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12/30/2023

‘Happy Christmas for remains’ as skulls stolen by academics return home to Irish island for first time in 133 years | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

A reburial ceremony for the human skulls was held on Inishbofin this summer and involved locals and campaigners

THIRTEEN skulls stolen by academics that were returned to an Irish island this year are to spend “their first Christmas at home in 133 years”, a local historian has said.

A reburial ceremony for the human skulls was held on Inishbofin this summer and involved locals and campaigners who had pushed for their return.

Thirteen skulls stolen by academics that were returned to an Irish island this year

A reburial ceremony for the human skulls was held on Inishbofin this summer

The skulls, thought to be around 400 years old, were taken by two Trinity University-affiliated academics in 1890

The skulls, thought to be around 400 years old, were taken from a monastery on the island of Inishbofin off Ireland’s west coast by two Trinity University-affiliated academics in 1890.

After sketching the skulls in the nook of St Colman’s monastery, considered sacred by the islanders, Alfred C Haddon and Andrew F Dixon took the skulls in the middle of the night.

The skulls were returned in a process undertaken by Trinity College Dublin to review legacy issues at the university.

The decision to return the remains follows years of campaigning by Inishbofin historian Marie Coyne.

She was one of four local women to carry the coffin carrying the skulls to their place of rest in the graveyard – believed to be the first time women on the island had been pallbearers.

Ms Coyne said: “It’s a happy Christmas for the human remains, because they’re home for the first time in 133 years.

“It’s just very special to have them here, and where the skulls’ remains are in the graveyard, you can see right into the abbey where they were taken from.”

Asked what it was like to stand in front of the grave, she said: “It’s peaceful.

“I don’t know who these people were, I’d say their lives were tough. They had families and love, I don’t think they would have thought what would happen to their remains.”

She said a path had been worn in the area from locals and visitors travelling to see the grave, in a sign of how much interest there has been in the returned remains.

She added: “Maybe it’s a small person up against the big powers that be, maybe it’s the humanity.

“Look at what is going on in Gaza and in these places – there are families destroyed, and they will never find their family’s remains.”

Candle vigil

She said that she would place candles on the skulls’ grave on Christmas Eve.

Other campaign efforts are under way to have remains brought back to the islands, including the return of several skulls to St Finian’s Bay.

In June, the Government set up a committee to advise on the restitution and repatriation of culturally sensitive objects in Ireland, as there are no guidelines on these cases.

The committee is made up of people from the museum, archives and gallery sector, legal and ethics experts and government officials.

#‘Happy Christmas for remains’ as skulls stolen by academics return home to Irish island for first time in 133 years | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

THIRTEEN skulls stolen by academics that were returned to an Irish island this year are to spend “their first Christmas at home in 133 years”, a...

12/30/2023

‘Obscene’ warning as shock 1,454 Irish Government staff earn OVER €100k – but thousands on less than €28k | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

Meanwhile, thousands of workers in Government jobs are on a salary below the living wage — with one full-time employee at

ALMOST 1,500 staff working in Government departments are earning more than €100,000 a year — with the two highest paid execs in crisis-hit Health and Housing.

Meanwhile, thousands of workers in Government jobs are on a salary below the living wage — with one full-time employee at the Department of Agriculture on less than the minimum wage.

Nearly 1,500 staff working in Government departments earn more than €100K a year

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe defended the high salaries for senior staff to our reporter Adam Higgins

Secretary General Robert Watt earns up to €297,869 in the Department of Health

A special Irish Sun investigation today reveals the number of high earners working in each department and the salaries of those on the top pay.

There are 1,454 executives working in Government departments who are earning more than €100,000 per year.

The Department of Agriculture has the highest number of big earners with 245 staff on more than €100k, followed by Education with 207 and Foreign Affairs with 136.

The Department of Rural and Community Development has the fewest high earners with just 16 trouserings more than 100 grand, followed by Higher Education with 28 and Defence with 32.

We can also reveal the highest earners in each Department — with the bosses of Health and Housing topping the table.

The Department of Health told the Irish Sun that their highest-paid worker earns €297,869 — this is Secretary General Robert Watt.

Housing and Defence are home to the second top-earning Government department officials who are on a salary of €258,825 each.

In contrast, 2,383 people across the departments earn less than €28,000 a year — however, many of these staff are not working full-time.

However, there are many civil servants earning less than €28,000 who work full-time.

For example, there are 42 full-time staff at the Department of Public Expenditure on less than €28,000.

And the Department of Agriculture said that their lowest paid full-time worker is on €18,144 — lower than the minimum wage.

