Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
THE DEPARTMENT OF Justice & Equality last month made an “urgent request” to Direct Provision centre owners to help them challenge what it called “clearly false” allegations made online about conditions in Ireland’s asylum accommodation system.
In a letter sent to centre managers on 15 May, the International Protection Application Service (IPAS) asked for assistance to challenge allegations made online “that are clearly false” regarding Direct Provision centre conditions by requesting photos of food served at centres and descriptions of measures implemented during Ramadan.
IPAS is responsible for administering the Direct Provision system of accommodation in Ireland, as well as sourcing new centres.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Justice & Equality told centre managers it had been dealing with a “significant increase” in queries regarding individual accommodation centres and the services provided.
“The queries often stem from posts on social media, containing anonymous testimonies from persons claiming to be centre residents and photos,” IPAS wrote to centre managers.
According to IPAS, these photos show poor standard of food hygiene and food preparation, a lack of Halal meats for residents observing Ramadan, a general lack of meal choices, poor quality cleaning in bedrooms and common areas and overcrowded rooms.
“We need your assistance to challenge these allegations where they are clearly false, both at source on social media and when raised in media queries,” IPAS said.
IPAS requested that centre managers forward photographs of food served at breakfast, lunch and dinner on any one day, as well as a photo or description of menus available to asylum seekers living in Direct Provision.
In addition, IPAS asked centres to forward photos of social distancing measures which have been implemented, on-site isolation rooms and photos of residents’ rooms as well any “enhanced” cleaning measures implemented during Covid-19. The Department has said it could not carry out inspections at centres at the time.
The Department said it understood the request amounted to a significant amount of additional information and material to provide, but added, “It will assist us in responding to issues raised with the Department quickly and will challenge some of the misinformation being spread on social media sites about [Direct Provision] centres.”
‘Appalling’
In recent weeks, the Department and IPAS have come under fire after an outbreak of Covid-19 at the Skellig Star Hotel in Caherciveen, Co Kerry as well the conditions highlighted within the centre.
Last week, the Department said “no major issues” arose from a surprise inspection of the Central Hotel in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare after local residents called for the centre’s closure following allegations of rodent issues, a lack of space and issues with shared accommodation at the centre.
For several years, NGOs and human rights organisations have called for greater scrutiny of the management and conditions at Direct Provision centres through an independent inspectorate as well as more regular surprise inspections.
Advertisement
The Department has not published any Direct Provision centre inspections since January 2019.
Conditions at certain Direct Provision centres have been a source of controversy since the system was set up in 1999.
Last year, it was announced that Mount Trenchard Direct Provision centre in Co Limerick, widely reported as the worst centre in Ireland, would close after conditions there were described by one resident as being like “guantanamo bay”.
Across the country, private contractors have been paid over €1 billion since 2000 to operate centres on behalf of the State. Several have moved to off-shore accounts in recent years.
Fiona Finn, CEO of Nasc, has described the email sent by IPAS to centre managers as “appalling”.
“It goes right to the heart of a culture of disbelief when it comes to residents’ complaints about their living conditions,” said Finn.
It appears that instead of taking residents’ claims seriously and investigating them properly, the IPAS is more concerned about protecting their reputation.
“IPAS are continually telling centre residents to come to them and tell them when there is a problem and IPAS will investigate. This will do nothing to inspire confidence that any real investigations take place,” she added.
“Instead, it reinforces the belief that the IPAS is incapable of being an impartial arbiter when it comes to conditions in direct provision centres,” said Finn.
“The fact that photogenic meals were served to centre residents one day does nothing to prove that this is the norm for that centre. Direct provision must end but until it does, we need an independent inspector to protect centre residents.”
In response to the letter, a spokesperson for the Department said the request to owners “is in no way a replacement for a proper inspection regime”.
“Accommodation centre inspections look at a wide range of issues such as fire safety, food hygiene, food quality, information provision, general security and emergency details, child protection issues, provision of TV and Wi-Fi services, staff rosters and the upkeep of all communal areas and bedrooms,” they added.
“Any issues identified are communicated in writing to the service provider and they are required to address any issue identified immediately. Staff from IPAS follow up to ensure that all notified issues have been addressed and remedied.”
“We take complaints from residents very seriously and all residents are made fully aware of their ability to contact the Department at any time in confidence to raise any queries or concerns,” the spokesperson said.
During Covid-19 there is “daily contact with the Centres on a wide range of matters, including following up on any complaints from residents,” they added.
