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THE DISCOVERY OF the bodies of Daniel and William McCarthy, two brothers in their 70s who were deaf and couldn’t speak, has focused attention on the services provided for members of the Deaf community.
The brothers, who lived in their home in Bluebell, Dublin for 25 years, were found by gardaí yesterday after neighbours had not seen one of the brothers for some time.
Mark Byrne, CEO of DeafHear.ie said that three years ago, they made a submission to the HSE for a ‘residential support service’ for vulnerable deaf people.
This would include the elderly; people with mental and physical disabilities; and young people who – because they are frustrated in trying to express themselves – engage in anti-social behaviour.
We believe that there are 200 vulnerable members of the Deaf community – but they’re just the people we know about. If we opened services that figure could double or triple.
The group met with Finian McGrath of the Department of Health recently, and said that they are hopeful that something will come of this submission – particularly in light of the scenario at Bluebell, which was described by Justin Moran of Age Action as “utterly heartbreaking”.
Old age and being deaf
Fergus Lynch, a worker for DeafHear.ie says that the vast majority of the Deaf community function perfectly in mainstream society, but it can be difficult in particular for elderly people.
Society has changed – there used to always be someone calling to the house. The same with the local shop – if you hadn’t been in in a while the owner would start wondering, but now everyone goes to the big super stores.
Fergus says that when an elderly person is deaf, these problems are augmented, as they “don’t go to the pub, don’t go out to the shops” and become increasingly inward-focused.
He also says that one in three elderly people have “profound hearing difficulties” and if they are not dealt with swiftly, the chance of developing Alzheimer’s is five times more likely.
Eddie Redmond, CEO of the Irish Deaf Society, emphasised the importance of neighbours and the community for those who are vulnerable:
It is very important and critical for the elderly members to be looked after by the Deaf community and neighbours. The Deaf community is a very close-knit community and always looks to support each other. Like hearing elderly people can be very isolated but more to this is the communication barriers between deaf and hearing people.
Current services for vulnerable members of the Deaf community offered by DeafHear.ie include a part-time psychiatrist. She is based in Dublin but serves the 26 counties by driving herself and a clinical nurse to those who need their support.
Irish Sign Language Bill
Redmond says that incidents like that in Bluebell “should be avoided”, and says the government should have pushed harder for the Irish Sign Language Bill (which was rejected a couple of years ago).
The bill would formally recognise Irish Sign Language as an official language of the state, requiring state broadcasters, emergency services and other state bodies to provide services through sign language.
The Bill will be debated at the Seanad on 19 October – and if accepted, will be recognised by the state service providers, agencies and will provide better services for the Deaf community.
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Paul Kagame has been elected twice, save his county from genocide while the west looked on and then presided over a reconciliation process that has helped to heal terrible wounds.
And he’s a despot?
This site. Sweet Jesus.
But the big book of Africa said he is a despot so it must be true. By any rationale George W’s wife should have gotten an honourable mention. I know W is no longer offically in charge but they havent gone away you know
If he is taking out those who don’t agree with his rule then, yes.
Paul Kagame is nothing but a war criminal, He fought genocide with his own form of revenge genocide,executing over 100,000 people.
He’s also armed and funded four rebel armies in the Congo who are responsible for killing 250,000 innocent civilians.
He also rigged his national elections, Robert Mugabe style.
He is one of the worlds biggest despots!
Safia Farkash is the widow of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and mother of seven of his eight biological children. Her independent wealth is reported at US$30Bn
Good on you Alan. So, curbs on free speech in a country where national radio was used to encourage and instruct the militias to slaughter their fellow country men, women and children seems like a fair trade off when seen against the backdrop of the past. Paul Kagame deserves a noble prize for peace and not be referred to as a despot on journal.ie
“Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro”
Nicolás Maduro is no despot, he was democratically elected.
So was Hitler in all fairness.
The Venezuelan president was democratically elected but that doesn’t mean his wife’s not corrupt, and he appears to turn a blind eye.
