After six years on the housing list, the family, who are originally from Poland, have been forced to give up their much-wanted home after a gang of people, ranging in age from teens to mid-40s, set a fire outside it and attacked the father of the family.

His daughter Roxanne, aged 20, spoke to the Evening Echo on behalf of the family who do not wish to be named.

She said that her father had started to renovate the house in Lagan Grove but now they have moved everything back to a rental home in the city and are afraid to return to the Mayfield estate.

A fire was lit close to the family’s house by a group of people who gathered around it on Monday night.

The father of the family had left with his son, while his wife remained in the building. When he returned the fire was burning adjacent to the house, and the gang there allegedly verbally abused and threatened him, so he called the gardaí and fire brigade from a neighbour’s house.

“My mum was in the house the whole time alone, she saw the gang outside and the fire getting bigger and closer to the house. She was panicking in the house, she thought it would catch fire, she kept trying to call my father but he had forgotten his phone,” said Roxanne.

Roxanne, daughter of the couple forced from their home.

The gang dispersed when they heard the emergency service’s sirens approach, and after gardaí arrived and the fire was extinguished, her mother felt safe enough to leave the house.

However after the gardaí left, Roxanne’s father was again approached by a group who allegedly abused and attacked him while he was going to his car.

“He knocked on a few neighbours doors for help but they would not help him. He concentrated on staying on his feet because he knew that if they floored him they could kick him to death. My mum was screaming and luckily two neighbours, Catherine Coffey-O’Brien and Terri Newman came out and pulled my parents into their house. The gang kept screaming abuse at them from outside and throwing bottles at the house,” Roxanne said.

Neither Roxanne nor her nine-year-old brother were at the Mayfield estate at the time of the fire and the assault, but their mother was traumatised after the incident and is returning to Poland to try to recover.

Catherine Coffey-O’Brien and Terri Newman were the two residents who pulled the couple to safety.

“At 11.30pm he came to my door, ashen faced. It was like something out of a movie, there was a large fire bellowing at the side of his house,” said Ms Coffey-O’Brien.

“There were about 16 of them, including three girls, ranging from teens to adults.

“Later when he returned to the house, I saw him being hit with a closed fist, and his wife was trying to shield him and she was being hit too, we got them into our house. You couldn’t turn a blind eye to that, he could have been killed if he was left there. It only takes one belt in a certain part of the head.” she said.

“This group ran wild all over the place. When we opened our door later thinking the gaurds had arrived, the gang were still there and yelled insults at us,” Ms Coffey-O’Brien said. “At the end of the day, the vast majority of the people at Lagan Grove are decent people. The people involved should know what they did to drive this family out of here. There’s no excuse for this behaviour,” said Ms Coffey-O’Brien.

The issue, which was raised on the 96FM Opinion Line this week, followed concerns raised by locals to the Evening Echo about anti-social behaviour in the area in recent weeks.

Gardaí in Mayfield responded to a call about the fire in Lagan Grove between 11.30pm-12am on Monday night and they arrested a 45-year-old male for public order offences who is due before the courts.

Shortly after leaving the estate, gardaí were called back to the scene responding to a call about an assault.

The Polish man had been injured around his eye, which was red according to gardaí. They offered him medical attention.

Gardaí patrolled the area for a subsequent two hours pursuing the gang of youths and adults but no further arrests were made.

Mayfield Superintendent, Mick Comyns, said that there are many escape routes from Lagan Grove, and when a car approaches, people see it approaching and can disperse quickly.

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The new airbridge at Cork Airport.

It will reduce the number of passengers who have to walk across the tarmac to board planes.

The airbridge has been installed at aircraft parking stand 8 and following some power and systems testing, will be operational by the end of the month.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport welcomed the arrival of the airport’s second airbridge saying: “The new airbridge marks a significant milestone for the airport as we return to positive passenger growth. It is a strong endorsement of our commitment to continuously improving the overall passenger experience and ensuring we are positioned for new airline partners in the future, particularly in preparation for the impending transatlantic route.”

He added: “Our existing airbridge, which is at stand 9, is being optimized by Aer Lingus on its 12 daily flights and the addition of the second airbridge is very welcome.”

