explicit videos meant she was filled with a “cold sense of dread” and concerns for her safety during the 2020 election campaign.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD took to the stand on Wednesday to read her victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing of 43-year-old Gerard Culhane, who sent her three sexually explicit videos and messages in the early months of 2020.
Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Ms Carroll MacNeill at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13th, 2020 and March 26th, 2020.
Limerick hurler
A Limerick inter-county hurler will not be considered to play a part in the county’s defence of its Munster Senior Hurling Championship and All-Ireland titles following a "breach of team protocols".
GAA sources said the player was informed by management on Monday that he would not be considered for the panel after allegedly being involved in a public order incident.
It is understood the man was arrested and questioned by gardaí in the early hours of Monday in relation to the alleged incident which is understood to have involved an altercation between a number of men at a pub in Limerick city.
Santina Cawley murder trial
A woman accused of the murder of a two-year-old girl has claimed in direct evidence at her trial that she was "unsure" as to who was responsible for the crime despite considering the issue for the last three years.
Karen Harrington (37) is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork city charged with the murder of Santina Cawley.
The child was found critically injured on the morning of July 5th, 2019 at the then home of Ms Harrington at Elderwood Park in Boreenmanna Road in Cork.
Under cross-examination by Sean Gillane SC, for the prosecution, Ms Harrington said she was not responsible for the child's murder, but conceded she had not seen anyone else harm the toddler.
