Issue No.1,130 - the complete edition

THE IRISH EMIGRANT :: September 29, 2008

Issue No.1,130

The free news service for the global Irish community

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Politics, finance and the health service seemed to dominate the week's news but both Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin were in the United States on other business. Mr Martin was in Washington to sign an agreement which will allow 20,000 young Irish people to obtain a one-year US work visa. As part of the agreement 5,000 young Americans can come here on the same basis. Mr Martin was also lobbying for a solution to problems facing thousands of undocumented Irish in the US.

The Taoiseach had a busy few days in that he had to take leaders' questions in the Dáil on Wednesday and on Thursday he was delivering a report on world hunger to the UN in New York. By Friday he was in Edinburgh for a meeting of the British-Irish Council.

Another case of a cancer misdiagnosis at Ennis Hospital made news throughout the week as did, on a lesser scale, the inquest into the death in childbirth of a woman in Co. Mayo.

With the Dáil opening on Wednesday after the summer recess, Opposition politicians had a great deal to say about the state of the economy. I suppose so too did members of the government, but in a very subdued manner.

New work visas agreed with the US

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin was in Washington on Wednesday to sign a major new agreement with the US Government that will enable Irish citizens to work and travel in the US for up to 12 months. Speaking following the signing ceremony with the US Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, the Minister said:

"I am delighted that following months of negotiations, we have reached an agreement on a new Working Holiday Agreement that will enable a minimum of 20,000 Irish citizens who are in, or have recently completed, post secondary education to work and travel in the US for up to 12 months. This represents one of the most significant developments in our visa arrangements with the US in almost two decades".

Under the terms of the deal, up to 5,000 US citizens will also be able to work and travel in Ireland on the same basis. In addition to the new arrangements, the summer J1 programme will continue to exist as a separate programme.

The Minister said that the agreement represented a vital investment in the long term health of our relationship with the US. He pointed out, "By working and travelling for a relatively lengthy period in each other's countries, our young people will build important connections which will help maintain our very close ties to the US - it is in a very real way a major investment in the health and strength of this vital relationship".

Mr Martin highlighted the success of Ireland's similar arrangement with Australia; over 13,000 Irish people participated last year. He expressed the hope that the US programme will be equally successful.

According to the announcement on the website of the US Embassy in Dublin the programme "is set to be launched in late 2008 or early 2009".

Minister seeks solution for undocumented Irish

While in Washington on Wednesday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin urged US political leaders to resolve the situation facing the undocumented Irish and to put in place new arrangements to facilitate legal migration between Ireland and the US. In a series of meetings with senior US politicians the Minister pushed for the issue to be treated as a priority following November's Presidential and Congressional elections.

Speaking following his meetings on Capitol Hill, the Minister described his discussions as very productive. "In my meetings I made clear that we are pursuing a three pronged approach involving a solution for our undocumented, new bilateral arrangements to provide reciprocal long term working visas (known as E3s), and the Working Holiday Agreement. I was encouraged by the response of those with whom I met and am hopeful that good progress can be made following November's elections". 

Those he met on Capitol Hill included Senator Patrick Leahy (Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee), the House of Representatives Friends of Ireland Group, Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Zoe Lofgren (Chair of the House sub-Committee on Immigration).

In New York, the Minister also met the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and announced the allocation of a further $50k to the organisation, bringing total Government funding to ILIR since 2006 to over $235k.

Speaking following the meeting, the Minister said: "I am determined to continue the Government's strong commitment to finding a solution for this marginalised group of Irish citizens. The allocation of further significant funding is a clear demonstration of this commitment".

Paying tribute to ILIR and its members, Minister Martin said "ILIR has helped to mobilise Irish communities across the US and has made a lasting positive impression on some of the most powerful political figures in Washington. I look forward to working closely with them in the period ahead to deliver a solution".

Ennis Hospital in spotlight

A few weeks after a highly publicised cancer misdiagnosis at Ennis General Hospital, a Co. Clare family called a press conference on Monday to highlight how their 26-year-old daughter died from breast cancer after she had initially been given the all-clear at the same hospital.

Mother-of-two Edel Kelly, from Kilrush, sought medical advice in 2006 when she found a lump on her breast. She was eventually told it was benign. In 2007 when she again became concerned she was informed that not only had she breast cancer but the cancer had spread to other parts of her body. She died in June of this year.