The Department has also funded a health line through SafetyNet so that the Centre can raise any matter of concern by residents, they said, and a risk assessment framework has been developed with the HSE, which has been applied to all centres in recent weeks.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
85 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Gerry Adams, by his own admission, met Austin Stack in 2013.
Adams says Austin Stack gave him names. Austin Stack denies this. This leaves two possibilities –
1) Gerry Adams is lying. In which case, who gave him the names? And why is he lying?
or
2) Austin Stack is lying. In which case, why did Gerry Adams wait over two years to pass on the names to the Gardai?
This is what absolutely stinks about this.
Even if we believe Gerry Adams over Austin Stack, he still took over 2 years to provide this information to the Gardai.This is an open murder case. Why did he wait 2 years?
I look forward to Deputy Adams clarifying why he either lied or withheld information on a murder.
So we consider the possibility that he is. Unfortunately, in this scenario, it just means that Adams sat on relevant information for 2 years before deciding to make a statement.
Why?
Did someone verify the names to him?
Did his conscience get the better of him?
Let’s look at this with cold logic. Adams introduced the Stack Brothers to supposedly the Commanding Officer of the men that murdered their father. Now if Adams was able to arrange said meeting, it is logical to conclude that he personally knew the man in question. And logic would also dictate that he would have had a briefing with this man prior to their meeting with the Stack’s as not to be caught out by surprise. Now if the Stack’s gotten names from Garda and Media sources as Adams claims those names would be in general public knowledge due to leaks etc. But if as the Stack’s claim that they neither received nor gave any names to anyone and Adams was able to provide the Gardai with names several years later it would suggest that either Adams had known the names of the suspects for years and withheld them or had only been given the names prior to his informing the Gardai. In which case he would have made up the story about the Stack’s to cover himself because of his informing.
The best thing to do is to stop asking awkward questions and listen to some Wolfe Tones. It will help everyone no end. Come out you Black and Tans, Come out and fight me like a man. Better?
At one point is 2012, SF were at 25% in the polls.
For both the 2014 Local and 2016 General Elections, there was an expectation that the next election would be a major, major breakthrough for the party.
So when the stories about his possible knowledge of his brother (2013) and Mairia Cahill (2015) cases broke, the party decided to ignore them, believing that he would not be damaged by them.
In both elections, the party returned a disappointing 14%. Only 1 in 7 voters.
There are many young, talented, ambitious, able politicians in Sinn Fein. Doherty, O’Bruin. Mary Lou to name three.
Politicians who have no ties – historic or imagined – to the IRA.
@Brinster: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The party’s capacity for shame is endless. He should resign. He’s had the whole 2016 centenary now. It’s a good time to call it a day. If he cares about them being electable he should go. My own bet is that he doesn’t. Unless MM makes a deal with Mary Lou to share power if he goes. Wasn’t it MM stirring the pot with Maria Cahill? And he’s at it again now. How odd! The only beneficiaries to this are Mary Lou and FF.
Watch Enda get played like a fiddle here. He’ll try to take the highest moral ground and make the loudest noise about Gerry and morality. Michàel will get a few digs in, riling it up. Mary Lou will watch the pressure build and come to Jerry in am act of compassion, for him and the party. Jerry will go if the pressure is too much. Enda will feel like it was all his idea. Next election, the two republican parties will find some common ground, with Mary Lou in charge. Enda will be clueless to his part in this. Well played, Michàel. Well played, Mary Lou.
It’s not logical to conclude he knows him at all on the basis of being able to arrange a meeting and it’s speculative to assume there was a briefing before hand.
There are most definitely reasons for the Stack’s to lie about Adams’ account. There are always at least three versions of a story. Theirs, the others and the truth.
I appreciate the reasons for those assumptions are strong but it’s amateur sleuthing to make a case for cold logic built on warm guesses. It only detracts from finding truth.
@Mick Jordan: didn’t Adams arrange a meeting with the men stack give him the names of, the men denied being responsible. Didn’t stack go to Adams when he got frustrated with the gardai not taking action on the information he gave them.
@jane: really Jane, why would somebody who believes Gerry was the leader of an organization responsible for his fathers murder lie to damage that persons political ambitions. Can’t think of any that’s got me stumped.
@Brinster: clearly Adams should resign over a murder 20 years old, that he had no act are part in, while mehole should become taoiseach, despite bring part of a government that brought the country to its knees less than 10 years ago, the result of which has been the suicide of thousands of people, thousands more been made homeless and tens of thousands been forced to emigrate. As for enda he has followed on were f.f. have left off. Pumping money out of the country while Irish people die on the streets or die while waiting for medical treatment, but neither of these would be a resigning issue.
