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FOR PEOPLE OF a certain age, it feels like the announcement that Dublin is getting a Metro system comes along every couple of years.
Again, this week, the plan was back on.
The 14-stop, €2 billion light rail line will bring commuters from Dublin to the airport in 19 minutes.
But, haven’t we been here before?
Cast your mind back to the year 2005. In November a decade ago, the Fianna Fáil government announced Transport 21.
A hugely ambitious capital expenditure plan, Transport 21 promised an array of public transport investments around Ireland and the capital.
Central to the plan was the Metro, a plan first suggested in 2001.
Envisaged to carry commuters from Dublin’s outlying suburbs into the city, Metro would have linked with Iarnród Eireann services and have a stop at Dublin Airport.
In short, it was going to be an integrated public transport system befitting a modern European capital.
Phase 1 was due to be delivered in 2010, with the very last phase, linking Blanchardstown to Ballymun due to be ready last year.
Work actually got underway on building the 16.5 kilometre North line, which would have gone from St Stephen’s Green to the airport and Swords, via DCU and Ballymun.
Procurement began in 2007 and two consortiums were named as preferred bidders to build the line.
The Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) hoped the line would carry 35 million passengers a year, help create 37,000 jobs and take 120 million kilometres of car journeys off the roads.
A stop would have been placed within walking distance of both terminals in the airport and trains would have arrived every two minutes.
It was slated to cost €2.5 billion, or €138 million per kilometre of track.
However, in 2010, it was announced the system wouldn’t be ready until 2019 at the earliest, before Leo Varadkar suspended the plan in 2011.
€200 million had been spent on the plan and not a single passenger moved.
Back and forth
From 2011 to this week, the plan was mooted, knocked back, mooted again and knocked back again in a seemingly endless cycle.
It was raised again in a National Transport Authority Review last year before Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe announced a shortlist of project options across Fingal and North Dublin, which included the Metro plan.
The new plan, announced this week, will cost over €2 billion and be open in 11 years. It will be two minutes slower than the original plan at 19 minutes from city to airport.
The new plan has been broadly welcomed by politicians and business groups.
Transport 21
And what of the rest of Transport 21?
Well, the programme had set out plans for a number of projects.
Here’s how they went:
St. Stephen’s Green to Luas Red Line: Set to open in 2017
Luas extensions to Brides Glen, Point Depot and Saggart: All open
Luas to Bray: Under review.
Luas to Lucan: Deferred
Kildare Route rail upgrade: Opened in 2010
Dart Underground: Under review
Docklands station: Open
Clonsilla to Navan line: Partially finished, Navan line deferred
Midleton to Mallow line: Opened
Western Rail Corridor: Ennis to Athenry opened, Athenry to Tuam, Tuam to Claremorris deferred.
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He needs to be replaced with a judge who will refuse to use the words “suspended sentence” and learn the words “life imprisonment”.
Same goes for his liberal colleagues.
H.S.B.C. 350 ?
I agree the Wayne O’Donoghue case was a particularly lenient sentence for a child killer – especially considering his actions after he killed young Robert. However Wayne seems to be enjoying his new life now in the UK so that’s a happy ending (not).
“Carney’s decision in 2006 to hand Wayne O’Donoghue a four-year sentence for killing his 11-year-old neighbour Robert Holohan was upheld by the Court of Criminal Appeal following an appeal for ‘undue leniency’ from the DPP.
In its 33-page judgement, the three-judge court said Carney’s ruling had been the correct one.
Prior to imposing that sentence, following a verdict of manslaughter, the judge had warned the victim’s mother to prepare herself – saying the sentence he would be imposing would be upsetting for her, before explaining the reasoning behind his decision.”
Judges need to be re educated. And get with the real word. From their privileged position and privileged past.they seem to live in a different world then the rest of us .
Judges also need to be replaced from time to time. There’s still no sign that an apolitical appointments process has been put in place.
“Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland, said he was “one of Ireland’s’ greatest ever criminal judges”.
“He did society’s dirty work,” Murphy added.”
For 24 Years!
Despite my original comment above, I wholeheartedly agree with Ken Murphy.
IMO, he was as inept as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. The entire judicial system in this country needs to be overhauled and brought into the 21st century. I know some of this may need referendums, well if that’s the case do it, stop putting the criminal first and the victim second.
