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MORE THAN 500 male students and staff were to give DNA samples in an unprecedented operation launched today to discover who raped a 16-year-old girl in the toilets of a French school.
The operation, a first for a French school, has raised concerns over rights violations after prosecutors said anyone refusing to submit a sample would be considered a potential suspect.
The collection of samples began as students arrived for morning classes at the Fenelon-Notre Dame high school, a private Catholic school in the southwestern Atlantic port city of La Rochelle.
It was expected to take until Wednesday for the samples to be collected from 475 students, 31 teachers and 21 other staff on site at the time of the rape.
The girl was raped in a toilet at the school on 30 September. The lights in the toilet had been turned off and the girl has not been able to identify her attacker.
A trace of male DNA taken from her clothing will be compared with the samples taken this week.
Individual consent will need to be given for the sample to be taken, as well as parental consent in the case of minors.
The samples will be drawn using a swab under the tongue and the results of the tests are due in several months.
Authorities said samples that do not match the DNA found on the victim will be destroyed.
“We must have the consent of both the parents and the minor,” said Isabelle Pagenelle, the prosecutor of La Rochelle, “but those who say no will become potential suspects who could be taken into custody.”
Prosecutors said they had decided to go ahead with the mass DNA tests after several months of investigation proved fruitless.
But some have condemned the move as a clear violation of civil rights.
“Refusing to give a DNA sample when not in custody is a right,” prominent defence lawyer Joseph Cohen-Sabban told newspaper Le Figaro.
“It’s ludicrous. They want to decide on taking someone into custody based on that person exercising their rights,” he said. “Then, once in custody, it’s against the law to refuse to give a DNA sample… This is a truly unacceptable abuse of process.”
Lots of companies saying that they will support work from home forever, which is fine when everyone else is at home too, but definitely a challenge once more colleagues return to the office. No fun when you’re the only one at home struggling to get a word in at the team meeting and messaging your boss to remind them to dial into the Video call so that you can participate. I’ve enjoyed working from home but there’s definitely a layer of Innovation and collaboration that’s missing when you’re not in the office environment.
People learn from people how can they do that from there bedroom no interacting. My business is is distribution I’ve worked every day during supposed COVID. Get people back to work you don’t see people dying at the tills in Lidl or Tesco….
@Brian Corr: If your business is transportation would it not help if he traffic volume is lower
@Brian Corr: I’ve former work mates who run training for new starters and they say its been a nightmare at times trying to teach, it’s gotten to a point where they requested that they do in person training with new starters in the office once a week. People don’t realise when you start a new Job its just not the some doing training over zoom compared to in person. We will eventually have to take the covid training wheel’s off and at least make it an option. Other wise companies will eventually find ways around it like some did in relation to opening under the now joke of essential
@Brian Corr: supposed covid?
@Brian Corr: My skillset has increased dramatically since ive been working from home, has nothing got to do with interaction, but with how you manage yourself and your workliad…. Eveyone in the team is full time from home now and the productivity has never been better.
@Dave: Massive difference between existing staff upskilling and new staff trying to get up to speed with everyone else. I work in animation and its been a nightmare for new crew, they’ve struggled to get up to speed with everyone else and manage their time working alone at home, as result we’ve had awful mental health issues for some and no matter how much support we give its no were near the same as sitting next to a more senior crew member and just watching them work and being able to ask questions as they go rather then via a chat window. I’ve worked freelance for big chunks of my career so well able to work from home/remote but I don’t think I’d be were I am career wise if I had to work remote from day 01.
Just look at the traffic on the roads in the morning & evening there are lots more back working in offices now since all the schools opened,
Mícheál will say this
Leo will say that
Donnelly will say anything to grab a headline
And Eamon will sleep through it all
@trebloc01: Sush…..you will wake Eamon
I might be mistaken but I read in the NY Times that pretty much all the tech giants are giving their employees notice that they intend on bringing them back to the office.
@Robert Clifford:
No, not the case. In fact, lowering office footprint and costs is now a KPI and will be seen on P&L’s long into future
@Robert Clifford: it doesn’t surprise me, the option to maybe work from home some days will be there but this fantasy that companies especially tech giants would suddenly turn round after spending so much investing in office spaces etc for its operations, was then gonna turn round and tell everyone nah you fine folks work away from home. As I said some maybe offered the option, it might even suit some to work from home, but I see plenty coming back maybe doing a blended week of home and office
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí:
Shareholders demand savings were possible.
I already know some office’s already back working, one cos the power trip mad supervisor didn’t like not being able to look over everyone’s shoulders so convinced management it was safe, but the others is simply cos the staff needed to return to do in person training with new starters. Anyone who’s done training or given it will have different opinions but the majority will say its easier in person for both parties. In my old company WFH was allowed after a year with the company and usually involved doing it every Friday and Monday and then in the office Tuesday to Thursday, which I liked. Some will want to do WFH all the time but for me who doesn’t have the space for a permanent office will be nice to have the choice or balance for half and half working between the office and home
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí: yeah I’m back since August last year and I’m sure a lot more are too even when we could easily work from home.
@chiqey: ya it amazes me how some think just cos these places are told to work from home, many will stick to it. Once companies can find ways round or deem it essential, people will not have a choice in cases despite all the fanfare from the media and government, promoting the whole WFH gig. Simple fact is some will get a choice to WFH, but plenty will be brought back and very little choice will be given since there is no real laws protecting staff, if companies bringing staff back to an office is deemed essential. And you will hardly go complaining to authorities about this if ya wanna keep your job as one of my friends was told when she was made go back to the office
Im starting a new job today where i have to go in. I’ve been working from home for over a year and my nerves are shot. In saying that..be nice to have someone other then the dog to talk to all day.
@Trish O’Leary-Dunne: best of luck in the new job
@Trish O’Leary-Dunne: poor dog will be lonely having gotten used to your company
I’ve just started a new job remotely and it’s very challenging. I’m looking forward to going back to the office, at least part-time.
Did the same 6 months ago. Absolute disaster. You don’t meet your colleagues or clients except virtually.
The tax system will have to change to suit remote/home workers also. Can we have this debate?
What would you change?
@Liam Collins:
Working from home, abroad.
Would you think it would lead to massive outsourcing of jobs.
Also lot of jobs salary are based on cost of living in your area.if working in area where cost of living is lower should a salary show this.
And who exactly is pushing for this?
Pension funds and small enterprises will not want people WFH – they will be in the ear of all ministers
have your say