At the start of the article, the criteria for selection was clearly stated.
Petr, one could argue that he was hand picked by Hugo Chavez to carry on where he left off.
Business Insider referring to a socialist leader as a dictator. No conflict of interest there, nope?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25745959
Petr, have a read
Fionnuala Kenny
Enda Kenny, the democratically elected dictator …
Sorry, I take that back seen as the first line in the article says behind every ‘great’ man…
Notice how these despots are feted by the great and the good of so-called democratic western Europe – ” Queen” Elizabeth Windsor etc.
Les, the king of kildare
Where’s the pics of their puppet masters wives??
Ie the wives of big corporation owners.
The real rulers.
what about barbara bush and cherie blair mr right wing journal.ie:)
Closely followed by Michelle Obama.
Despot Housewives the pair of them!
Who is married to the red head he-she in photo one? The heeed on her and the price of cabbage jeez….
I thought that the photo had been hacked and was some kind of practical joke but apparently not, must be the ‘wife’ of some thai dictator
First Lady of Cameroon apparently. She even got a spotlight in the Daily Fail because of that pic: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172240/Here-come-girls–Africas-glamorous-First-Lady-shows-Sarah-Brown-great-heights-hairstyling.html
And she is featured in this article, if you read it instead of going direct to the comment section you would know.
Who’s yer man back right of photo?
Ah but Donal she didn’t have the same Heeeed on her meeting the pope…
King of Jordan is up there for piddle compared to what some other western leaders have done. Very biased article.
Grow some balls journal.
That king is very despotic in all fairness, woman have no rights, sharia law in place, armed forces shooting at peaceful government protests.
Have you seen the SOFEX arms fair they host every year? Its virtually a who’s who of the international gun running business. Some weapons bought at the fair ,are used against British and US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.You can draw your own conclusions as to who buy’s these weapons.
Why is Michelle Obama not on that list?
very interesting article but i cnat think for the life of me why the president of venezuela is on it ???
Successor to Hugo Chavez, who now has the same amount of power as he did…
Mrs Haughey
Mrs Adams
Mrs Putin
Mr Thatcher
Mrs. Farrell
Next week, the husbands of the world’s female despots.
Oh, hang on …
Ghost of Christmas future standing beside Camilla.
pope’s wife looks a bit rough
I wouldnt mind getting into Jordan but I may have to sneak in the back door!
No mention of Adams’ wife.
Adams (Gerry, I assume you mean) isn’t a head of state, never has been and never will be thus is not eligible for this list.
No mention of patrick Lyons wife,the despot of thejournal.
Is it coincidence, or do most dictators have hot wives?
digging that Chantal Biya….
Keep sending your charity donations, now yea here. The Pope picture says it all.
They went for the easy safe targets – the ones they are expected to go for .
.
They missed out on the wives of Cameron , Obama , Putin – to name but three
GCHQ will be sending round the boys because you maligned the fragrant SamCam!
Oh and avoid anything that smells like polonium. That’d be Vlad on the warpath.
Who’s the man dressed like Peg Bundy in the first photo?
Read the article and you would know. Chantal Biya
is that how it works? I should write that down.
Great article, if you’re dead or that.
1st – Jordanian presidents wife
2nd – Syria
3rd – North Korea
congratulations
Can’t wait for the bit bout western leaders their wives and crimes coming soon!!!
What about the king of Zamunda?
Maybe their husbands have big balls in more way than one.
I wonder what Horgay and golden arms thinks regarding the wife of Assad having worked for JP Morgan in London? They are always on about how the Rothschild bank controls the worlds wealth except in Syria.
And Assad is worth how much? $1 billion!
What do you say Horgay and golden arms?
Fox News and random figures/statements with no linking evidence. The core ingredients of any good argument.
declan your stooopid
Were’s Mrs Kenny ?
Some fierce wicket hobags there.
Some who shouldn’t be on that list… and a lot of glaring omissions!
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Where’s Sonya?
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