Installation and testing of the airbridge will take a few weeks but should be in use by passengers by the end of the month.

The new airbridge was constructed by Thyssenkrupp and was transported from Spain. Due to its size, the convoy delivering the new airbridge required approvals from An Garda Siochána.

Bill Daly, Head of Asset Care at Cork Airport said: “There are a number of challenges installing a new airbridge and we received fantastic support from Airport Police, Airside Operations, our airline partners and ground handlers. We will be finalising the installation over the coming days and I expect that the first passengers to experience the new airbridge will do so by the end of the month.”

Bill Daly, Head of Asset Care at Cork Airport and Brian Culloty, Airport Engineer.

The new airbridge is just one of a number of significant infrastructure investments being made at Cork Airport over the coming months, including the replacement of the airport’s car parking IT system, as it continues to ensure it offers a world-class, award-winning passenger experience.

Speaking about the €450,000 investment, Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport, said: “The new airbridge marks a significant milestone for the airport as we return to positive passenger growth.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair has announced the return of winter flights from Cork Airport to Tenerife, Malaga and Gran Canaria this winter, due to increased demand.

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STARBUCKS has removed all the seating from its Patrick Street store in a move that could help avoid planning enforcement issues.

An Bord Pleanála had ruled that the multi-national required planning permission for its outlets on Prince’s Street, Emmet Place and Patrick Street, all of which opened last year. By removing seating, it is believed the coffee chain is seeking to re-orientate its Patrick Street premises as a shop which focuses entirely on takeaways, thus rendering it a shop rather than a cafe. It may result in Starbucks avoiding any further sanctions from Cork City Council or An Bord Pleanála.
The shop closed for a short period to refit the unit, with the counter now running across its back wall and all seating and tables removed.
Officials at City Hall say they have yet to decide how to respond to An Bord Pleanála’s ruling, but said that their next step is currently ‘under active consideration.’ Starbucks did not respond to requests for comment.

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WORKS will begin to fix persistent flooding problems in the new playground at Fitzgerald Park in the coming weeks.

The flooded playground at Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork. Picture: Denis Scannell

Officials at Cork City Hall confirmed to the Evening Echo that they have identified the source of the problems in the €600,000 amenity and are undertaking steps to rectify the issue.
Remedial works will be carried out at ‘moderate cost’, according to a spokesperson for Cork City Council. The project will see the installation of new piping and drainage to prevent future flooding at the site.
City Hall officials said the works are likely to be completed within six weeks.
Council staff will carry out the work, which will result in water being pumped into the River Lee to reduce the likelihood of future flooding in the case of severe rainfall, such as that experienced in the city centre last weekend. The playground, which opened in July, has been closed on three occasions due to flooding, including for more than one month after torrential rain at the start of December 2015.
Following last weekend’s rainfall, the playground remained closed for a few days, but was fully operational again by Thursday.
Members of the public had expressed concerns about the playgrounds design after the closures. Speaking after December’s floods, Council officials said that Fitzgerald Park is one of several city amenities situated on a flood plain. In the case of severe adverse weather conditions, access to these areas may be restricted in the interest of public health and safety.

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ANTI-INCINERATOR campaigners will protest outside an oral hearing on the planning for the proposed Indaver plant in Ringaskiddy.

A recent protest march by local residents and students of the National Maritime College, Ringaskiddy, against Indavers plans to build an incinerator. Picture: Denis Scannell

Protestors claim to have spent more than €500,000 of their own money opposing the incinerator, which is now on its third attempt to get planning permission after being rejected twice in the past.
The protest will take place next Tuesday from 9.40am outside the Carrigaline Court Hotel.
The hearing will start in the hotel that day and continue for up to three weeks.
Úna Chambers of Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment (CHASE), said that it is unfair that ordinary people have to pay from their own pocket to oppose the planning permission, especially when Indaver can keep applying. “What is the purpose of planning laws and regulation if Indaver can apply for planning ad infinitum. Ordinary people deserve some degree of certainty to enable them to plan their lives,” she said.
Meanwhile, Indaver are in talks to use an old landfill site at bottle hill to dispose of 40,000 tonnes of ash.
The site, located 20km north of the city, was put in place by Cork County Council at a cost of €48 million, but was seen as uneconomical due to similar sites around the country.
Last year they began seeking expressions of interest, and Indaver have approached them about using it to place non-hazardous ash, which could later be treated and used to construct roads.
The 100-hectare site is licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to handle five million tonnes of waste over its lifetime.
The site had previously been considered as an alternate location for an incinerator.The council are eager to find a use for the site, as maintaining it to satisfactory levels for the EPA costs €200,000 per year.

