Ex-British Soldier David Holden - on trial for the killing of Aidan McAnespie in 1988 - has failed in his bid to have the case thrown out
Defence had argued the trial represented an abuse of process & that there was no case to answer
Judge rules for case to continue tomorrow
The grieving mother of Cavan teenager Diego Gilsenan- who died by suicide- is appealing for help
It’s after her son’s image appeared in anti-vaccine print and social media
Reporting
@drivetimerte
Ukrainians living in Ireland gather outside Leinster House for rally
Some have relatives and children at home where Russian attacks ongoing
@drivetimerte
@rtenews
The British Soldier who killed Aidan McAnespie near a border checkpoint at Aughnacloy in 1988 has been charged with manslaughter.
It comes following a case review by the DPP in the North.
@rtenews
@RTERadio1
@RTEgaa
Questions in the case of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohue
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
@RTERadio1
this evening - with Noah's Aunt
@NiamhDonohoe78
ahead of rally calling for truth and justice in Belfast tomorrow
Calls for all information to be disclosed at Noah's inquest
BREAKING The ex-British soldier charged with unlawfully killing Aidan McAnespie in 1988 WILL go forward for trial
David Holden will appear at Laganside court on Feb 14
It follows a Preliminary Investigation in Dungannon where prosecution evidence was challenged
Survivors of Magdalene Laundries & Mother and Baby homes among those gathered ahead of arrival of Sinead O’Connor’s funeral cortège
@RTERadio1
@rtenews
The first statement of claim - as part of a landmark mass legal action by Mica affected homeowners - has been filed at the High Court
William & Grainne Doherty claim over 100 breaches of regulations meant their home was built with defective blocks
Reporting
@drivetimerte
David Holden is the first British Army veteran to be prosecuted for a legacy related case in Northern Ireland
Justice O’Hara said Holden gave a ‘deliberately false account’ to the court and - in his view- had deliberately pulled the trigger in killing Aidan McAnespie
A spokesperson for EU Trade Commissioner Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan confirms to me he also attended Oireachtas Golf Society event
No further comment or details of travel from Belgium at this stage
@rtenews
@rtepolitics
Comes as more details of event emerge from
@Philip_Ryan
Independent Candidate Patrick Feeney has garnered the lowest vote in the country thus far.
He got just 1 vote in Galway City Central.
Last year Mr. Feeney tried to get the backing of several local authorities to get on the ballot paper for the Presidential Election.
The only place fit for the rematch of the 1982 final- Madison Square Garden.
Great to meet famous Offaly supporter Mick McDonagh in New York ahead of championship opener on Sunday.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says no link has been reported or identified between clusters or significant number of Coronavirus cases and those who attended the Cheltenham festival
Family of Aidan McAnespie make their way into Laganside Courthouse ahead of judgement in manslaughter case of former British soldier David Holden
@rtenews
@RTERadio1
The family of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohue want a fresh police investigation into his death
Saturday would have been Noah's 18th birthday
Reporting
@drivetimerte
shortly
Ex-British soldier David Holden has been giving evidence at his trial for the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in 1988
Holden told court how his claim that his wet hands slipped when moving the gun that killed McAnespie was his 'theory' on what happened rather than recollection
Teresa O’Hare donates her house in South Dublin to St John of Gods charity so her son with an intellectual disability will have somewhere to live
Comes with Government warned of ‘ticking time bomb’ of issue of elderly carers
Reporting
@drivetimerte
Suppliers of defective buildings blocks -- and those responsible for overseeing building standards -- are being hit with an avalanche of legal writs this week from Donegal property owners impacted by the mica scandal
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
shortly
Former British Soldier David Holden Guilty of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie at Aughnacloy in February 1988
Holden said his wet hands had slipped on the gun - firing the fatal shot
Aidan McAnespie was on his way to a GAA match
@rtenews
@RTERadio1
Marc MacSharry interrupts FF PP meeting to clarify he condemns the KKK and everything they stand for and unreservedly withdraws his suggestion Ireland would source a vaccine from them.