Killean. How do arrange a meeting with an IRA commander (A) Without knowing who he was and (B) having him trust you enough to be introduced to two outsiders. And as for a briefing Adams is an experienced Politician. He most definitely would not want to be in on a meeting where he would be found wanting for lack of knowledge. So using a combination Logic and “Occhims Razor” theory my original statement stands.
Joe. I believe the meeting was with the self described “Commanding Officer” of those responsible not the suspects themselves. And had the Stack’s at that meeting had spoken the names of the suspects they had supposed to have gotten from from the Gardai then surely the Gardai would have spoken to Adams about the names as soon as they had learned about the meeting from the Stack’s. But they didn’t so that would suggest (logically) that the Gardai were unaware of the names until Adams disclosed them to the Gardai several years later.
@Brinster. on that grounds enda should resign over the fact that he has sat on the information he has about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the biggest atrocity carried out during the troubles.Hundreds of lives ruined and f.g conspired with the British government to let it happen, how many more innocent people died at the hands of these terrorists just so f.g could take part in what they thought would be the death knell of the IRA as usual like bloody Sunday and so many other state led atrocities, this just swelled the ranks of the IRA. Every government since has sat on this information because making it public would legitimize the IRA actions.
Simple every Government minster since 1974 should be stripped of their pension for the cowardly way they covered up the murder of 30 innocent Irish citizens and the injuries to hundreds more, these families have been treated despicably and with contempt by every government since.
Brinster at first i thought you spoke a lot of sense until you spoke of Pearse Doherty as talented. He’s a passive aggressive economically illiterate thug.
@Brinster:
Very good points, Adams is stoping middle ground people from voting for SF. Anyone with a brain can see he is a liability, he must have some hold over SF.
In my opinion…he’s paving the way for Mary Lou. He absorbs all of the criticism the party takes. To be fair she’s the best speaker in the Dail and a strong candidate for a more respected Sinn Fein.
He’s just acting as shield and seeing his career out while they gain some momentum.
Well i think everyone knows that Adams is infinitely honest. He has never lied. The record shows over 40 years in the public eye he has been upfront and honest at all times. The cats on the trampolines know he’s a truthy kimd of guy. Never in the IRA or an IRA commander – such a succinct example of an upright guy just like his honest friend slab (who wasnt even a farmer- werent his cattle btw) they both are ‘good republicans’.
@Old Gabby Johnson: and what has he to gain from lying in this situation.
You are aware that successive Irish f.g/f.f governments made it illegal to volunteer in an army trying to protect Irish citizens and give them the freedom that the 26 counties enjoyed. Instead Irish government cooperated with the British who in return murdered innocent Irish citizens on both sides of the border.
“Austin Stack told me that he had been given these names by journalistic and Garda sources.” Gerry Adams I think therefore it’s safe to assume he believed the Gardaí already knew the names given that they’d given them to Austin.
“I think therefore it’s safe to assume he believed the Gardaí already knew the names”
So why did Adams make the statement at all then?
If he believed the Gardai had the names, why decide to make a statement 2 years later, with by his own admission, no further contact from Austin Stack?
He said he gave no names- thats the point. Duh. Sure of course he could have just waltzed into any station and given over names im sure the IRA would have applauded him- you’re right.
Firstly Peter, just to acknowledge that Austin Stack has categorically denied furnishing Deputy Adams with any names.
I don’t know why he wouldn’t give the names (if he had any) to the Gardai.
Here are a few possible guesses.
1) He may not trust the information he was given. Entirely possible that he suspected he was deliberately given false and easily disprovable information to discredit him if he did approach the Gardai.
2) He had no way of verifying the information he was given. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable making an accusation he couldn’t back up.
3) He may have been given the names in confidence and providing the names to the Gardai may have compromised the one source of information he had on his father’s murder.
4) He may have been trying to encourage his source to go the Gardai themself.
Any one of the above seem, to me, reasonable.
What does not seem reasonable is that Adams waited two years before going to the Gardai.
@Robin Aindriú Mac Eochaidh:
What’s pertinent is Gerry Adams knows the identity (he brought Stack in a van to him) of a man who clearly has knowledge of a murder.
Adams is obliged to supply that mans name to the gardai.