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Norwegian Air hopes to begin flights between Cork and Boston by the end of the year.

The US Department of Transportation has today issued an order proposing to grant a foreign air carrier permit to the company.

When made final, the permit will allow the airline proceed with plans for a Cork to Boston flight followed by a possible Cork to New York flight next year.

A final decision is expected within a month.

The company told the Evening Echo they will have to wait for final approval to decide when seats could be sold but it was their hope to start the Cork-Boston route this year.

Norwegian Air International plan to operate four to five flights per week from Cork along with a similar number to Barcelona and plans for Cork to New York flights in 2017.

The Boston flights were due to begin next month but the delay by the Department of transport to grant Norwegian a permit delayed the start date.

“A final approval, based on the Open Skies Agreement between the U.S. and EU, will be win-win for consumers and the economy on both sides of the Atlantic,” the company said.

A Norwegian spokesperson said: “We would like to thank the Irish Government, Irish aviation authorities and Cork Airport whose continued support has been crucial in getting us to this important stage.”

“It will allow Norwegian to expand our U.S. operations. Our continued presence in the U.S. will create thousands of jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars of economic activity for the Group’s U.S. destinations,” said CEO Bjørn Kjos of Norwegian Group.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for the airport, the airline and the region.  We have worked so hard to make this happen over many months in both Washington and locally. I acknowledge the great support received from our local business stakeholders, local politicans and the Irish Government. I would particularly commend Cork Chamber for their solid support in these efforts.

He added “We are heartened by the decision of the US Department of Transportation to announce that there is no legal reason not to award Norwegian Air International a license to commence its Cork – Boston route. Today marks a step change in this process and brings us even closer to a significant milestone in the airport’s history.”

“It is also fantastic news for our passengers from Munster, who have been very supportive since it was first announced that Cork Airport was to get its first transatlantic service. Once the licence process is cleared, we look forward to engaging with Norwegian to get tickets on sale as soon as possible and the earliest practical start to operations from Cork to Boston followed by New York in due course.”

Norwegian said it intends to continue hiring hundreds of American-based crewmembers, bring hundreds of thousands of European tourists to the United States, continue to offer the American people affordable fares and efficiently utilize an $18.5 billion order of planes from American manufacturer Boeing.

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Cork Airport has today welcomed the US Department of Transportation’s issuing of an Order to Show Cause in relation to the awarding of a foreign carrier permit to Norwegian Air International to commence the first transatlantic service from the city.

The US Department’s order states that it “tentatively” finds that Norwegian Air International “should be issued the foreign air carrier permit” and that there is no legal basis to deny the airline a licence.

Today’s announcement opens process for all interested parties to make submissions supporting or opposing the awarding of the permit.

This process will be open for 21 days, with a final decision made by the Department of Transportation seven days later.

Niall MacCarthy, managing director at Cork Airport said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for the airport, the airline and the region.

“We have worked so hard to make this happen over many months in both Washington and locally.

“I acknowledge the great support received from our local business stakeholders, local politicians and the Irish Government.

“I would particularly commend Cork Chamber for their solid support in these efforts.

He added: “We are heartened by the decision of the US Department of Transportation to announce that there is no legal reason not to award Norwegian Air International a license to commence its Cork – Boston route.

“Today marks a step change in this process and brings us even closer to a significant milestone in the airport’s history.”

“It is also fantastic news for our passengers from Munster, who have been very supportive since it was first announced that Cork Airport was to get its first transatlantic service.

“Once the licence process is cleared, we look forward to engaging with Norwegian to get tickets on sale as soon as possible and the earliest practical start to operations from Cork to Boston followed by New York in due course.”

