In a heartbreaking inquiry, the parents of Aoife Johnston, a 16-year-old girl, painfully recounted witnessing their daughter succumb to her illness at University Hospital Limerick. The girl’s death came two days after they assured her that she was in the best medical care following a lapse in her treatment, the inquest was told. Carol Johnston, Aoife’s mother, emotionally expressed the tragic experience of watching their daughter’s life slip away after she was brought into UHL’s casualty department at 5:40 pm on 17th December 2022.
In other news, Taoiseach Simon Harris is due to offer a formal apology to the families affected by the Stardust fire disaster that occurred more than four decades ago in a north Dublin nightclub. Also, concerns have arisen over the safety of the police, as they face the daunting task of managing far-right activities, according to the leader of Garda Representative Association (GRA).
Moreover, a proposal to increase student accommodation by 1,000 spaces in three universities is due to receive Cabinet’s approval on Tuesday. In terms of conservation, the newly established Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí is now Ireland’s largest of eight national parks, located mainly in the Corca Dhuibhne region, Co Kerry.
Internationally, an emergency pertaining to a juror’s dental pain has temporarily stalled Donald Trump’s closely-watched hush money trial. David Pecker, the initial witness in the case, and ex-National Enquirer publisher, had to interrupt his testimony as Judge Juan Merchan adjourned the day’s proceedings at 12.30 pm.
Numerous students are expressing their anguish at the education system, mentioning stress and sleep loss as major issues, and calling for radical changes. This sentiment arose following the unprecedented closure of educational institutions on March 12th, 2020, resulting in large-scale remote learning experiments.
On the subject of perception, Fintan O’Toole poses a question: have we indeed left behind the stereotype from the Stardust era that assumes the working class to be unruly and foolhardy? Another ongoing debate revolves around whether the mandatory three-day waiting period for an abortion should be waived.
In entertainment news, the children’s TV show Bluey is causing quite a stir, rivaling pop icon Taylor Swift’s popularity. The widely awaited release caused a social media frenzy, with viewers expressing admiration for its clever screenplay.
In the realm of sports, after a succession of dreary matches and challenging weather conditions, the championship recently made a triumphant return. Michael Murphy discusses how Donegal outsmarted Derry by turning their opponent’s strengths into weaknesses.
In the lifestyle section, Emily McKenzie shares her experiences of the Irish driving culture since relocating from Canada to Dublin in 2017. According to her, Ireland has a more relaxed attitude, which is particularly noticeable when it comes to driving.
If you’re in for a challenge, why not try one of our crosswords or puzzles featured in our podcast highlights?