Don’t hold your breath
@Peter McGlynn: Deservedly so. I for one am a Republican, I believe that the armed campaign was justified in the late 60s, not to unite Ireland but as a consequence of the civil rights movement been shot off the streets, the conditions Nationalists in the North had to put up with.
The moment the IRA started killing innocent civilians is the turning point for me. By all means the British Troops, RUC, Loyalist Paramilitaries and Prison Guards in the North where legitimate targets. As they killed and maimed many nationalists
The Gardai, Irish Army and Prison Guards where not legitimate targets and committing crimes down here to fund the bombs on the streets of London was wrong.
This murder was a cowardly act, although not sanctioned by the Army Council they still covered it up and made sure no arrests where made.
My vote and many other votes in the next election depend on how Adams handles this. He withheld information on the death of an agent of the state, it makes you think what else is he witholding ?
Furthermore, CFCs are a leading cause of global warming. Why are we talking about Sinn Fein dishonesty when the planet is threatened by a hole in the ozone layer. I’d also add, don’t think about Gerry, look over there, squirrel!
@alphanautica, so do you honestly believe Micheal Martin and Fianna Fáil shouldn’t face the same criticism and exposure regarding the Mary Boyle case? Genuine question here?
Why Sinn Fèin persist in having these old dinosaurs as their leaders is beyond me. They will never be in power as long as they have to continue to lie to Irish people about their previous actions. We all know what happened. You might even be able to justify most of it. But you can’t put us in a position of voting for a party where we know the leaders are lying about murders.
Funny it’s Sinn Fein that want the Truth and Reconciliation commission set up but FF and FG are not so keen. Wonder why? Of that’s right they only want the political advantageous “truth” in the media.
@Hugh Mannatee: its called loyalty, I suppose if your leader has been shot, jailed, interrogated and lives under constant death threat, then you can assume he is there to stand up for what he believes and not just to line his pockets and that of his friends
They want to make a difference to our country. That’s the purpose of a political party. Blind loyalty to him will not help them with voters. We can acknowledge what he stands for without the need to force lies down our throats and asking us to forgive and forget.
While Adams is lewder of Sinn Fein they will always find it difficult to shake off the link with the IRA.The sooner he stands down the better for that party!
@Peter McGlynn:
Saying you want something is fine, why not make a start with this case then ?
All parties by their nature are self serving, there is not an earthly chance that any party/army etc etc will hang all their dirty linen out in public. (they may do some tokenism)
Be realistic, how could SF spill the beans on so many of their own or why would they ?
Without a doubt it would be used to whip them and probably destroy them.
SF for the short to medium term future will be shackled to their past.
For some that’s something to be proud of, for others they will never trust SF
@alphanautica: don’t worry the biggest atrocities of the troubles, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings were sanctioned by the British state and facilitated by the Irish f.g government. The gardai apprehended those responsible in Dundalk one of those apprehended ( a member of British intelligence) gave the number of a top ranking government official and after a few phone calls they were let go on their merry way. The government then covered up and destroyed any evidence linking those responsible to the murder of innocent Irish citizens, when is Edna going to make this information available and when is his partner mehole going to question him about it in the dail
@joe o hare:
IRA murdered 1800+ civilians.
Dublin + Monaghan bombings = 33 civilians.
“the biggest atrocities of the troubles, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings” … how do you work that out?
@Daisy Chainsaw: I never praised Adams. Any fool knows the deal, but our government has no qualms in dealing with people that carried out atrocities on Irish civilians and also on a global scale. The other alphafool here actually thinks he is clever too….
@alphanautica:
According to Malcolm Sutton’s Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland: Number of civilians killed by British security forces: 187, by loyalists: 878, by republicans: 723.
Serious questions asked by M.M. Why if Gerry Adams was given the names of the killers of Brian Stack by Austin Stack in 2013 did he wait ontill 2016 to pass this information onto the Gardai ?
Gerard any chance you can answer . Why if Gerry Adams was given the names of the killers of Brian Stack by Austin Stack in 2013 did he wait ontill 2016 to pass this information onto the Gardai ?
Because Gerry was already well aware of the names of the infantry and their operations within the organisation that he was Chief of;so it didn’t dawn on him that this was new information, until he realised he wasn’t meant to know about it as he was never in the IRA and his past was but a dream?
I for one think Adams has done a great service to the people of the whole island of Ireland which is a lot more that can be said for the rest of our so called current leaders.