The family had no plans to go public with their trauma until they heard the HSE defending the decision not to have an independent inquiry in respect of the misdiagnosis of the late Ann Moriarty, on the basis that it was a once-off error. Ms Moriarty also died of breast cancer this year.

Speaking in Galway on Tuesday the CEO of the Health Service Executive, Professor Brendan Drumm, said that there may be a third case of a cancer misdiagnosis at Ennis General Hospital. The case in question has yet to be validated.

Also on Tuesday the Director of the National Cancer Strategy, Professor Tom Keane, expressed doubt over the value of independent inquiries into the cases at the Ennis Hospital. The hospital is no longer dealing with cancer cases and the new setup of eight centres of excellence serving the country will dramatically reduce the possibility of similar errors occurring in the future.

Minister for Health Mary Harney was asked to comment later in the day and indicated that an independent inquiry might be appropriate to take a general look at how services in Ennis are managed. On Wednesday the Minister announced that the Health Information and Quality Authority will conduct a three month review of services provided at hospital. The review will focus on the robustness of the procedures the hospital uses to ensure that at-risk patients are recalled in a timely manner.

Ms Harney also announced that women who had been given the all clear for breast cancer in recent years can receive a further check free of charge if they have concerns about the original diagnosis. It later turned out that those without medical cards will have to pay their GPs for the referral and for the consultation when the results are returned.

A related story to make the news concerned a Co. Donegal woman who wasn't prepared to wait until called for a mammogram after she found a lump on her breast. She used a relative's address in Strabane to get treatment in the North. Eight months after her initial chemotherapy session in Belfast she was called for the mammogram in the Republic.

Questions asked after woman dies in childbirth

Another health case receiving considerable publicity is being heard by a coroner in Castlebar. There the inquest is taking place into the death of Evelyn Flanagan (38) who died some hours after giving birth to her second child in Mayo General Hospital last October. In his evidence consultant obstetrician Dr Murtada Mohamed, who eventually carried out a hysterectomy on Ms Flanagan, told the court she died as a result of amniotic fluid entering her blood stream. This was confirmed by the hospital's consultant pathologist.

Widower Padráig Flanagan argued that his wife died as a result of negligence. It was he who highlighted to a midwife that his wife was bleeding profusely and this was initially dismissed by the midwife. He also described how blood, that was required urgently, took longer to arrive than the forecast 20 minutes and was eventually delivered by a nurse's aide "strolling down the corridor". It was only then that it was realised that there was no blood warmer in the room and that then had to be located.

Mr Flanagan is convinced that his wife bled to death. She received her first emergency transfusion 80 minutes after it was ordered and three hours after giving birth when a 6cm tear in her uterus went undetected.

Coroner John O'Dwyer has ordered a review of slides in the possession of Dr Fadel Bennani, who conducted the post-mortem.

Galway has more water problems

It was learned on Tuesday that the water supply to some houses in Galway was contaminated by high levels of lead. The problem seemed to be confined to local authority houses built before 1970 in Old Mervue, Shantalla, the Claddagh and Bohermore. In some parts of the city these houses are served by lead pipes.

My understanding is that the measures taken to counteract the cryptosporidium found in the Galway water supply last year increased the acidity of the water and that is now being blamed for corroding the lead pipes where they are in use. The medium term solution is to increase the PH level of the water. According to Wikipedia, PH (short for power of Hydrogen) is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Long term the pipes will need to be replaced.

The council arranged alternative supplies for those affected. This was achieved by erecting stand pipes at points before the water entered the lead piping. Unfortunately on Saturday the stand pipes had to be closed off after it was found that the water still contained high levels of lead. Water is now being brought into the affected areas by tankers. This did little for the credibility of the council officials dealing with the problem.

There was already anger in Galway with the officials who took some two months to investigate the extent of the problem before going public and who then refused to divulge the actual levels of lead in the water; even the Mayor was being kept in the dark. Eventually it was admitted that 100mg of lead per litre of water was being recorded. This is four times the recommended limit of 25mg per litre.

Taoiseach presents Hunger Task Force report to UN

Taoiseach Brian Cowen was at the United Nations in New York on Thursday to present the report compiled by the Hunger Task Force, a body established in 2007 to examine the particular contribution that Ireland could make to tackling the root causes of food insecurity, particularly in Africa. It was made up of national and international experts in the areas of hunger and food security.