The Department of Transportation’s Order is open for submissions by interested parties until May 6. A final decision is then expected by May 13.

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THE new look Páirc Ui Chaoimh is getting closer and closer with each passing week.
Evening Echo videographer Larry Cummins this week captured the ongoing work that will see the new northern stand constructed.

At a cost of €78m, the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh is one of the biggest construction projects in Cork for years. Most of the work so far has been in tearing down the existing stands and preparing the grounds for construction. The Government has committed €30m towards funding.

Sisk are the main contractors carrying out the stadium’s redevelopment. Picture: Larry Cummins.

The plan is to have the project finished by 2017, in time to host one of the Munster finals.

The new Páirc Uí Chaoimh is expected to open in summer 2017. Picture: Larry Cummins.

It is also expected to be part of Ireland’s bid to hold the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

With building well under way, the new stadium will include state-of-the-art facilities for players, fans, and staff, with restaurants, conference facilities, a new press box, museum, and capacity increased to 45,000.

Construction of the new stand (formerly the Uncovered Stand) at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Larry Cummins

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DANCER Michael Flatley has two bidders lined up to buy his €20 million Castlehyde mansion — but says he will continue to cherish his Cork connections.

Michael Flatley pictured outside his Castlehyde home

Describing the county as ‘heaven on earth’, he said he is in no rush to complete the sale of the 14-bed mansion outside Fermoy which he bought for about €4 million in 1999. He spent a reported €27 million refurbishing the house.
Flatley said: “We’re not in any hurry to sell. We have two interested parties but I hope they take their time.”
The Lord of the Dance hung up his stage shoes in March after an illustrious career. He has danced in Moscow, New York and Las Vegas, but said that nothing compares to home as he contemplates a first ever show in Cork city this summer.
Injuries have left his body broken — he said he “wakes up in pain every day” — so he won’t be performing himself at Live at the Marquee this June, but said the excitement is building for the entire cast and crew.
“A home-town show is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
“You can’t beat home. It’s a great honour to perform in Cork. We are really proud and really excited.”

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CORK’S first male beauty salon is struggling to meet demand as men flock to have their eyebrows tinted, backs waxed and toenails pedicured.

Pictured is Jennifer O’Byrne, with Julie Ireland, Senior Therapist, during a back massage, at The Modern Gent, Winthrop Street, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

It’s all in a day’s work for Jennifer O’Byrne who set up The Modern Gent grooming salon more than a year ago to cater for Cork’s metrosexual population. She made her dream possible after transforming the considerably large waiting area of her barber shop, The Modern Gent on Winthrop Street, into the thriving business.
The innovative Fair Hill woman is doing her utmost to challenge misconceptions.
“People often make the mistake that it’s only gay men who are interested in beauty treatments but that’s far from the case,” she said. “In fact, we’ve had a lot of girlfriends ring up to enquire about treatments before the man actually works up the courage to come in. There is no real demographic when it comes to our clientele as they hail from all walks of life. It’s quite different from your run-of-the-mill beauty salon in that the place is designed to look a lot more masculine to put people at ease.”
She said that some males shy away from beauty treatments as a result of negative experiences.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback regarding previous negative experiences. A lot of men told me that they have been left completely mortified after visiting a traditional beauty salon. Many were greeted with strange and horrified looks while just going in for a run-of-the-mill waxing job.”
Men tend to become more adventurous following their first appointment. “Usually a client will be nervous but afterwards they are so happy with the results that they can’t believe it’s taken them so long to get the treatment.” “After the first one or two they’ll ask about what other treatments we have.”

She cited the back and chest wax among the salon’s most popular treatments.
“These are particularly popular for men who feel a little self-conscious when going to the gym or swimming pool. A lot of people will go for this ahead of their holiday too. We get a lot of appointments for manicures and pedicures but minus the nail varnish.”
She said:put Cork men’s newfound appreciation for their appearance down to reality shows like Geordie Shore.
“Stars like those in Geordie Shore and David Beckham have made male grooming a lot more prolific now.”

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PLANNING permission has been granted to demolish the former Coca-Cola bottling plant on the Carrigrohane Straight Road to build 92 student apartments in buildings ranging from four to seven storeys.