@Paul MC Your entitled to your view and opinion even though it baffles me. Can I ask what your opinion is on Why if Gerry Adams was given the names of the killers of Brian Stack by Austin Stack in 2013 did he wait ontill 2016 to pass this information onto the Gardai ?
@Brendan I’ll keep asking. Have you any opinion on why if Gerry Adams was given the names of the killers of Brian Stack by Austin Stack in 2013 did he wait ontill 2016 to pass this information onto the Gardai ?
My opinion is that he was told that Austin Stack learned the names from Garda and Journalistic sources, so if he got the names from Gardaí I believe it’d be safe for Gerry to believe the Gardaí had the names and didn’t need him to give them the names that they had given to Austin.
Brendan thanks for your reply and answering the question. But why in 2016,two years after he got the information, then decide he better man up and give the names of his colleagues to the Gardai ?
Well doorhandler, all life is precious every single one.I don’t think anyone is saying Adams was responsible for the death of Mr Stack.I have seen the difference that Adams has made at great sacrifice to himself and his family to the six counties of Ireland under British rule. The man is vilified in the press in the Republic and in my opinion for what it’s worth is that maybe the elites in the 26 counties are worried that maybe some social justice is on its way.
Brendan, I know your been honest and I’m not trying to have a go at you personally. However by your answer “I dunno” shows you are just as baffled as me. You seem to be supporting Deputy Adams but this stinks.
I told you what I believe doorhandler other than that I don’t actually know why he decided to go to the Gardaí that’s why i said I dunno. I imagine Fianna Fáils political game playing at the time had a lot to do with it though.
I think he went after been goaded by Charlie Flanagan. Nothing to do with those bad FFers. You like me are still no wiser why after holding information for over two years he decided to go the Gardai and give the names of his colleagues, which by the way, Austin Stack is adamant he never gave him.
@Paul Mc:
I’m curious as to why you wouldn’t include Deputy Adams in the elites, he appears quite wealthy off the back of the troubles. Numerous houses, salaries, pensions etc. From Westminster, the Dail, probably Stormont, book writing etc etc. Is he not an elite ? Is he not feathering his own nest ?
Gerry Adams claimed in excess of €1 million in expenses from Westminster alone
(Martin Guinness actually claimed more than him)
Not to mention his MLA salary from Strormont etc etc etc
@John Johnson: I would imagine he would feel better off and more elite if he followed the normal route to the dail, tell lies kiss ass throw a few favours become a councillor, take backhanders, do favours, pull a few strings, buy a few pints, go to funerals of people you don’t know get a seat in the rail or get born into a political dynasty and wait for your farther to die and get elected on a sympathy vote, either way would be easier than living under a constant death threath.
In fairness John Johnson if you do a little bit of research you will find Deputy Kenny has claimed by far the most expenses in the last 40years from the Irish state. He also has a tendency to stuff committees and quangos with his cronies. Adams has contributed to the people of Ireland at least he will leave a decent legacy behind him unlike the current leaders of Fine Gael,Fianna Fail,the Labour party and the Greens.
So there isnt a homeless crisis in ireland. Lets just talk about the past and do nothing about this terrible problem facing 7000 people in ireland this christmas.
Micheál Martin accused “the Provos” of “living in a parallel universe, in which rules apply to one group but not to anyone else.”
That coming from the leader of one of the most corrupt Irish parties ever…. Even worse ar the fools who believe in them and vote for them every time…..
@Daisy Chainsaw: i am not talking about shinners… You keep bringing that up. What is your problem? Are you on double time? You are telling everyone here that FF are a good party, who have always had the coomon joe best interests at heart? FF are not Irish. They are people that will let good honest people die. Like FG, Labour.
It is good to see true cooperation between f.g And ff. The country is in meltdown unreal rates of homelessness and suicide. Quick we need a distraction. Quick look over there Gerry is a bad man. Is edna going to make another false promised to the homeless this year.
@Eóghain Pádraig MacEochagáin: You have a short memory, it was Gerry Adams who said (referring to the IRA) that they had never gone away. So how would he know this if he was never involved or a member of the IRA.
Maybe me hole can stand up and tell us what he and his party plus media know about the murder of the priest in Offaly or that poor girl Mary from Donegal or about the cover up of the stardust. While we’re at it maybe fg can tell us why they gave the evidence they comply on the Monaghan Dublin bombing to the Brit while knowing that British soldiers were involved.