The HSE confirms Croke Park is to be used as a mass vaccination centre
Six GAA facilities are now among the 38 vaccination sites
Croke Park was also used as a Covid-testing centre
@TodaywithClaire
@RTEgaa
Thousands line the streets of Monaghan to they say their final goodbye to Brendan Og O’Dufaigh
Spontaneous applause along the route of the cortège
@RTERadio1
@TodaywithClaire
Thousands of people from Donegal expected to March on Dublin next week - amid growing anger over Mica Redress Scheme
Families want 100% redress
Reporting from Carndonagh on
@TodaywithClaire
shortly - with affected homeowners
#micaredress
GAA Congress unanimously backs Tyrone motion calling on the Government &
@CharlieFlanagan
to release the Crowley report into the shooting of Aidan McAnespie, 31 years ago yesterday.
@RTEgaa
"Coppers now opens at the same time as the Angelus"
"You can be home at 1 and in lectures at 9, it's all 'gucci'"
Report from Dublin last night for
@TodaywithClaire
as nightclubs adapt business to new midnight curfew with earlier opening hours:
Strong turnouts in Nationalist areas and loyalist areas in North Belfast
Sinn Fein sources quietly hopeful for Finucane going by early ballots. Worry among DUP ranks for Dodds. It will be close.
An electoral Frazier v Ali.
@rtenews
A 12-year old intellectually disabled boy was sexually assaulted in a HSE-funded residential care centre twice in recent weeks
His mother now wants answers
Reporting
@drivetimerte
@RTERadio1
Case of Aidan McAnespie reaches court for the first time in over 30 years as former British soldier is charged with manslaughter. Will have the latest on
@drivetimerte
after 430.
Tremendous, superb, friendly, warm.
An illness so bravely borne.
Moments shared where she always displayed an unbelievable love for her family.
Outstanding colleague and journalist.
RIP Keelin
The saddest news. She was such a kind, generous, supportive, beautiful, fun colleague. RIP.
RTÉ broadcaster Keelin Shanley dies following illness via
@rte
Aidan’s cousin Brian Gormley says People asked why the family kept going for 34 years - he says to find the truth
Evoking the ballad of Aidan McAnespie he said all they wanted to know was ‘why did you do it?’
Says other families should get opportunity to pursue justice too
Forget about man of the match, family of the week are the Clifford's. Paudie yesterday dragged juniors over line in Ennis for 4-in-a-row titles, David saved Seniors today.
@Kerry_Official
@TheSundayGame
One year on from the unveiling of the enhanced defective blocks redress scheme, not a single home has been repaired under the initiative
Department of Housing warned some homes need immediate intervention
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
shortly
Remains of Aoife Beary arrive at Foxrock church
Foxrock parish says its in awe of her bravery after Aoife helped bring changes to building standards in California in wake of Berkeley balcony collapse
@TodaywithClaire
@rtenews
Sinn Fein's Jonathan O'Brien speaks for League of Ireland fans:
"They ridiculed us, laughed at us, threw some of us out of football grounds...they described the LOI as a problem child. We were not the problem child - the FAI were absentee fathers who didn't give a bollocks"
‘This is like the Spanish Flu, the Irish Civil War and the 1929 stock market crash all at once’, says Professor Sam McConkey of RCSI on Corona Virus situation on
@RTERadio1
@rtenews
Dinner and Drinks - the FAI invite to TDs and Senators just days before they’re due to grill it’s CEO John Delaney on that loan.
Coming up on
@drivetimerte
Fresh questions are being asked of the Government's defective blocks redress scheme -- after new tests uncovered the widespread presence of pyrrhotite in the foundations of a Donegal home
Reporting
@drivetimerte
later
Just 34 homes in Donegal have been repaired through the state's Defective Blocks redress scheme over last 3 years
At this rate of progress, it would take at least 454 years to repair all damaged properties in Donegal
Report
@drivetimerte
@RTERadio1
Confusion around Masks
Tried for clarity on
@drivetimerte
@jeremyphoward
countries who wear cloth masks have 10 times lower Covid transmission per week & 99% droplets stopped
@DuncanSmithTD
masks for all
@laoneill111
it’s easy really!
Report here
Opposition politicians are urging the Government to help family of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohue
Comes after thousands attended a rally in Belfast Saturday - in protest at a police request which could see some information withheld at Noah's inquest
Reporting
@drivetimerte
'At the heart of this trial is a young man who was shot dead as he walked along a country road to a GAA match'
Words of judge as ex-British soldier is sent forward for trial in connection with killing of Aidan McAnespie in 1988
Report for
@drivetimerte
Malin school teachers William and Grainne Doherty last month became the first people to initiate fresh legal proceedings over the Mica scandal
They’re urging other to follow suit
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
shortly
Return of Pints!