When queried, a spokesperson told The Irish Sun that the staff member is engaged under a specific contract of 24.5 hours per week.

They added: “The staff member is classified as full time because they work the full number of hours required for that position.

“The hourly rate paid to the individual is over €14, which is above the statutory minimum wage.”

Pay caps needed

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told The Irish Sun that a pay cap should be brought in.

He said: “I don’t think there is a need for anyone in the public sector to be on more than €150,000.

“We should have a pay cap so we don’t have this obscene inequality where there are huge numbers of very low paid civil servants earning not much more than minimum wage while those at the top are receiving very, very generous amounts.

“The two areas that are in the largest amount of crisis and those at the top who ultimately the buck must stop with — as well as with the Government of course — are doing very, very well for themselves.”

But Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe defended the high salaries for senior departmental staff as he claimed they are motivated by a “desire for public service”.

Aware of challenges faced

There are 86 staff members in his department on more than €100,000.

Asked whether large salaries can result in Government staff being out of touch with the problems facing people, Donohoe told us: “They are very much aware of the challenges that many people are facing and that our society is facing over all.

“The civil servants that I work with are doing so out of a desire for public service and to make a difference to the problems that your readers experience every single day.”

Secretary Generals now earn more than the Taoiseach and their own ministers as the Cabinet continues to hand back a portion of their wages.

Pay handed back

Earlier this year, RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst put in a pay cap that means no staff will eventually earn more than his salary of €250,000.

Minister Donohoe was supportive of these measures.

But asked why a similar rule shouldn’t be put in place in departments so staff can’t earn more than the minister in charge, he said: “It’s a decision that I’ve taken to hand back a portion of my salary and all ministers have done that.

“That is a continued recognition of the harm that was done to Ireland in the global financial crisis and continuing to recognise that there are many people still living with the consequences of it.

“In relation to pay within our civil service, we don’t have anybody in this department that would be on a higher level of salary than the Secretary General would be and that appears to me to be a fair principle.”

BIG-BUCKS OFFICALS IN EACH MINISTRY

BIG-BUCKS OFFICIALS IN EACH MINISTRY:

245: Dept of Agriculture
207: Dept of Education
136: Dept of Foreign Affairs
106: Dept of Housing
99: Dept of Social Protection
86: Dept of Public Expenditure
74: Dept of Justice
67: Dept of the Environment
63: Dept of Children
63: Dept of Health
55: Dept of Enterprise
54: Dept of Transport
48: Dept of Finance
42: Dept of Taoiseach
33: Dept of Tourism
32: Dept of Defence
28: Dept of Higher Education
16: Dept of Rural and Community Development

BIGGEST EARNERS IN CIVIL SERVICE:

€297,869: Dept of Health
€258,825: Dept of Housing
€258,825: Dept of Defence
€254,884: Dept of Environment
€245,884: Dept of Finance
€245,884: Dept of Taoiseach
€245,884: Public Expenditure
€243,600: Dept of Enterprise
€231,420: Dept of Agriculture
€231,420: Dept of Children
€231,420: Dept of Justice
€231,420: Dept of Education
€231,420: Dept of Transport
€231,420: Social Protection
€230,780: Higher Education
€219,242: Rural and Community Development
€219,240: Dept of Tourism
€213,056: Dept of Foreign Affairs

#‘Obscene’ warning as shock 1,454 Irish Government staff earn OVER €100k – but thousands on less than €28k | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

ALMOST 1,500 staff working in Government departments are earning more than €100,000 a year — with the two highest paid execs in crisis-hit Health...

12/30/2023

‘Safe arrival’ of rare new baby monkey is huge first for Ireland’s only wildlife park | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

The striking orange monkey was born on November 22 to mother Mei and dad Shinobi and is the first of its kind to be born at Fota Wildlife Park.

IRELAND’S only wildlife park has welcomed a rare new arrival – a baby endangered François’ langur monkey.

The striking orange monkey was born on November 22 to mother Mei and dad Shinobi and is the first of its kind to be born at Fota Wildlife Park.

A baby endangered François’ langur monkey was born at Fota in November

The public’s help is needed to name the new arrival

In the past weeks, Mei, Shinobi and their newborn have been venturing outdoors, with the youngster often visible through the viewing window of their purpose-built house in the Asian Sanctuary.

The baby François’ langur monkey, with striking orange colouring, stands out against the contrasting black fur of the adults in the group.

These monkeys are classified as endangered by the IUCN.

Mum Mei, who was born in 2016, and her younger sister Kaili, who was born in 2018, made their journey to Fota Wildlife Park from Twycross Zoo in the UK in September 2022 as part of a European Endangered Breeding Programme.

