Thanks to Defence Counsel’s methodical probing, the reason for Evans’ nervousness rapidly became apparent. She is the officer from Grampian force who conducted the most recent interview of Hollie, on 8th September 2009 in Shrewsbury, and she also headed up the raiding party on Robert’s home on 13th February 2010. It is certain that she was directed to obtain a particular item with the potential to cause big problems for Grampian police. This item was not among the productions placed before the court yet the policewoman knew there were bound to be questions about it from the Defence, which only she could answer.
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In June of this year Art Ability – a community organisation assisting children and adults with disabilities - based in Agnes Street, Belfast, was given just one week’s notice that it’s funding was to be removed. A SIPTU organised campaign has been running since then to secure funding to protect this vital cross community organisation from closure, and to ensure its client’s needs were addressed. This campaign resulted in the initial securing of limited funding which did not fully protect the organisations future.

However, as a direct result of the SIPTU campaign we are delighted to be in a position to report that interim funding has been secured to enable the organisation to continue to operate. Art Ability will now be in a position to apply for further funding for the autumn quarter, and their doors remain open. read full story / add a comment

Each page in this new website has one topic plus a selection of questions you might ask answered. Not too much information at a time, and ideal for those starting out. Launched in Ireland to mark Brain Awareness Week in March, this website, www.parkinsonsdecisionaid.eu.com, informs and encourages you to discuss the contents with your doctor - patient education and empowerment. read full story / add a comment

A Dublin radio station was forced to issue a personal apology to Minister Mary Harney yesterday after claims about her private life were made on air. Harney's long trip to Australia and New Zealand and absence from the country during the X-ray crisis in Tallaght Hospital has been a source of controversy. You can hear the comments at the link.

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/ntddtntwvd--nell-mcc...arney read full story / add a comment

RSYM: "House the Homeless!"
RSYM House the Homeless Campaign

Over the last number of weeks the Republican Socialist Youth Movement has been agitating over the issue of homelessness in Ireland. With young activists in areas such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Ennis, Derry, Sligo, Strabane, Tipperary and Galway taking part in our ’House the Homeless’ campaign which was designed to highlight the plight of some of the most vulnerable people in Irish society today. read full story / add a comment

Access for All is a four-part series, which looks at some of the issues facing the disabled community in Dublin. Each episode looks at a particular issue from the viewpoint of people with disabilities. The series participants speak candidly about their experiences in the areas of: Education; Family; Media and Disability; Sexuality and Relationships. read full story / add a comment

The Whittemore Peterson Institute, Reno, USA recently discovered a strong link between retrovirus XMRV and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or ME as it is also known. Their findings are some of the most significant in recent medical history, especially for the millions of ME/CFS patients worldwide, who have struggled with the controversy and skepticism that has surrounded the illness for many years. read full story / add a comment

Launching today, ReConnect Autism Consultancy and Training delivers autism consultancy and training services to parents of children on the autism spectrum that result in improved quality of life. Based in Wicklow and servicing families nationwide, ReConnect Autism recently won a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland award for the social contribution of bringing the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) programme to Ireland. ReConnect Autism is headed up by Declan Sweeney B.Sc. ACE (Autism) who brings over 16 years experience in delivering autism services in the U.K. as well as working as a Team Leader on the U.K.’s Autism Services Accreditation Programme. Please visit www.ReConnectAutism.org for more information. read full story / add a comment

In recent weeks, EI member organisation Egitim-Sen and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK) .. have suffered a series of attacks by the Turkish authorities, including the occupation and searches of the trade union premises by the security forces, arrest and preventive detention of trade union leaders and the use of excessive violence by the police against teachers demonstrating peacefully (...) On 29 May 2009, EI, together with the ITUC, wrote to the Turkish Government to protest against these anti-union attacks. Egitim-Sen and KESK received support from many trade union organisations around the world. However the authorities disregarded the international appeals to stop the attacks. Join EI in our appeal to stop the attacks on trade unions! There are currently still 22 Egitim-Sen and KESK officials in detention, including the women secretaries of both organisations. Go to www.ei-ie.org/turkey to read/sign Urgent Action Appeal..
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The EPDA - European Parkinson's Disease Association - has initiated a campaign to "Make Parkinson's Livable" and increase awareness of this often distressing condition.
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We have had a week of events around the theme of the brain, and awareness of the 700.000 people in Ireland with a brain disorder ranging from Migraine, Acquired Brain Injury to MS and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, all events coordinated through the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. This week, Internatinal Brain Awareness Week has received a huge amount of publicity, focussing as it has on personal experiences, and an honest look at the present state of services for those with a neurological disorder in Ireland - through the media - TV, radio, newspapers, the internet, and conferences and meetings. On Sunday (March 16th), the last day of Brain Awareness Week, the PALS branch of the Parkinson's Association (the branch for those diagnosed at a younger age) have a special meeting, in the Marine Hotel in Sutton at 3pm on Sunday March 16th, which is an open meeting because of its relevance to the Week, and indeed because it is testimony to the strength of the human spirit. read full story / add a comment

Cancer Services in Kerry General Hospital are to be removed and relocated to Cork. There will supposedly be a better system of care there under one of several national ‘centres of excellence’.
But that means that patients from Kerry could have a two-hour trip each way (or longer) to access treatment. That is in direct contradiction to the HSE’s statements that care of patients should be given as close to their homes as possible, and that there should be a greater emphasis on delivery of care in the local community.
Long trips on top of treatments and trauma can hardly constitute excellent care. read full story / add a comment

Caring for a relative can be a stressful and traumatic experience. The Government should do its best to help. I am upset at how many people are left caring for others and are given no support due to a means test. Anyone who cares deserves the backup of a Carer's allowance.

How many of these allowances could be paid out of Bertie Ahern's self granted pay rise?

Who deserves the money more? Bertie Ahern? or the carers in Westport? read full story / add a comment

How an irish middle class person's ideological beliefs led him to a life of poverty, and how he found his way out of that dark wood. read full story / add a comment

It is scarcely enough to make a gesture towards mental patients and the mentally ill on one day of the year only. However, to mark World Mental Health Day (10 October 2007) I am posting an article which I wrote quite a few weeks ago to suggest to indymedia readers the extent of real globalisation in establishment efforts to overcome the problem of mental illness. However, as with globalisation in other areas, the question arises of how far we are on the right track? read full story / add a comment

for those of the right and liberal. who tell us that exploitation is of the past. would be of no shock to many of us who experienced it. read full story / add a comment

Today I attended a solidarity vigil for Gary MacLennan outside his QUT (Queensland University of Technology) disciplinary hearing. Gary and a fellow QUT academic John Hookam, are facing disciplinary hearings and possible dismissals, for objecting to a PhD project entitled "Laughing at the Disabled". Check the link below for background on the case.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEucGUEQFwA read full story / add a comment

A new booklet dealing with a difficult subject in a positive and reassuring way; cognitive problems - including dementia - in Parkinson's. read full story / add a comment

The full text of the High Court judgment in the O' Cuanachain case was due to be delivered tomorrow 27th April. But they chickened out. Would this by any chance be connected to the forthcoming election? You can bet on it. It would have been interesting to see what form of casuistry they had come up with to justify this callous and discriminatory judgment. read full story / add a comment