Louth County Council purchased four derelict sites by CPO since 2011

Louth County Council acquired four sites by compulsory purchase order since 2011.

That’s according to new figures provided by Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly in response to a parliamentary question from local TD Gerry Adams.

In his response, Minister Kelly revealed that the local authority had acquired two of the sites for roads related works, with the other two acquired until the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

According to the derelict sites register as of December 31^st 2013, there were 51 derelict sites in Co Louth with outstanding levies on them of €1,808.08.

Minister Kelly added though: “My Department has been advised by Louth County Council that the number of derelict sites currently on its register (including those added to the register during 2014 and 2015 to date) now stands at 55 – a net increase of 4 on the 2013 figure – with €821.54 in levies being received during these two years.”

PPS correct not to prosecute Gerry Adams for allegedly withholding evidence

Gerry Adams

A decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams for allegedly withholding evidence about his rapist brother was correct, a review has concluded.

The Sinn Féin leader’s brother, Liam Adams, was convicted in 2013 of raping and abusing his own daughter, Aine Dahlstrom, in the 1970s.

She has waived her right to anonymity.

Mr Adams confronted his brother in 2000, who confirmed that he had abused Ms Dahlstrom. However, Gerry Adams did not report it to the police until 2007.

He made the report shortly after his party voted to accept the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

When Ms Dahlstrom’s case came to court, a decision was made to use Gerry Adams as a witness in the case.

The Louth TD testified at his younger brother’s first trial, which collapsed for legal reasons, but did not give evidence at the second trial.

Following Liam Adam’s rape conviction in October 2013, Northern Ireland’sAttorney General John Larkin was asked to investigate the decision-making process employed by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The PPS had decided that on both evidential and public interest grounds, the test for prosecuting Gerry Adams for withholding information was not met.

Mr Larkin found that prosecutors had “correctly applied, in the first instance, the evidential test for prosecution to the available evidence”.

However, the Attorney General found that further inquiry ought to have been made about how much Gerry Adams knew about the abuse, and the allegations of serious offences such as rape.

The PPS has re-interviewed the rape victim in the case, who has indicated that she does not want to pursue the matter.

There will be no prosecution for withholding information.

In his review, the Attorney General examined the complex issue of treating family members as suspects, rather than witnesses, in cases where they may know that a relative has been abused.

Mr Larkin recognised that prosecutors “can face difficult decisions in cases involving sexual abuse within a family where there is some degree of knowledge among family members”.

He said it was unlikely to be in the public interest to prosecute family members who have knowledge of abuse, “particularly where they may be able to give evidence in support of the victim”.

Mr Larkin said: “It should be open to the PPS to make a public interest decision that such persons should be treated as witnesses and not treated as suspects by the PSNI or prosecuted without first having to take all those steps necessary in order to ascertain whether the evidential test is or is not satisfied.”

“Consideration should be given to whether or not the Code for Prosecutors could be amended to allow the PPS to take such decisions where it is clear from the outset that the public interest in treating an individual as a witness would greatly outweigh the public interest in prosecuting that individual for withholding information,” he added.

The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Pamela Atchison, welcomed the Attorney General’s review and accepted his recommendation that the PPS prosecution code should take into account “exceptional circumstances, such as this case of familial sexual abuse”.

She said “it is right that our Code for Prosecutors should allow us to consider the public interest test prior to our having reached a conclusion in relation to the evidential test”.

The PPS has launched a consultation process to amend its code to reflect the Attorney General’s suggestion.

Liam Adams’ abuse of his daughter was committed over a six-year period between 1977 and 1982, when Ms Dahlstrom was aged between four and nine.

He was found guilty of three charges of rape, four counts of indecent assault and a further three counts of gross indecency against her.

He lost an appeal against his conviction last month and is serving a 16-year prison sentence for the offences.

Source: BBC NI

Bell to be prosecuted over Jean McConville murder

Jean McConville with some of her 10 children prior to her abduction

The prosecution of a veteran Republican accused of involvement in the notorious IRA murder of Belfast mother of ten Jean McConville is to proceed.

Prosecutors confirmed to District Judge George Conner in Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday their intent to pursue the charges facing pensioner Ivor Bell.

Bell (78) form Ramoan Gardens in west Belfast, is charged with aiding and abetting the murder of the widow, who was abducted from her home in west Belfast in 1972. Her remains were found in August 2003 at Shelling Hill beach in North Louth.

Bell is further accused of IRA membership but denies the charges.

Sinn Féin president and local TD Gerry Adams was last year arrested and questioned as part of the police investigation into Mrs McConville’s death.

The Louth TD has consistently rejected allegations made to Boston College by former republican colleagues including Brendan Hughes and Dolours Price that he had a role in ordering her death.