I really wish GA would step down as leader of SF,the party will prosper with himself..ferris and a few more gone..Your work is done..become honorary life president but leave the politics to the new generation..Mary Lou..Pearse Doherty..Eoin O Brion etc..all good people without a past..I’ll still voteSF..but more people would consider votingSF if Gerry stepped aside..
I find Mary Lou one of the most off-putting politicians in the Dáil and that’s up against some stiff competition. She has an odd blend of being hyper-sensitive yet loves to condescend to others. Long may she not reign
@Kieran OKeeffe: Even the Brits honoured GA with a baronetcy when he stood down as a Westminster MP although he never stepped foot in the place. So perhaps Enda could organise a papal knighthood for him or something of that order.
@Kieran OKeeffe: Good people without a past who unconditionally support the beards, the bombers, the bank robbers, the Garda murderers. Clear out the likes of Gerry and you still have his groupies who by their active membership of Adams’ Sinn Fein condone Garda murders and blowing up innocent people both in Ireland and the UK.
@Daisy Chainsaw: so, you will continue to let the past hang over Ireland? Sure, we’ll never move forward. What happened is in the past. People will change over a generation or ttwo. But you cannot keep bringing up the past in every argument.
@Daisy Chainsaw: clearly daisy some people north and south weren’t as upset as you that the IRA used violence to protect themselves from attack by the British and to get the same freedom that was afforded to those in thee 26 counties that was achieved by blowing up and killing innocent people.
Mr Martin who in your party stopped the apprehending the murder and disapearing of ………..MARY BOYLE a child its an open investigation Mr Martin did you ask anyone in your party about this horrific crime if not why not or was it you I don’t know ….clarification please muster martin
Good to see the corrupt pocket stuffing parties of f.f and f.g finally merging, it has become impossible to distinguish between f.g and f.f paid trolls.
Ok would FF &FG be better off sorting homeless and use crisis and let guards sort this out . as hundreds lie on trollies thousands homeless people dying on streets because they ignore the bigger issues . let the guards do their job and investigate the murder not them who risk collapsing a case of or when it went to court
People cannot leave the past go I have never heard anyone here talk about what the PRODS did but every-time Gerry Adams name comes up they cannot wait to stick the knife in anybody out their believes their would have been a peace process without Gerry Adams would be sorely mistaken. So wake up stop bringing up the past Sinn Fein are the best Party in this Country they have the best speakers the best strategists and they work hard . They are so far ahead of FF and FG who are still into old style politics. God Bless Gerry Adams for bringing peace to this Country
@Donal Carey: You are on deluded man…. Were one of the SF die hards who cheered the Jerry McCabe killers at the SF ARD Fheis? Gerry calls gangsters good republicans….
Terrible thing to happen, but there were allegations by Martin Ferris and others that this officer was complicit in the maltreatment of Republican prisoners.
Yellow object spotted in the sky in Dublin, but how long will it last?
35 mins ago
2.1k
3
HSE
Just 10% of hospital consultants were working over recent bank holiday weekend, says Health Minister
36 mins ago
2.1k
7
The Morning Lead
Government to make cabin homes in back gardens exempt from planning
Christina Finn
10 hrs ago
72.1k
92
Your Cookies. Your Choice.
Cookies help provide our news service while also enabling the advertising needed to fund this work.
We categorise cookies as Necessary, Performance (used to analyse the site performance) and Targeting (used to target advertising which helps us keep this service free).
We and our 148 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting Accept All enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Cookie Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage .Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
We and our vendors process data for the following purposes:
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
Cookies Preference Centre
We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent. You may exercise your right to consent, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. Some vendors may process your data based on their legitimate interests, which does not require your consent. You cannot object to tracking technologies placed to ensure security, prevent fraud, fix errors, or deliver and present advertising and content, and precise geolocation data and active scanning of device characteristics for identification may be used to support this purpose. This exception does not apply to targeted advertising. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.
Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Store and/or access information on a device 102 partners can use this purpose
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 133 partners can use this purpose
Use limited data to select advertising 103 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Create profiles for personalised advertising 75 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Use profiles to select personalised advertising 74 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Create profiles to personalise content 36 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Use profiles to select personalised content 32 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Measure advertising performance 124 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Measure content performance 59 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 72 partners can use this purpose
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Develop and improve services 79 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Use limited data to select content 37 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
Use precise geolocation data 42 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification 24 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 82 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Deliver and present advertising and content 92 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Match and combine data from other data sources 65 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Link different devices 48 partners can use this feature
Always Active
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 81 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
Save and communicate privacy choices 60 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say