The report highlights the threat hunger poses; over 860 million people remain undernourished; almost 3.5 million child deaths are caused by hunger and malnutrition and almost 30% of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. To respond to these challenges the Report recommends a focus on increasing agricultural productivity, with a particular emphasis on women who make up 80% of African farmers, a focus on the prevention of maternal and infant malnutrition and an increased priority given at a national and international level to fighting hunger.

Gardai active on cold cases

Gardaí on Monday resumed their search in the Slieve Bloom Mountains for the remains of missing Co. Offaly woman Fiona Pender (25), who was eight months pregnant when she disappeared from her Tullamore apartment in 1996.

This latest search took place in Monicknew Wood (between Mountrath and Clonaslee) where a search took place in May of this year after a makeshift wooden cross with Ms Pender's name on it had been found there. By the end of the week nothing had been found and there are no plans to return to the area.

Also on Monday gardaí investigating the 1993 murder of Marie Kilmartin (35) arrested three people, a man aged 42 and a man and a woman in their 60s. The arrests took place in Portlaoise. Ms Kilmartin, a native of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, had been living in Portlaoise when she disappeared in late 1993. Six months later her body was found in a drain in a bog near Mountmellick.

All three suspects have since been released and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Bits and Pieces

Drug traffickers find a new use for inkjet cartridges

Early in the month we had a somewhat unusual drug trafficking arrest that I forgot to mention. On September 5, a quantity of cocaine was seized and a 20-year-old man from the Congo arrested at Peter Street in Dublin's south inner city. The seizure followed a decision by customs officers to seek garda assistance in tracking a package which had been mailed from the United States. It contained between 5kg and 6kg of cocaine, worth up to €400,000, hidden inside inkjet cartridges.

Catholic Church has a new website

The Catholic Church in Ireland has launched a new website, www.catholicbishops.ie , replacing www.catholiccommunications.ie/ which had been in place since 2001. The new site contains details of all 26 dioceses and provides links to the diocesan websites which contain the parish information. In addition the new site carries details of church agencies, press releases and contacts.

Record crowds attend Ploughing Championships

The National Ploughing Championships escaped the fate of so many other events this summer; not only did the rain stay away but the sun shone throughout the three-day event. The championships, which were formally opened by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, took place at Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny. Two hundred of the 600 acres had been set aside for the ploughing competitions, with competitors from eight countries taking part.

The organisers were expecting 150,000 visitors over the three days but the total reached a record 208,000. One of the results of such large numbers of people converging on the rural venue was major traffic problems. Tailbacks of up to ten miles were reported and three hour delays were not uncommon.

Instead of becoming bogged down in mud, dust was the problem facing spectators, or at least it was for the exhibitors of farm machinery which had to be washed and polished frequently.

Coillte pays €3.7m for 400 acres of land

Coillte and Lord Waterford have settled a long-running dispute with its roots in an agreement that goes back to 1933, when the State forestry company leased some 900 acres of the Curraghmore Estate. The 150-year lease, at less than €200 per year, required Coillte to maintain and repair walls, ditches, drains, roads and pathways.

In recent years Lord Waterford sought the return of land on the basis that Coillte was failing to maintain the property as required by the terms of the lease. The dispute has now been settled, with Coillte returning 500 acres to Lord Waterford and purchasing 400 for €3.7m. Coillte retains the right to harvest the trees on the 500 acres returned to the Curraghmore Estate.

Mother ignored son's dying wishes

There is anger around Crosserlough, Co. Cavan after popular local man Mervyn Heaslip was buried in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, rather than in the plot which he had bought in the cemetery at Crosserlough. Mr Heaslip (56) died from cancer on September 18 and, according to his friends, he had made all the necessary arrangements for his funeral before he died. His mother Rebecca Elliot, however, decided to have him buried close to where she now lives in Co. Donegal.

For most of his life Mr Heaslip had been living on and working the 40-acre family farm near Crosserlough. In 2006 his mother, who inherited the property when her husband died more than 30 years ago, succeeded in obtaining a court order to have him evicted.

Spanish seeking Basque paramilitary in Ireland

The Spanish Authorities are anxious to put ETA paramilitary Inaki de Juana Chaos (52) back in prison and to that end have applied to Interpol to confirm that he is resident in Ireland. The address at which he is thought to reside is the Killester home of James Monaghan, one of the IRA members wanted in Colombia to serve a 17-year sentence for training FARC guerrillas in bomb-making techniques.

