Latest news with #DepartmentoftheEnvironment
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Solar powered CCTV in Louth to target illegal dumping
Concerns about the rise of illegal dumping were highlighted at the monthly meeting of Louth County Council. Councillors were told the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications had announced funding through the WERLA's to support Local Authorities in 2025 Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI). Chief Executive David Conway outlined in his monthly management report: 'The 2025 ADI aims to reduce incidents of illegal dumping by identifying and delivering projects aimed at tackling illegal dumping 'black spots' throughout the county and adhere to key measures of prevention, abatement, education and awareness and enforcement. The Department continues to strongly encourage innovative projects, which recognise waste as a resource that can be repurposed for use in a Circular Economy.' A total of six project applications were submitted for approval under the ADI 2025 totalling €112,583.60. The Department approved funding of €100,783.60 for the completion of five projects including: Mattress and Sofa Amnesty Event – V&W Dundalk; Mattress and Sofa Amnesty Event – V&W Drogheda; Mattress and Soda Amnesty Collection Point – Ardee; Moneymore Lanes clean-up and a Solar Powered CCTV system at Williamsons Place, Dundalk. Cllr. Emma Coffey asked for an update on the Solar Powered CCTV system, asking for a timeline on when this might be delivered. She added that it was hoped this could be an initiative that could be used again, as it was likely to be more sustainable in terms of maintenance and upkeep. Director of Services, David Hanratty, explained that it has to be approved by the CCTV steering group, adding that there were increased privacy directives. This would not be a permanent fixture, and could operate on a temporary basis for a month or two. But, he pointed out that it was a piece of equipment that could be moved to other locations. The meeting heard the sofa and mattress amnesty events would be held in a similar way to previous years, in three civic amenity locations, Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Notorious sex killer who raped and murdered civil servant enjoys unsupervised prison day release
We confront predator who raped and murdered civil servant Marilyn Rynn as he enjoys unsupervised day away from jail Civil servant Marilynn Rynn, who was raped and murdered by David Lawler as she made her way home from a work Christmas party in 1995 Larry Murphy, is the first cousing of David Lawler Arrogant sex killer David Lawler, a first cousin of notorious predator Larry Murphy, is taking his first steps towards freedom as he enjoys unaccompanied day releases from Arbour Hill prison. The 60-year-old beast, a former telephone technician, brutally raped and murdered civil servant Marilyn Rynn as she took a shortcut home from a Christmas party in the early hours of December 22, 1995. We confronted Lawler — the first killer in Irish history to be caught as a result of DNA testing — outside a convenience store in Dublin city centre on Friday morning, a short time after he was released to attend a course in the capital. 'David, my name is Patrick O'Connell, I'm a reporter with the Sunday World,' our man said. Larry Murphy, is the first cousing of David Lawler 'Are you enjoying your first taste of freedom?' Refusing to comment, Lawler brushed past out reporter, who then asked the sick predator whether he would like to apologise to his innocent victim Marilyn Rynn's family. Again, Lawler refused to comment. Asked whether he is still in contact with his notorious cousin, Larry Murphy, who remains a suspect in the murder of Deirdre Jacobs and who also served out his sentence for rape in Arbour Hill, Lawler again made no response. Marilyn was raped and strangled after she took a shortcut on her way home from a work Christmas party in the early hours of December 22, 1995. The 41-year-old, who lived in Blanchardstown in west Dublin, was employed in the civil service with the Department of the Environment David Lawler during his day release from Arbour Hill On the night of December 21, 1995, she had attended a work Christmas night out with her colleagues at Shieling Hotel in Raheny. She left the party at 2am and later met with friends for food on O'Connell Street. At around 3am she took the Nitelink bus home from Westmoreland Street. After disembarking near her home, Marilyn took a shortcut home through Tolka Valley Park, where she was attacked by Lawler. She was raped and strangled. Marilyn was reported missing on St Stephen's Day after she failed to turn up for Christmas dinner at her parents' home. Her body was recovered on January 7, 1996, from Tolka Valley Park after a cadaver dog found her remains during a planned search. Semen recovered from her body had been preserved by the freezing temperatures at the time. David Lawler during his trial in 1998 In the initial stages of the investigation, gardaí examined a potential link between Marilyn's murder and the disappearance of Annie McCarrick, upon learning that Annie had an acquaintance who had contact with Rynn before her death. A businessman in his 60s, who was known to Annie, was arrested on suspicion of her murder earlier this week. Asked on Friday if he was surprised an arrest had been made in the Annie McCarrick murder, Lawler again made no comment. Through an exhaustive investigation in the days and weeks after