The PPS continues to review a file on Mr Adams.

Adams welcomes Yes vote in referendum

Local TD Gerry Adams has welcomed the overwhelming vote in support of the marriage equality referendum in County Louth.

The referendum saw 63.5% of the electorate vote Yes with the Sinn Féin president proud of everyone who did so.

He said: “I want to commend all of those in County Louth who have participated in the referendum campaign over the last few months.

“The hard work and dedication of the Yes campaign was rewarded. The Yes vote for marriage equality is a resounding vote of confidence in the future. It has brought a new generation into the political process. It demonstrated the power of our people to drive the process of change and a demand for an equality.

“The marriage equality rights that will be enjoyed by Irish citizens in the south must be shared with citizens in the north. We need further constitutional change to fully build the republic promised in the proclamation.

“It is a good day for equality and compassion, and a good day for Ireland,” he said.

Three Louth TDs pledge support for a Yes vote tomorrow

Gerry Adams with Sinn Féin councillors and activists at their Yes campaign launch in the Market Square last month

Three of Louth’s five TDs will be voting yes in tomorrow’s marriage equality referendum.

The Irish Times contacted every Dáíl and Seanad member to ask how they would be voting with only six Oireachtas members – John McGuinness, Jim Walsh, Michael Healy Rae, Mattie McGrath, Fidelma Healy Eames, Rónán Mullen and Feargal Quinn – indicating that they would be voting against the amendment. Pat Deering of Fine Gael was the only person who said they were undecided.

Local TDs Gerry Adams, Fergus O’Dowd and Ged Nash all pledged to vote yes tomorrow, although Seamus Kirk and Peter Fitzpatrick did not reply as to their intentions.

All three local Senators – Mary Moran, Jim D’Arcy and Terry Brennan – also said they would be voting yes.

You can check out how other politicians will vote here.

Gerry Adams and Prince Charles shake hands in Galway

Sinn Féin leader and local TD Gerry Adams and Britain’s Prince Charles shook hands at an event in Galway this afternoon.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in the west of Ireland this morning at the start of a four-day visit.

Mr Adams had asked to meet the Prince of Wales during the visit.

It is the first meeting in the Republic between Sinn Féin leadership and a member of the British Royal family since partition.

Mr Adams said he hoped the meeting would assist the process of peace and reconciliation in Ireland.

Speaking as he arrived at NUIG, Mr Adams said he would be thinking not only of the victims of the IRA bomb attack in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, which included the prince’s great uncle Lord Mountbatten, but also of other victims of the Troubles.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Mr Adams said he would express regret at the IRA’s murder of Lord Mountbatten, but stressed his meeting with Prince Charles would be one of equals.

Mr Adams also said he stood over remarks he made at the time of the killing that Lord Mountbatten knew the danger involved in coming to this country and that, given his war record, he could not object to dying in what was clearly a war situation.

Source: RTÉ News

Adams expresses “grave concern” at Our Lady of Lourdes’ waiting list

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda

Local TD Gerry Adams has expressed “grave concern” at the waiting list at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

His comments come after the highest ever number was recorded on the outpatient waiting list in April.

Commenting on the matter, the Sinn Féin president said: “On Wednesday morning there were 465 citizens on trolleys in Emergency Departments across the state. Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda had the second highest with 41 patients waiting. The previous day it had the highest number in the state with 48 patients waiting on trolleys.

“These figures are as bad as any we witnessed during the winter.

“There is also a serious problem with waiting lists for outpatients and inpatient procedures in Our Lady of Lourdes.”

An examination of statistics on the National Treatment Purchase Fund reveals that at the end of April there were 11,386 outpatients attending Our Lady of Lourdes. Of these 4087 had been waiting up to three months; 2432 had been waiting for 3-6 months; 3599 were waiting 6-12 months and 1267 have been waiting between one and two years. One person was still waiting after two years.

Of those waiting between one and two years 94 were gynecology patients, 552 were ENT patients and 56 were for general surgery.

Inpatient figures make equally grim reading. At the end of the month there were 1242 patients waiting for an inpatient procedure. 286 of these have been waiting for more than a year.

“These waiting list figures are unacceptable,” said Deputy Adams.

“In a properly managed and resourced health service patients should not have to wait as long as these statistics indicate for important medical procedures.

“The scale of the problem within the health service is evident in the report this week by the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation which revealed that between January and April of this year there were 35,135 occurrences across the state of patients on trolleys.

“That is an increase of 26% on the same period last year and the worst figure since the INMO started keeping records.

“Across the state we now have the highest ever recorded number of citizens on the outpatient waiting list.

“At the end of April there were 412,422 citizens on the outpatient waiting list. Of these 72,270 have been waiting for more than a year.

“It is also expected that official figures to be published shortly will show that the HSE will be over budget by at least €100 million for the first three months of the year.