Over 5 million pints of Guinness are being delivered to restaurants and pubs across Ireland this week ahead of Monday’s reopening
But will your Pint of Porter be the same?
Went behind scenes at St James’s Gate for
@TodaywithClaire
here:
Michael Doherty
@micaactiongroup
tells Oireachtas Housing Committee hearing on redress scheme how homeowners have been made out to be 'opportunists looking for something for nothing' when all they want is to rebuild homes like for like
Dr Chris Luke Emergency Medicine Consultant tells
@drivetimerte
he’d ‘be very surprised’ if large gatherings like the GAA Championship would be permitted within the next 12 months
Killorglin’s Puck Fair in August cancelled due to Covid 19
It’s the first time in over 400 years the Kerry festival has been cancelled - and no goat crowned King Puck
@rtenews
Donegal Tuesday in Dublin!
Calm before storm as thousands from Donegal & Mayo came to Dublin calling for 100 % redress with
@PaddyDiver4
for
@TodaywithClaire
:
Review of demonstration & political developments for
@drivetimerte
:
Rural areas emphatically rejected both referendums
Parts of rural Donegal 10:1 No
Killeshandra in Cavan 80%
Barana Dearg outside Tuam 88%
Scartaglin Kerry 85%
Lusk Dublin 75%
Rural Kilmacthomas Waterford 93.4%
Skeheenarinky Tipperary 91%
Just 34 homes in Donegal have been fixed through the State’s Defective Blocks Redress Scheme over the last 3 years
This represents less than 3% of applicants to the scheme
Issues around semi detached houses remain
Report coming up
@drivetimerte
Leading engineer assessing Mica homes warns new redress scheme before Cabinet tomorrow may be based on guesswork- due to lack of evidence on third mineral - pyrrhotite
Campaigners warn they'll bring down Government if new scheme doesn't meet their needs
More
@drivetimerte
Seating plan for Oireachtas Golf Dinner also lists ex-TD Dr Michael Harty & ex-FG Minister now BPFI CEO Brian Hayes
Agriculture Minister Calleary and Commissioner Hogan listed to sit with TD Noel Grealish & ex FF Minster Noel Dempsey
Not confirmed all attended
It's almost 30 years since The Shooting of Aidan McAnespie by a British Soldier near a border checkpoint in County Tyrone. What happened that day? Report coming up on
@drivetimerte
soon
Group of families of young people with intellectual disabilities claim they’ve been abandoned by the State as there are no services for their children since they left school
St Michael’s House says it can’t facilitate 13 school leavers in September
Reporting
@drivetimerte
Sinn Féin’s Tipperary TD Martin Browne apologises for social media comments posted before he was TD
Posts includes 9/11 conspiracy content
His 2nd Statement today:
"These posts do not reflect my views.
"I apologise for these posts and I should not have posted them."
Aidan McAnespie’s brother Sean ‘says nothing takes away from the fact David Holden was found guilty of unlawfully killing my brother’
‘We weren’t looking for a pound of flesh - just truth and justice’
Notes Holden didn’t show remorse during trial
@rtenews
@RTERadio1
All darts cancelled north and south to sea point due to flooding on track at Salthill Monkstown caused by high seas cascading onto to the line
@IrishRail
@TodaySOR
@rtenews
At one o'clock
@RTERadio1
will hear from reporters in all 39 constituencies back to back in alphabetical order
A tradition started by the late Gerald Barry in 1977
@rtepolitics
do join us
.
@SenatorMcDowell
tells
@SaturdayRTE
electorate were presented with two dud referendums and that some of the arguments from yes side amounted to emotional blackmail
‘One day of torture for Dublin will show the torture we go through every day in Donegal’ says organiser
@PaddyDiver4
Mica and Pyrite homeowners come to the city from Donegal Mayo and elsewhere again to demand 100% Redress
Reporting on
@TodaywithClaire
shortly
The Minister for Education is being urged to call in the army to help transport children who've missed out on a school bus place
Comes amid increased demand after fee for scheme dropped
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
Taoiseach tells Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party that 800 people arrived at Dublin airport yesterday.
542 were Irish citizens, 397 were returning from holiday destinations.