A computer rendering of how the student apartment complex will look viewed from the Lee Fields.

The developers, Gainstar Limited Partnership, said the range of three to six-bedroom apartments will include 410 bedrooms and will help alleviate the student accommodation shortage in Cork.
The development will include a gym, games room, meeting/study rooms, and basement parking for cars and bikes.
The former bottling plant is located near County Hall between City Print and the Topaz station. The plant was sold by Coca-Cola in 2005. The applicants said the site is perfect for student accommodation given its proximity to UCC and CIT. City Hall granted permission for the development, imposing 11 conditions.

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CORK GAA legend Valerie Mulcahy has spoken about being treated like a second-class citizen within the GAA.

Valerie Mulcahy

The ten time All-Ireland winner, who announced her retirement last week, received a standing ovation at the Law Society of Ireland’s Annual Conference at Fota Island Resort yesterday.
She told a story of a ladies match last year, in the morning, rescheduled due to a fixture clash that meant the men had to be facilitated, with no organised transport, no shower afterwards, a 50-minute drive to a second match in Mallow with a pre-match meal of “jellies and fruit”, no hot water afterwards for a shower, and “self-blame” for the defeat.
“This happened last season,” she said. “This neglect of player welfare would not be tolerated in the men’s game.”
She also said that despite an increase in national media coverage of women’s GAA in the past year, more needed to be done, adding: “Television needs a very significant improvement.” She said she did not want “preferential treatment” but “a legacy to be proud of”.
She said the Women’s Gaelic Players Association would be striving to bring about those improvements. “There are plenty of cracks in the ethics of our sport but finally the light is coming in,” she said.

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A MEMBER of the Cork Penny Dinners team is serving as a beacon of hope to other recovering drug addicts during National Volunteer Week.
When Bernard O’Hehir moved from Sligo to Cork five years ago he had nothing to eat and was living in a hostel. He turned to Cork Penny Dinners for support and is now among their most respected full-time volunteers.

Bernard O’Hehir, volunteer, Cork Penny Dinners. Picture: Denis Minihane.

“I do a bit of everything from serving out on the floor to preparing vegetables and washing up,” he said.
But the 33-year-old will never forget his first encounter with the soup kitchen in Little Hanover Street which dishes out more than 1,500 hot meals a week.
“I will be forever grateful to Cork Penny Dinners for what they did for me during a very dark time. When I first arrived in Cork I was recovering from an addiction to drugs. I had been self-medicating as a result of issues I was dealing with at the time. There was always that fear of relapsing.
“I needed to be somewhere new so I could experience a fresh start. During that period I was living in a hostel and can still remember walking into Cork Penny Dinners for the first time. It was so nerve- racking but I finally managed to work up the courage to tell them I needed help. I was in a really bad place but they immediately welcomed me in and provided me with a hot meal.”
He spoke of the ways the charity has supported him.
“They helped me with anything I needed right down to advice about my CV. I was also given food to see me through the evening. Now I try to be as courteous and kind to people as volunteers were to me during that very difficult time. Looking back it’s hard to believe I have come this far.”
A number of the charity’s clients have approached Bernard in the past in search of advice.
“If anyone comes to me for advice I’m able to tell them my own story. Just talking about things out loud helps me to make sense of my own thoughts too. We all have our own story but what we’ve been through doesn’t make us any less or more of a person than anyone else.
“When a client gets to a stage where they can crack a joke or even smile around you it’s a great feeling. There is nobody in this world that enjoys feeling lonely. I have never forced my advice on people but instead always wait for people to come to me.”
Bernard can relate to the struggles of many clients, but said it’s particularly difficult to see children arriving at the centre.
“Seeing kids coming in here with their families has to be the hardest part of volunteering in a place like this.”
Every day is an uphill battle for Bernard.
“Addiction destroys so many good things in your life. There is so much guilt and making up to do which makes every day a struggle. However, it’s not what you did in the past but how you conduct yourself now that really counts.”
He spoke of the benefits of volunteering for the unemployed.
“Volunteering here helps me prepare for the world of work. At the moment I’m still looking for a job but this is proving very difficult. It’s very competitive out there which can get you down sometimes, especially when you feel you’re ready for a career.
“I don’t have any family in Cork but that’s what everyone in Cork Penny Dinners has become since I started volunteering. Volunteering also helps me maintain a routine that makes getting up in the morning that bit easier. I have no family in these parts but the people in Penny Dinners have now become my ‘Cork family’.”