Joining them shortly after was Shinobi, born in 2016, who arrived from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the UK in December 2022.

Lead Ranger Teresa Power said: “We hope the birth of this baby will help raise awareness about the critical need for conservation efforts for the François’ langur.

“There is a wild population of 1,400–1,650 in China and fewer than 500 left in Vietnam.

“As a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria we will be participating in their 2024 “Vietnamizing” conservation campaign, drawing attention to threats to the country’s amazing biodiversity and animal species, such as the François’ langur, whose wild populations are currently under pressure from habitat loss, hunting, and poaching.

“Since the trio of Mei, sister Kaili and adult male, Shinobi arrived from their respective zoos in late 2022 the animal care team here have been working with them to carefully integrate them into the breeding group.

“We have been keeping a close eye on the group in the hope that they would successfully breed.

“The anticipation has been building as we monitored Mei’s behaviour over the months leading up to the birth and we are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of this endangered baby monkey at Fota Wildlife Park.

“Kaili, the proud aunt, has taken on the role of babysitter, this is what’s known as ‘allomothering’, where the females in the group will help to care for and raise the young.

“The baby is already keeping the group on their toes, trying to copy the adult behaviours.

“The youngster is amusing the animal care team as it tries to copy its mother Mei, especially when it comes to grabbing snacks during mealtimes!”

Teresa added: “The baby’s coat is expected to transition from orange to black over the next few months, which is the natural development of François’ langur monkeys.

“The range of this species extends from Southwestern China to northeastern Vietnam. François’ langur, characterised by its medium size, possesses a sleek coat of black hair.

“Notably, it features distinctive white sideburns that extend from its ears to the corners of its cheeks”.

Fota Wildlife Park is calling on the public to help name the new baby via a form on their website, and to be in with a chance to win a Conservation Annual Pass.

A conservation charity, Fota is involved in many successful breeding and reintroduction programmes for endangered species such as Scimitar horned oryx, European bison, and Natterjack toad.

#‘Safe arrival’ of rare new baby monkey is huge first for Ireland’s only wildlife park | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

IRELAND’S only wildlife park has welcomed a rare new arrival – a baby endangered François’ langur monkey.

12/30/2023

‘Shock & disbelief’ after Irishman’s son, 4, stabbed to death ahead of Christmas trip to Ireland as woman arrested | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

The little lad was found dying by police after an emergency call was made in the Hackney area.

A BOY aged just four who was fatally injured after being stabbed in London has strong Irish family connections, it has emerged.

The little lad was found dying by police after an emergency call was made in the Hackney area.

A boy fatally injured after being stabbed in London has strong Irish family connections

The little lad was found dying by police after an emergency call was made in the Hackney area

Forensic officers at a property on Montague Road in Dalston, east London, where the boy was stabbed

Officers believe he was the victim of a frenzied attack on Wednesday night.

The child suffered numerous stab wounds to his body and it’s understood one to his neck ended his life.

The lad’s father, who is from the south east of Ireland and was not in London when the tragedy occurred, is understood to have been planning a trip back to Ireland over the Christmas period to meet extended family.

He comes from a highly respected family who were said to be devastated and trying to come to terms with the tragedy so close to Christmas.

It’s understood that some of his relatives have travelled to the UK to offer him support following the terrible tragedy.

A woman known to the child was arrested at the scene.

Metropolitan Police had arrived at the house at Montague Road, Dalston, after a call from a family member voicing concerns about a child’s welfare.

Officers who went to the scene found a woman and the critically injured boy who was lying in a pool of blood.

He rushed to hospital but he was pronounced dead soon after.

Police officers arrested a 41-year-old woman on suspicion of murder.

She was due to be medically and psychiatrically examined today.

A full murder investigation has been launched.

Hackney-based Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said the community was in shock.

‘DISTRESSING INCIDENT’

He said: “This is an extremely distressing incident which will understandably cause shock and disbelief among the local community and those who attended the scene.”

He said the boy had passed away despite all the efforts of medics.

Detective Chief Superintendent Conway told reporters: “We are working with our partners including Hackney Council and the school community to ensure support is there for those who need it.

“Specialist officers from our homicide team are progressing this investigation and continue to work to establish the circumstances of this young child’s death and the events that led up to it.

“This incident occurred with a home and while there is no wider public safety risk, additional officers will be present in the area as we recognise the impact this will have on the community.”

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.

The child was not due to be identified until all relatives, including those in Ireland, had been notified.

It is understood that the boy’s father relocated to the UK many years ago for work reasons and had been based in the London area.