Almost 6,000 people nationwide are waiting over a year to see a psychologist
The majority are children
Waiting times in Monaghan over 75 weeks
Reporting on
@TodaywithClaire
@RTERadio1
shortly on growing pressures on mental health services in pandemic
Latest here:
Clare Daly still with returning officer over what happens next,
To be clear: Clare Daly camp says Lynn Boylan's votes SHOULD be distributed to determine 3rd and 4th placings,
Barry Andrews camp point to the law- once you're elected, you're elected
Homeowners affected by defective blocks are to form a political party and contest the next Dail election
Also
150 High court writs are to be issued every day from Friday until new scheme is law as class legal action intensifies
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
Concerns are also being raised as to why strong criticisms of the lack of regulation at Donegal quarries - contained in a Government report - were removed before its publication
The audit never visited the Quarry at the centre of the controversy
Bad Blocks in the Midwest
Calls to extent government redress scheme for Mica and Pyrite homeowners to Clare Limerick and Tipperary too
Reporting from Clare and Limerick on
@TodaywithClaire
shortly
Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon calls for urgent clarity from Education Minister on plans for State Exams
'Students have been left too long without answers...there's been a complete vacuum of information leaving young people stressed, anxious and distracted'
@rtenews
For years we met outside Quinn's or sang with Fergal Mc in The Big Tree
But what hostelries will greet GAA fans when big matches return at Croke Park amid a push for development in the City?
Report for
@TodaywithClaire
The potential cost of the multi-billion euro Mica redress scheme is rising yet again
It's because engineers are reporting problems in more and more counties; including the presence of yet another deleterious material
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
Fine Gael TD
@NoelRock
tells me on
@drivetimerte
he won't attend event RIC commemoration.
Doesn't agree with the idea as planned and says Government must reconsider
@Conmort
Hi Conor. Kerry were also on holidays at the same time as Dublin, as the GAA rules dictate. So, your ‘full tilt for months’ is inaccurate and wrong. Both sets of teams served up a good game. Seemed like ye had a good game in Ballybofey too.
On paper: biggest redress scheme in history of state
In practice: homeowners claim they’re as worse off now as they were under old scheme
Report from Buncrana on new Mica Redress scheme for
@TodaywithClaire
+
@McHughJoeTD
&
@PadraigMacL
debate what next
‘I was being medicated for my emotions…the voice of the child wasn’t and isn’t listened to’
Killarney 17-year old wrongly prescribed anti-psychotics by doctor at centre of South Kerry CAMHS scandal tells his story
Report for
@drivetimerte
@rtenews
Hundreds have gathered at Leinster House in memory of Ashling Murphy
Organisers had anticipated 100 at this evenings vigil - crowds gathering an hour before event
Among those in attendance close musical friends of Ashling & Taoiseach Michael Martin
More on
@drivetimerte
Political developments in Noah Donohue case
- NI Secretary of State Shailesh Vara says he'll meet Donohoe family over their concerns
- Opposition politicians including
@ThomasPringle
&
@johnfinucane
want Irish Government to do more
Report
@drivetimerte
Fresh calls are mounting for an investigation into the handling of Covid 19 in nursing homes - as correspondence shows how HIQA was still raising alarm with the Health Minister during the fourth wave of the virus
Reporting on
@drivetimerte
shortly
Taoiseach and Leader of Opposition lead tributes in the Dail for late Pat Smullen
"An Iconic figure in the racing world -salute his courage and commitment to cancer care" Michael Martin
"Ireland has lost a champion both on and off the racecourse" Mary Lou McDonald
@RTEracing
Tallies very patchy nationwide but all pointing towards No
4 boxes in Kingscourt Cavan showed only a handful of Yes votes
Sample in Birr Offaly showed 80% No in Family vote
In Mountmellick Laois 65% No for Family
Early indications in Meath East and Mayo are for a strong No
On His Way to the Gaelic Ground: Aidan’s Story
Special extended report on the McAnespie case for
@drivetimerte
@RTERadio1
and one family’s 35 year quest for truth & justice
Saturday would have been Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe's 18th Birthday
His family is pushing for the PSNI to take a fresh look at his disappearance and death given a new Chief Constable is now over the force
Report
@drivetimerte
In 2010, North Kerry CAMHS was advised to take a 9-year-old boy off heavy anti-psychotic medication
Instead, he was prescribed the powerful drug 42 times over the next 5 years – with severe side-effects
He had no mental health disorder
Reporting
@drivetimerte
shortly