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Tony Quirke, who hails from Blackrock and now lives in Ballymacoda, and Michael Downey have been working around the clock for the last few months to make the heroic journey a reality.

Ted Noonan Chairman Chernobyl Orphans loading the truck with aid for Belarus. Video by Denis Scannell. Evening Echo.

While Michael has yet to see the country, Tony has been visitingBelarus for 20 years. “Before the recession, I was going out there up to three times a year. But when the Celtic tiger lost its bite, we were forced to pull back,” he said.

Tony began travelling to Chernobyl under the umbrella of the charity Chernobyl Aid Ireland.

The truck driver spends much of the year collecting supplies to fill the vehicle with everything from toiletries like shampoos and toothpaste to children’s clothing.

“I couldn’t believe that places like this actually existed,” he said. “It was a huge shock the first time but you can’t dwell on the horror and one just has to hope that things will get better. As soon as I’m home each year I’m loading the truck again. It’s such a huge project so it has to be started again straight away.”

He lauded the people of Cork for their generosity. “The staff at Johnson & Johnson have an allowance for toiletries but chose to donate the products to the collection instead.

“The company then matched their offers so it worked both ways. We have to be careful when opening the doors as we fear the truck might burst at the seams,” he joked.

“It’s full to capacity now as everyone has been so generous. The staff provided labour, helping us to box and load the remaining items. We would like to say a special thank you to Tracey Curtin from Johnson & Johnson who has been instrumental in driving donations.”

Michael Downey, Michael Noonan, Ted Noonan, Chairman Chernobyl Orphans Fund and Tony Quirke beside the loaded truck with aid for Belarus.
Picture: Denis Scannell

Tony has always been passionate about giving to those less fortunate and he underlined the rewarding nature of his volunteering work. “While I never experienced what many people in Belarus have been through, we didn’t have a lot growing up which is why I like to give back. Children back then just didn’t have the niceties we have today.

“The generosity people have shown towards this cause has been unbelievable. I brought a full trailer of toys which were collected in Youghal. “

Tony particular enjoys seeing the children’s reactions to the trucks.

“Last time I was over, the children were with their teachers praying at a shrine when they saw the six trucks coming and just scattered. The teacher had some job getting everyone back,” he said.

The truck will become a home to Tony and Michael for up to 14 days as they make the long trek. “We have a fridge, bunk beds in the truck to sleep, and will have DVDs to watch during our down time. We might not have all the comforts of home but all these things certainly help.”

Their trip comes 30 years after the Chernobyl disaster, a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the town of Pripyat, in Ukraine (then officially called the Ukrainian SSR).

The explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe.

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THERE is no evidence to suggest that lasers pointed at airplane cockpits can damage pilots’ eyesight but they can prove to be a “disastrous” distraction, according to medical experts.
The lasers, if directed at critical moments, can dazzle and distract pilots, say eye specialists in an online piece in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Cork Airport.

The issue was raised by the Evening Echo recently after pilots at Cork Airport had made a number of complaints about lasers being shone into cockpits as they approached for landing.
Sergeant Peter Murphy of the Garda Communications Centre at Anglesea Street said it was an ongoing issue in Cork. “There have, in recent years, been a number of laser-related incidents reported involving alleged misuse of laser-pointing devices against both aircraft and motorists. Any such reports are serious matters, and are afforded a high level of priority,” said Sgt Murphy.
There have been more than 1,500 laser incidents over the past 12 months in the UK, which led eye specialists to examine the situation.
There has only been one case of alleged retinal damage in a pilot as a result of laser targeting of aircraft, the experts say, and that is highly questionable because of the distances involved, which, crucially, would have reduced the energy entering the eye. Lasers can only damage eyes at relatively short range, up to several metres, they say.
The ophthalmologists wrote: “In these situations, pilots tend to self-focus on a sudden bright light in the cockpit environment and may be dazzled, resulting in an after-image and almost certainly will be distracted.
“Obviously, if such a distraction occurs at a critical time, such as during landing, the result could be devastating. Fortunately, these exposures are at irradiances that are incapable of producing irreversible retinal damage even at distances of 100 metres.”