“Clearly the government’s health strategy is not working.

“Key to tackling this problem is more investment, including additional bed capacity. There is a need to reopen many of the 2,000 beds closed in the last four years and the recruitment of more nurses to replace the 5,000 nursing posts that were cut as a result of government policy.”

Bomb warning at Gerry Adams’ home is dismissed

Gerry Adams

A bomb warning at the Belfast home of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has turned out to be “nothing untoward”.

The PSNI were called to the Norfolk Drive area of west Belfast this morning after receiving information that a device had been left at an address there.

Inspector Roy Burnside said: “Officers attended and nothing untoward was found.”

Mr Adams, a TD in Co Louth, said it comes amid a “concerted series of threats and attacks on the homes of Sinn Féin members”.

He added: “There can be no place for these type of actions nor will they deter Sinn Féin from working to advance the peace process and advance our political objectives.”

Earlier, Martin McGuinness blamed dissident republicans for attacks on two cars belonging to Sinn Féin representatives in Derry.

Police said the separate attacks happened at 1.50am in Kildrum Gardens and just before 2.30am in Oakbridge Park on Wednesday.

A parked car was set on fire in the earlier incident causing extensive damage to the engine block, while in the second case the front and rear windscreens of a parked vehicle were smashed.

Two men aged 17 and 23 were arrested by police in Oakbridge Park on suspicion of criminal damage.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness tweeted: “With overnight attacks on Sinn Fein councillors Sandra Duffy and Colly Kelly in Derry, I have no doubt anti-democratic dissidents responsible.”

Housing fund for Louth “inadequate and derisory”, insists Adams

Gerry Adams

Local TD Gerry Adams has described the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly of funding for new build housing units in Louth as “inadequate and derisory”.

€13.7m worth of funding was approved for the county today. This will deliver 75 units in total with 20 units in Boice Court in Drogheda, 35 units in Cox’s Demesne in Dundalk and 20 units in Father Finn Park in Louth Village.

The new homes are expected to be in place by 2017 and are part of a €312m investment across the country. It will be part of an overall €57m fund allocated to Louth for housing provision until 2017.

However, Sinn Féin president Adams said it was far from sufficient.

“The announcement by the Minister of funding for local authorities for social housing is part of a planned government funding strategy that has already been announced twice.

“The funding allocated to Louth is significantly short of what is required and will not dent the housing waiting list in the constituency.

“Louth County Council has not yet been told by the Department how much of this current tranche of money it will receive but we already know that it will be part of the overall €57 million to be allocated to Louth for housing provision until 2017.

“Presently there are 4636 households on the Louth housing waiting list. The overall funding package allocated for new house build will, according to government figures, provide at most for 288 new units.

“It is clear from today’s announcement and the government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 announced last year and of the Social Housing Targets for local authorities announced a month ago that at least two thirds and more of social housing is to be provided by the private sector.

“The Minister’s reliance on the private sector is at odds with his position only six months ago when he warned that the privatisation of social housing “was wrong and it was more than wrong, it was simply unacceptable and we are going to change that.”

“Today the Minister has reinforced again a strategy that is entirely reliant on the private sector for the majority of social housing provision at a time when landlords prefer the open market to social housing tenants. The Minister’s approach to the provision of social housing is deeply flawed.”

Liam Adams loses abuse conviction appeal

Liam Adams

Liam Adams, brother of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, has lost an appeal at the High Court in Belfast against his conviction and sentence for raping and abusing his daughter.

The 59-year-old was found guilty of a string of attacks on his daughter Aine Dahlstrom when she was aged between four and nine during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He was handed a 16-year sentence in 2013, but sought to have his convictions overturned.

Delivering a reserved judgment, Lord Justice Patrick Coghlin said: “The court has not been persuaded that the verdict of the jury was unsafe and, consequently, the appeal must be dismissed.”

Judge Coghlin added: “In the circumstances, we are not persuaded that the learned trial judge erred in the exercise of her discretion and, accordingly, we reject this ground of appeal.”

Liam Adams, formerly of Bernagh Drive in west Belfast, was convicted of 10 offences against his daughter – three counts of rape, four of indecent assault and three of gross indecency.

He committed the crimes when he was left alone with his daughter, often sneaking into her room while she slept.

The abuse was committed over a five-year period between 1977 and 1981.

In later years he went on to work in a number of youth centres in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, including for a time in Dundalk.

Ms Dahlstrom, now in her early 40s, waived her right to anonymity.

Liam Adams’ convictions heaped pressure on Gerry Adams to explain why he did not alert the authorities to the abuse allegations when he initially learned of them.

The Sinn Féin leader has insisted he acted properly and accused political rivals of exploiting a family issue to attack him.