Marilyn's murder, during which gardaí took over 2,000 statements and 354 blood samples, the connection between Annie's murder and that of Marilyn Rynn was ruled out. Instead, officers zeroed in on David Lawler, who, like Larry Murphy, was originally from Baltinglass in Co. Wicklow, but who had been living in Blanchardstown at the time. David Lawler and Larry Murphy News in 90 seconds - 16th June 2025 He too had also attended a Christmas party on the same night as Marilyn. His sentencing hearing was told by Det. Inspector Derek Byrne that Lawler had been drinking heavily since the lunchtime before Marilyn was murdered. During house-to-house enquiries following the discovery of Rynn's body, Lawler admitted to being in the area at the time of the crime. Prior to his arrest, he used the internet to research DNA and falsely believed evidence of his crime could not survive the elements and consented to giving a blood sample. He subsequently gave a sample in February 1996. Speaking on Ireland's Most Shocking Crimes: The Murder of Marilyn Rynn, which aired on TV3 in 2017, former Detective Sergeant Alan Bailey added: 'DNA trace evidence was a relatively new concept in this jurisdiction at that stage. It had just been a year or two earlier that the gathering of DNA at crime scenes had started.' Civil servant Marilynn Rynn, who was raped and murdered by David Lawler as she made her way home from a work Christmas party in 1995 Director of Forensic Science Ireland Dr Louise McKenna was the first to examine the DNA. 'The samples from the post mortem came in and so I immediately started looking at the vaginal swabs to see if there had been a sexual assault. And I found semen on the swabs but I was a bit concerned because the amount wasn't very big,' she said. 'Because at the time the DNA technology wasn't very sensitive but I passed the swabs onto my colleague then, Dr Maureen Smith, who did generate a profile from the swabs, so the guards were delighted and they started bringing in blood samples for us to compare.' They were able to connect a DNA sample to David Lawler, who had been interviewed by gardaí. However, the cocky killer believed he wouldn't be caught because he'd searched online to establish how long DNA lasts in the natural elements. Retired Assistant Commissioner Martin Donnellan said: 'I'd say he thought he had got away with it, because if the weather wasn't so cold and frosty the DNA wouldn't have lasted the 16 days.' Gardaí also discovered Lawler had been enjoying nights out in the wake of the murder and had even got his wife pregnant afterwards, when she was completely unaware of his crime. The DNA match returned in July 1996 and Lawler was charged with Marilyn's murder in August that year. After being presented with the evidence gathered by gardaí while detained, Lawler confessed to the crime and said he only killed her because she recognised him from living near her home. Bailey added: 'We'll never be able to imagine the last few minutes that Marilyn Rynn endured at the hands of that monster in the park in Blanchardstown Christmas week.' Lawler pleaded guilty at his 1998 trial and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins.
Irish Examiner
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Eight years on, Mulcahy Report into alleged planning corruption remains unpublished
The Department of Housing's position on publishing a report into accusations of planning corruption in Donegal has not changed — eight years since its completion. The Mulcahy Report was completed in June 2017 but has still not been published despite changes in government due to concerns over the nature of the contents and fears that some may be defamatory. Sources have said only a small number of copies of the report are in circulation. In 2015, Rory Mulcahy SC was appointed to carry out a review into claims made by whistleblower Gerard Convie, alleging irregularities within the planning department of a local council during the early 2000s. Rory Mulcahy SC, who was appointed in 2015 to carry out a review into claims made by whistleblower Gerard Convie. File picture: David Keane Mr Convie had previously contested the findings of an internal review into his claims, which cast doubt on his motivations, by taking legal action in the High Court. In 2013, the Department of the Environment was compelled to retract that internal review, reverse its conclusions, and issue an apology to Mr Convie. He had submitted a dossier containing 20 sample cases to the government in 2010, which led then environment minister John Gormley to initiate an independent review. However, that process was discontinued in 2011 following a change in government. Mr Gormley's successor, Phil Hogan, instead commissioned an internal review. Completed in 2012, it found no evidence of wrongdoing and questioned Mr Convie's reasons for raising the allegations. Mr Mulcahy completed his report in June 2017, but it has not yet been made public. Asked this week if the report might be published, the Department of Housing said its position was unchanged. A statement said: 'The minister is considering the report and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. 'The Attorney General's office has been consulted on both the content of the report and also on the issue of its potential publication and dissemination. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. '[T]his is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the scoping report details unproven allegations against named persons.'