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RESIDENTS in Blackrock have expressed ‘relief’ that the long-awaited village redevelopment is finally underway.
The project was blighted by delays since it was first mooted more than seven years ago.

The previously stalled upgrade works have now commenced at Blackrock Village, Cork. Pic; Larry Cummins

Blackrock-based Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill welcomed the development. He said it was “the single reason” he first ran for election. “It has taken a long time to happen but I am happy — and relieved — that it is finally happening.” The redevelopment will see the harbour become a large, open, paved plaza with priority for pedestrians and cyclists.

The curved harbour wall will be reconstructed into a series of steps from plaza level down to the water. Roads will be widened and repaved, while new street lamps, trees and benches will also be added to the streetscape. Phase one is currently under way. This will see the widening and repaving of roads, with the paving of the plaza to come under phase two.
The project was hit with persistent delays, leading many in the village to believe that it simply would become a reality.
Mr Cahill said: “It certainly became a case of ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ for some people.”
Mr Cahill is hopeful that funding will be attained for the second phase before the completion of the first.
“We are optimistic — it is always easier to secure funding to finish a project than to start one. The only issue is that the impasse in government may cause a delay. “However worthwhile people think a government is, they are actually needed to approve the funding.”
To date, €1.3m has been committed for the project, with a further €800,000 required to complete works.
Mr Cahill added: “I am confident the funding will be provided by whoever is in government. This is not a political decision.”
He also expressed his delight at the progression of works at Marina Park. €3.5m in funding was committed by the government earlier this year, with works set to begin shortly.

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THERE were special celebrations at the rehearsals for the Over 60’s Talent Show semi-final in Redmond’s GAA club this week, as one contestant marked their 85th birthday.

Paddy O’Brien, over 60’s organiser presents a surprise birthday cake to contestant Maurice Newman, Gurranbraher celebrating his 85th birthday surrounded by other contestants. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Maurice Newman, a retired waiter on the Innisfallen Ship, will represent Gurranabraher in City Hall on April 24, and with four daughters, one son, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, he will have plenty of support at on the night.
No stranger to performing, this will be a welcome return for Mr Newman to the City Hall stage, where he represented Blarney Street in 1999, making it to the competition final.
Competition organiser Paddy O’Brien, who arranged a surprise party for Mr Newman at this week’s rehearsal, said that it was “a very special occasion”.

“I admire greatly people like Maurice, that regardless of age they still love to participate in the local heats of the competition.
“It is people like Maurice who have made the competition what it is today — the biggest social event in Ireland for senior citizens.”
Rehearsals are now in full swing for the show, which will see 23 communities throughout the city and county represented. Four new entries; Charleville, Kanturk, Ovens and Na Piarsaigh GAA Club, took part this year, which is the 40th year of the competition.
Since the competition started it’s raised almost €500,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation.
Tickets for the semi-final are now on sale in Pro-Musica, Oliver Plunkett St and Blackpool Shopping Centre, priced €15.

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HOMEOWNERS have been advised to watch their backsides during floods after a man in the Midleton area was bitten by a rat while sitting on the toilet.

(/AFP/Getty Images)

Yesterday, Councillor Noel Collins reported the incident to Cork County Council during a Southern Area Meeting, after asking them to investigate the possibility of flushing rat poison through the sewer system.
“The flooding resulted in another problem for residents, that of rat infestation, which really upset many families, mentally and physically, and indeed, one elderly gentleman suffered a rat bite to his posterior while using his toilet, and had to receive immediate medical attention,” he said.
A plumber found a broken sewer pipe nearby, which is believed to have allowed the rat to enter the system.
The council warned that flushing rat poison through the public system could lead to contamination of other water sources, but said that Irish Water are responsible for vermin control within the system.
Cllr Collins added: “I would advise homeowners to keep their toilet seats down when not in use, and to watch their posteriors.”