#‘Shock & disbelief’ after Irishman’s son, 4, stabbed to death ahead of Christmas trip to Ireland as woman arrested | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

A BOY aged just four who was fatally injured after being stabbed in London has strong Irish family connections, it has emerged.

12/30/2023

‘Shook’ TD who abandoned Christmas shopping over Enoch Burke family confrontation plans garda move after ‘line crossed’ | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

Rattled TD Alan Dillon today speaks for the first time about the shocking confrontation with the Burkes a

A POLITICIAN who abandoned his Christmas Eve supermarket shopping as members of Enoch Burke’s family videoed and followed him into the store is to report the matter to the gardai.

Rattled TD Alan Dillon today speaks for the first time about the shocking confrontation with the Burkes and admits it left him “shook” – even contemplating whether being in politics was worth the abuse.

Alan Dillon abandoned his Christmas Eve shopping as members of Enoch Burke’s family videoed and followed him into the store

Enoch Burke was jailed for contempt

TD Alan Dillon confronted in Tesco by the Burkes

Deputy Dillon said the confrontation left him shook

Enoch Burke’s mother Martina and brother Elijah targeted the Fine Gael deputy and former Mayo GAA footballer in a crowded supermarket in Castlebar, on Christmas Eve.

They blocked the Mayo rep’s path on several occasions before the politician eventually abandoned his shopping plans and return to his car.

The 41-year-old told us: “At a time, on Christmas Eve, when people’s minds are elsewhere, they thought it was an opportune time for them to do this, to film it.

“The description of what the Burkes did in terms of impeding where I was intending to go, there were hands around me, there were people trying to obstruct where I was walking to.

“Any citizen in the state should not have to deal with that type of behaviour. I just think it has certainly crossed the line in terms of how we deal with individuals in such a manner.

“It is concerning that they feel that they seem to feel justified that they can shout and roar and ask me to answer questions at a shopping centre on Christmas Eve.”

A video of the Fine Gael man being confronted in the Tesco store in Castlebar was shared on jailed teacher Burke’s X/Twitter page.

Trans row teacher Burke remains in Mountjoy Prison this festive period due to his repeated refusal to purge his contempt of court.

Devout Christian Burke has been jailed for contempt for refusing to stay away from his old college, the Wilson Hospital School outside Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

He was sacked in a row over the use of language for dealing with transgender students.

Mr Dillon told us: “This behaviour for me crossed the line of what public representatives should ever encounter.

“It was appalling to be shouted at in such an aggressive and hostile manner with families with small children nearby.

“The direct physical handling and intimidation were alarming, I’ve dealt with a lot in my sporting career but that was a dreadful situation and I’m just grateful that my children were not present to witness such a disgusting act.

“I was fearful for what may have transpired if some member of the public may have inadvertently intervened.

“Being physically held back and pushed for me is a clear violation of personal boundaries. I will be meeting with An Garda Siochana later this week to discuss the footage postage on social media and steps to avoid a repeat of this disturbing incident.”

Recorded rant

The video shows Mr Dillon being surrounded by the Burke family as he attempted to enter the supermarket on Sunday.

In the video posted on Enoch Burke social media accounts, his mother Martina Burke and her other son Josiah can be seen surrounding Mr Dillon, telling him: “You’re on a six-figure salary. You cannot run away from people.”

Mrs Burke declared: “My son is in prison because of [ Judge] Maire Whelan, appointed to the Appeal Court.”

Mr Dillon can be heard saying, “Listen, guys. It is Christmas Eve.”

The Burkes replied: “Yes it is Christmas Eve and Enoch Burke is in prison.”

The video shows the Burke family standing in front of Mr Dillon as he attempts to enter the supermarket.

They continuously said: “You must answer questions, Alan”.

As Mr Dillon abandoned his shopping plans and returned to his car, the family followed him and continued to make complaints about the judge.

Family’s fury

They said: “You’re a disgrace. You’re on a salary of over €100,000. You have a duty to the people. Denying the people, denying us our constitutional rights.”

Mr Dillon eventually made it to his car and drove away, with the Burkes moaning about the Fine Gael rep “running away”.

Stunned Alan told the Irish Sun: “I will be discussing it with An Garda Siochana later this week.

“In relation to the incident, it was appalling.

“I’ve had many encounters on the sporting field but in my short time in public life, it was nothing short of shocking.

“The disrespect and the intimidation that they presented with at a time when I was doing my day-to-day normal activities as anyone would have done on Christmas Eve.

‘Distasteful’

“Certainly it was very distasteful and something that no public representative should have to deal with.

