Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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We put the Twizy to the test »p20
‘ireland versus an 8-year-old’
1,500 in crush at nightclub
by ruth doris
A WOMAN who won a landmark case against Ireland for failing to protect her from sexual abuse by her school principal has hit out at the State for fighting her for the last 15 and a half years. After the European Court of Human Rights ruling yesterday Louise O’Keeffe said as far as she was concerned ‘the case was being fought by an eight-year-old’. If a child suffered the same abuse tomorrow, the State would still be prepared to fight the case, she said yesterday. Ms O’Keeffe claimed she suffered inhuman and degrading treatment aged nine at Dunderrow National School, Co Cork in 1973. Former principal Leo Hickey was jailed for three years in 1998 after he admitted to 21 sample charges out of 386 involving 21 former pupils of the school, near Kinsale. The Strasbourg-based court ruled Ireland’s system of detection and reporting of abuse was ineffective in the 1970s and if adequate action had been taken in 1971 when the first complaint against Hickey was made, Ms O’Keeffe might have not been abused. Yesterday’s result could pave the way for thousands of claims against the State. Ms O’Keeffe, who sued the State after an award of IR£53,000 in 1998 and a civil action against Hickey and the State, said she hopes 135 former pupils who were written to by the State’s claims agency after she lost her cases will now receive an apology. The Department of Education said yesterday lessons have been learnt from the ‘deepfly shameful scourge of child sexual abuse’. Maeve Lewis, of charity One in Four, said the ruling will ensure the State is now responsible for the conduct of teachers and for the safety of children.
Ring in the changes Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring spars with Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor as Olympic boxer Adam Nolan referees at the opening of revamped Bray Boxing Club Picture: PA
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A YOUNG woman left in a critical condition after a crush outside a well-known nightclub regained consciousness yesterday. An investigation was launched into the crush as some 1,500 people gathered outside Harcourt Street’s Copper Face Jacks nightclub. Four people were taken to hospital. The incident happened as the club launched its first ‘Messy Mondays’ night. The event’s Facebook page warned of a busy night thanks to its promotion of €3.50 drinks. Many students were celebrating the end of their exams. The 18-year-old woman left critical after the crush was treated in St James’s Hospital and is said to be doing well. People who were in the queue took to social media yesterday. @KatieMc_Dermott tweeted: ‘Coppers queue thanks for the multiple bruises on my legs.’ Another, @laurakirwan_ tweeted: ‘Never been in so much pain in my life, my back looks like its been attacked by a jaguar.’ Some expressed terror at the situation. @ IsMise_Edel said: ‘I thought I wouldn’t get out alive. So so scary.’ Copper Face Jacks said it was working with authorities to establish what happened.
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Investigation: Copper Face Jacks