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A RECENT attack on a family in Mayfield has been ‘misinterpreted’ as a racially motivated incident, members of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in City Hall have said.
There was united condemnation at the JPC of the assault which led a Polish family to refuse a council house which they had waited for six years for, due to fears for their personal safety.

Chief Supt Michael Finn

A husband and wife were allegedly verbally abused, and the male was punched in the face outside a council house in the Lagan Grove estate in Mayfield. They were renovating the home before they moved in.
Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan expressed concern that reports of the assault were damaging people’s perceptions of Mayfield.
“This family’s Polish background was incidental. If they were Irish it would have been the same. The people involved in the attack have been involved in similar incidences with Irish residents.
“These people were used to gathering at this site because the house had been vacant, and the problem escalated while they were drinking and maybe taking drugs. The image portrayed was that it was an attack on a Polish family, but this group have caused similar issues for other families there, who were born and bred in Cork.”
Mr Tynan said that many of the people believed to have been involved in the incident were early school leavers, lacked self-esteem and were angry and frustrated.
“Whether the family were Polish, Irish or Mayfield-bred it would have been the same, this group are not interested in skin colour or background,” Mr Tynan said.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Chris O’Leary, said that there was no excuse for people to hang around estates causing trouble and saying that they had nothing to do as an excuse for anti-social behaviour. He communities must stand together and share information with gardaí to prevent these unjustifiable attacks.
“There is no place for this kind of behaviour in our society,” he said.
Chief Superintendent Mick Finn agreed with Mr Tynan that he did not believe that the attack was racially motivated. He condemned the incident, and empathised with the victims. He also praised the local residents who came to the family’s aid.
“I would not say that it was a xenophobic attack, we can dispel that myth. But it was shocking to the family involved,” Chief Supt Finn said.

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A MOTHER of five said she was shocked to learn her son will have to wait at least a year for a new wheelchair.
Laurane Foley, from Saleen in East Cork, said she was forced to fundraise for her son’s first wheelchair a number of years ago due to lengthy waiting periods in the HSE. Now five years old, Alex has grown out of the wheelchair he received when starting pre-school, but currently has one on loan from the health service.

Laurane Foley with her son Alex from Midleton, Co Cork who have been told that he will have to wait from one to three years for a new wheelchair. Picture Dan Linehan

The little boy, who has cerebral palsy, travelled to the US with his family last year to undergo Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery, following a community fundraising campaign, to help him walk for the first time. He is currently only able to walk short distances and requires a wheelchair for daily use.
“Alex has been given a temporary chair but, unfortunately, it’s not custom-made to suit his needs,” Laurane explained. “The chair we need has the potential to tilt back which means he can lie down. This means we can spare Alex the drama of being pulled out of his chair during an epileptic fit, which is understandably very frightening for him.”
Laurane highlighted a recent incident she said occurred as a result of a fault with the wheelchair’s strap.
“The strap recently broke on the temporary chair causing Alex to fall. This is a huge source of worry for me, now that he is in school and no longer always in my care. The HSE can’t tell us exactly how long Alex will be waiting,” said Laurane.
She spoke of how she battles every day to give Alex a fighting chance.
“When Alex first started pre-school, I didn’t want to leave him in the buggy. However, I knew he would be waiting a long time for a chair so I went about fundraising for one. Now, years on, we are finding ourselves in the same position as before.”
She emphasised the number of children in Cork experiencing similar difficulties.
“We worked hard to fundraise for Alex’s last chair. At just under €8,000, it’s a significant cost but what’s shocking is there are so many other children in Alex’s position still on the waiting list. All we know is that it will be at least a year. At school, he has to make his way to a separate building but he can’t do that without his wheelchair. The people in the HSE aren’t making these decisions. It’s the system that needs to change.”
A HSE spokesperson said: “Customised wheelchairs are provided by the HSE based on recommendations from appropriate healthcare professionals. There is a limited budget for these appliances and the waiting period for each individual referral depends on the clinical priority.
“Within this process, each application is kept under review and sanctioned when possible. While we appreciate the importance of providing appliances in a timely manner, based on assessed need, the HSE is only in a position to purchase equipment within available resources.”

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