“For the people who were in the shopping centre at the time, for young people to witness these type of scenes and for myself, thankfully my kids weren’t with me.

“I’ve often said to myself ‘what would have happened if they were?’ Would they (the Burkes) have continued in the manner that they did? You do reflect on your role as a public representative when this type of behaviour is something that we are subjected to.”

The two-time All Star and recently elected chair of Fine Gael parliamentary party said: “There was no getting away from their intentions to obstruct and to intimidate as best they could.

“I think for the general public who were witnessing this I think (leaving) was the best thing that I could have done, go back into my car and get home as quick as possible.

“They’ve posted a video up online, I think it is plain to see what happened, and who instigated it. I’m not sure what they tried to achieve in doing such things.

“It’s hard to process for me when something like that does happen. And then your instinct to react, maybe others would have reacted differently.

Left shook

“It has shook me for a couple of days after it.

“God forbid it could have gone another way and who would have had to pay the price in relation to that?

“I don’t think this type of incident is warranted in any walk of life. And if they have an issue with me, absolutely I’ll deal with them like they way I deal with the general public at large.

“But I think the intimidatory fashion and the disrespectful manner in which they were shouting and roaring was just appalling.

“My focus now is what advice will be given to me in the next couple of days when I do engage with An Garda Siochana.”

Deputy Dillon plans to report the matter to gardai

Martina and Elijah targeted the Fine Gael TD on Christmas Eve

#‘Shook’ TD who abandoned Christmas shopping over Enoch Burke family confrontation plans garda move after ‘line crossed’ | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

A POLITICIAN who abandoned his Christmas Eve supermarket shopping as members of Enoch Burke’s family videoed and followed him into the store is to...

12/30/2023

Average 15,000 asylum seeker applicants arriving in Ireland every year will become ‘new normal’, Minister claims | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

Mr O’Gorman also said he is disappointed his party’s pledge to end direct provision has not been delivered but said

AN average of 15,000 international protection applicants arriving in Ireland a year will be the “new normal”, according to Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

Mr O’Gorman also said he is disappointed his party’s pledge to end direct provision has not been delivered but said “the landscape has entirely changed” since 2021, when he published a white paper on the matter.

Minister O’Gorman said there’s around 15,000 international protection applicants arriving in Ireland each year

He added: “Major war on the European continent has created a massive humanitarian challenge and one where Ireland has acted very strongly, decisively and been able to provide accommodation for more people than we’ve ever done in a similar circumstance.

“Our department, for a year, had to focus on the immediate challenge there and that has created delays in terms of delivering the White Paper.”

He also said that paper was based on around 3,500 people arriving every year – but that figure is now between 13,000 to 15,000.

But the minister said “a lot” has been achieved, adding: “People can work within six months now, they can get a bank account, they can get a driver’s licence.

“Those are all basic things but weren’t readily accessible prior to the White Paper.”

Asked about the department’s projections on arrivals in the future, Mr O’Gorman said: “Predictions in this area are always difficult but I suppose we have two years now where the numbers – though dramatically different to what they were pre-Covid – are reasonably in line in terms of 13,000, 15,000.

“So I think going forwards, we have to plan that that is the new normal rather than, you know, 3,500.

“And I think we have to build a system that is ready to accommodate that number while their applications are being processed.

“We also have to get better and faster at processing the applications.”

He also said he believed there should be more State-owned accommodation rather than paying out “very significant amounts of money” to the private sector.

He said he was “quite frustrated” with the claim that migration is not discussed in Ireland and also criticised some opposition TDs who had made “entirely inaccurate” claims about immigration during a recent Dail debate.

Mr O’Gorman said: “I’m very happy to have a discussion about migration in our country, about the huge benefits of migration, about the challenges of migration too – and there are challenges there.

“But it should be on the basis of fact and reality, not on the basis of, you know, kind of: ‘Oh, I saw in a Facebook group, someone said something once and I’m going to repeat it like it’s gospel truth’.”

However, he said there are people who are “committed racists” who are determined to stir up racist sentiment around the country and accurate information would not change their position.

Mr O’Gorman said hate speech and hate crime legislation will be useful for when such people “step beyond a certain mark”.

He said: “We can’t stop people having particular views – that’s not possible.

“But where, I suppose, through those views, they’re inciting violence and hatred to other people, I think that’s where the State can step in.”

15,000 asylum seeker applicants arriving in Ireland every year will become ‘new normal’, Minister claims | 6KL9WS7 | 2023-12-30 06:08:01

AN average of 15,000 international protection applicants arriving in Ireland a year will be the “new normal”, according to Integration Minister...

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