A judge that would jail the person for not paying their bills but suspended sentence for the real criminals
The article focussed on the issues of controversy in the long career of a man who dealt with some of the worst crimes in the history of the State and with a cohort of vicious criminals. It did not focus on the many routine decisions made by the Judge. Any Judge dealing with the complex criminal cases this man dealt will inevitably attract criticism. Strangely the article focuses on appeals where his sentences were increased and not on the cases where his sentences were actually reduced on appeal; a source of public complaint by this Judge and a reason, ironically, why some of his sentences were subsequently perceived as lenient by the Appeals Court. This is how our judicial system works in common law countries with Appeal Courts often establishing the guidelines for sentencing. There is too much ignorant populist commentary on the Journal about Judges from people who clearly haven’t a clue how any judicial system works and don’t actually have any facts beyond newspaper headlines at their disposal. This man dealt with cases and sat though evidence which would most of us in prolonged psychotherapy. He deserves praise and not the ignorant criticism he is attracting from “the usual suspects”.
Agreed, to dedicate his working life to considering the details of the most savage acts to be committed in the state is indeed to do the state a great service. He could have simply lined his pockets and become a developer. Hope he enjoys his retirement.
Very well said.
He should take the judge, that sent the woman by taxi, from Donegal to Mountjoy, for not having a TV licence, with him.
The judge had nothing to do with the taxi
The judge should be informed enough to know that it would happen – that is the point !
Wasting tax-payers money while feeding from the same pot and all that !
Judges will become figures of ridicule when certain insider information is revealed within the coming weeks !
I was actually a juror on a murder trial Justice Carney presided over. He seemed fair and professional. I did, though, love his summing up where, as the defendant scowled in the dock, he reminded us that just because the defendant was an unpleasant, even despicable, person, it was not a basis for conviction of murder.
Was he found guilty?
Never knew there were so many legal experts on the Journal. The usual Journal commenters. Opinions on everything and answers to nothing.
I see no answers here either, just your opinion.
We’re all guilty.
The ultimate legislators in the State are the citizens – through the ballot – you should understand this Alan !
I’ve an answer. Stop giving out suspended sentences. You don’t need to be a legal expert to read the papers.
Judging by some of his judgement’s which is difficult to do because there may be thing’s he know’s and we don’t at the time ,he was pretty well off the wall with some of his decisions
Judge fudge
He was complete out of touch with the wishes of the people he was supposed to serve and protect. Good riddance.
Off course he made mistakes but thats part of the human condition. Let the man rest in peace.
-When anyone decides upon a career in the legal profession they must accept that in exchange for their 200k + salary and pension , prestige, security , short working hours and long holidays that there are some disadvantages.
-One such disadvantage is that they may have to listen and make judgement on some horrific cases.
-Another disadvantage is that they have a huge responsibility to dispense justice.
-another disadvantage is that they are in the public eye. If they consistently made bad judgements then the public will be outraged.
-Anther disadvantage is that if their peers and friends try to paint a picture of a great legacy of professionalism then just maybe some of the public will be outraged again.
-I don’t wish to dance on the man’s grave. If there is a maker up there then i expect he/she is judging him now not just for some good work but also for those outrageous decisions where he allowed rapists to walk free. A purgatorial sentence would be a fair judgement imo with no suspended sentence and no 100 euro bail.
Mistakes that had a huge impact on people (victims and their familys lives.) !
If Wayne O’Donoghue went through a proper justice system with a competent Judge he’d be in a small grey cell somewhere now in my opinion. Carney was born and died an utter idiot, I never read of court proceedings he had a bizarre hand in without feeling shock and dismay – this passing is no loss to Irish Society…..
a three judge court ruled that it was a correct one .
For those eager to pile on to Carney on the basis of the couple of worst decisions he’s made, this article from a couple of years ago probably gives a better, rounder picture of his achievements and faults over a quarter century on the bench.
A judge is supposed dish out justice every time presides. His bad decisions have ruined lives.
A judge is simply a banker for the court corporation.
He wasn’t exactly a ‘hanging judge’. Let’s hope his replacement has a pair! I note there was no mention of him criticising Joe Duffy when callers to the live line criticised his sentencing of O’Donoghue!
Good riddance
A Woman’s Worth …. reporting and sentencing of violent crimes against women.
Judge Paul Carney RIP was also the Patron of VSAC…..victim support at court. This is an organisation run in the main by volunteers….and these volunteers give support to victims of crime during their time in court. Wonderful organisation much needed and appreciated by Victims of crime.Judge Paul Carney called these volunteers an empathetic benevolent group of people.We were at his funeral Mass today.RIP Judge you’ll be very missed.
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