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IT WAS ANOTHER winning day for Ireland at the Special Olympics yesterday, with athletes stacking up 14 more medals.
After strong performances across a number of events, the team’s medal total now stands at an impressive 34 – including ten golds and 19 silvers. Four golds were earned yesterday in the men’s doubles bowling as Paul Bridgman from Cobh, Co Cork and Michael Hardiman from Tallaght, Co Dublin put in a great display – while alongside them Ciaran Mallon from Newry, Co Down and Jonathon Griffin from Ballinasloe, Co Galway also impressed.
Meanwhile gymnast Laura Rumball from Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin won three medals – one silver and two bronze – in the Artistic discipline, and in the same event Carole Ryan from Newtown, Co Wexford brought in two more golds.
Yesterday was a big day for Irish equestrians, who brought in four medals. Steven Yetman from Donaghadee, Co Down won gold, while Pamela Collins from Kanturk, Co Cork, Sally Duffy and Conor MacGearailt from Athy, Co Kildare all took silver. John Loughane from Ballinasloe, Co Galway narrowly missed out on another medal, coming fourth in his event.
In football the men’s 11-a-side team put in a winning performance with a 5-1 trouncing of India, while in the five-a-side event the men’s team beat Finland 2-0.
Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland, said last night: “We are so proud of Team Ireland. They are representing us all so well here in Athens. I would also like to pay tribute to them their coaches and the volunteers who helped to prepare them so well for the Games and who are here supporting and cheering them on – it’s been a fantastic team effort!”
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Can’t see this 16 year old as being a boh. Especially given the offences. Disgusting.
At least he’s been charged which will be some tiny justice for the mans grieving family.
Name him!
I thought that it was fascinating that the mother was charged with perverting the course of justice. I’m not sure of the details, but I envisage that she is one of those mothers that has a cut off the principle when teachers try to discipline her child, which is probably why he thought he could get away with it. Offences in school need to be treated in the same manner as offences on the street or we’ll end up with the same problems as the UK. ‘Bullies’ should be referred to an Garda Siochana for assault or intimidation. Student with fireworks and bangers are in possession of illegal explosives and should be referred to police also. We’ve let society get out of hand and have not been responsible in protecting the innocent from thugs.
This was a failure of by the mother in teaching her son right and wrong, as well as a failure of the state to take an active interest in the upbringing of children. If the parents can’t or won’t perform the repsonsibilities, the state must do it for them.
Not sure how public education works in Ireland or the U.K., but maybe there should be the adoption of police departments dedicated to the school system, and take student discipline from the principal, teacher, parent, etc.
In many places in the U.S., there are police empowered by the school districts to guard school property and “police” the students. Depending on the severity of the infraction, they can issue a fine against the parents, refer the students removal to an alternative discipline school, or go further to refer the students to the state for formal charges.
If that system were in place, maybe this kid would not have been free to murder.
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