Agriland
03-06-2025
- General
- Agriland
Breeding common cranes spotted in Co. Offaly bog
Bord na Móna has confirmed that a pair of common cranes have nested at a bog in Co. Offaly for the seventh consecutive year. The pair have successfully reared five chicks in the last three years, and have recently been spotted at the nesting spot by a Bord na Móna ecologist. Following careful monitoring, it has been established that the pair are once again incubating eggs. According to Bord na Móna, breeding cranes are a 'returning species' in Ireland, as cranes were formerly lost as a breeding bird. It said that initial breeding attempts were made by a single pair in 2019, 2020, and 2021. This followed successful breeding in 2022, 2023, and 2024, which marks the first time in several hundred years that the species is part of Ireland's breeding avifauna. Cranes An ecologist at Bord na Móna monitoring the birds since 2022, Chris Cullen believes that the birds are benefitting from habitat improvements associated with Bord na Móna's Peatland Climate Action Scheme (PCAS). He said: 'Over the last two breeding periods, the nesting pair and their young have been seen utilising recently rehabilitated cutaway peatlands for feeding and shelter. 'In addition, over the last number of years, several summering but non-breeding individuals have also been observed on other rehabilitated cutaway bogs in the midlands.' 'It appears a nascent breeding population is possibly becoming established, with clear links to rehabilitated peatlands in terms of usage,' Cullen added. The PCAS is a large-scale peatlands restoration project administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications, and regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is hoped that the ongoing development of wetland habitats following rehabilitation under the present scheme will continue to support the expansion of this newly returned species in Ireland. The location of the nest is confidential in order to protect and conserve the birds. However, Bord na Móna has confirmed that the site is situated on a cutaway bog formerly used to harvest peat for energy production.
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Rare cranes return to Offaly bog for seventh year
A pair of rare common cranes, which have previously nested at a bog in Co Offaly, have returned for a seventh consecutive year. The pair, which have successfully reared five chicks in the last three years, have been seen back at their favoured nesting site by an ecologist working for Bord na Móna (BnM). Following careful monitoring it has now been established that the pair are once again incubating eggs. The location of the nest is confidential in order to protect and conserve the birds. However, it is confirmed that the site is situated on a cutaway bog, formerly used to harvest peat for energy production. "These birds are now benefitting further from habitat improvements associated with BnM's Peatland Climate Action Scheme (PCAS)" said Chris Cullen, Ecologist at BnM, who has been monitoring the Cranes since 2022. "Over the last two breeding periods, the nesting pair and their young have been seen utilising recently rehabilitated cutaway peatlands for feeding and shelter" he said. "In addition, over the last number of years, several summering, but non-breeding individuals, have also been observed on other rehabilitated cutaway bogs in the Midlands" said Mr Cullen. "It appears a nascent breeding population is possibly becoming established, with clear links to rehabilitated peatlands in terms of usage" he added. The Peatland Climate Action Scheme is a large-scale peatlands restoration project administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Over 20,000 hectares has been rehabilitated under this Scheme to date. It is hoped that the ongoing development of wetland habitats following rehabilitation under the present scheme will continue to support the expansion of this newly returned species in Ireland. The crane is deeply connected to the culture and history of Ireland. They have been central to folklore tales such as Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the druids, St Colmcille and the Book of Kells.