Mr de Juana Chaos was released from prison on August 3 and flew to Ireland a day later. Since his release he has written in support of ETA's campaign of violence, a serious offence in Spain.

Stardust hearing adjourned for two weeks

The hearing into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, which over three days heard new evidence from experts for the victims' families, has been adjourned for two weeks. During this time Paul Coffey SC will hear legal submissions as to whether the new evidence renders the findings of the 1981 Keane tribunal unsafe; the earlier tribunal found that the fire was "probably" the result of arson.

Review to take place into low uptake of Sex Offender Programme

In response to a question from Fine Gael Justice spokesman Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern reported that his department is to undertake a review of the numbers of sex offenders taking part in the Sex Offender Programme. Figures quoted by the Minister show that just 42 sex offenders out of a total of 578 had completed the programme in the past five years; the proposal now is for a wider range of rehabilitation programmes be offered.

Man injured in Co. Donegal shooting incident

A 26-year-old man is in a serious condition in Letterkenny General Hospital following a shooting incident in Co. Donegal on Thursday night. Declan Gallagher, a taxi driver from the Creggan in Derry, was driving up to his house at Transallagh, near St Johnston, when a number of masked men, possibly up to four, approached the car and fired at least one shot through the window, hitting the driver in the neck.

A young woman who was also in the car was bundled into a large blue van by the gang and later abandoned more than a kilometre from the scene.

Snippets:

• The bill for garda overtime arising from the increased policing of a Traveller dispute in Waterford has reached €400k. Some 12,000 hours of overtime have been worked in an effort to keep the peace between four families who have been engaged in a violent feud since July.
• Two armed men wearing balaclavas stole an undisclosed sum when they held up a security guard as he transferred cash from a van to the Ulster Bank branch in Swords on Tuesday morning. It was reported that at least one shot was fired and that the guard received a hand injury. The robbers escaped on a motorcycle driven by a third man.
• The difficulties for farmers arising from a poor harvest are to be met with advance payments of €1bn under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and the European Union Single Farm Payment. Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith made the announcement of the payments when he visited the National Ploughing Championships in Kilkenny on Wednesday.
• Four An Post staff members have been suspended over what are described as accounting regularities, and an investigation is taking place. The irregularities have been identified at An Post headquarters in O'Connell Street, Dublin.
• Following receipt of more than 400 objections, many on environmental grounds, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will not be funding a temporary ice rink in Booterstown over the Christmas period. The reason given for the cancellation is a shortage of time in which to address the objections, and also the withdrawal of a sponsorship deal for the rink.
• An Post has issued two stamps to mark the centenary of the opening of Scoil Éanna by Padraig Pearse in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh in 1908. The two 55c stamps show the leader of the Rising alongside the school at its first home in Cullenswood House and later at the Hermitage in Ranelagh.
• For the second time in three weeks thieves have targeted the Edenderry, Co. Offaly branch of the AIB. In the latest incident on Friday two men armed with handguns escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.

Ireland Today: Lip service to the Green agenda

I cycled to the office on Monday because it was a fine day and I needed the exercise and because it's quicker than a car in a traffic-clogged Galway. It was only later in the week that I learned that Monday had been European Car Free Day. Elsewhere in Europe certain roads were closed to cars or, in the case of Brussels, cars were only allowed into the city after a mayor's permit had been obtained.

Here in Ireland, despite having two Green Party TDs sitting at the Cabinet table, the best we could do was to close off Merrion Square West. That allowed the setting up of a few stalls for the distribution of promotional material. Elsewhere a competition was organised to find whether the commute from Ballymun to Dublin city centre was best carried out by car, bus or bicycle.

National Lottery Winning Numbers:

• Wed: 1, 2, 12, 13, 15, 34 (40) - the jackpot of €2m was not won.
• Sat: 8, 12, 20, 22, 32, 44 (2) - there were two winners of the jackpot of €2.8m.

Northern News

Murder suspects moved to British army base

Loyalists Nigel Leckey and Neil Hyde, both from Lurgan, Co. Armagh and both charged with the murder of Sunday World journalist Martin O'Hagan in 2001, are no longer being detained by the Prison Service. It is believed the two men, both of whom have agreed to give evidence against former paramilitary associates, are being held at Bellykinler British army base for their own protection.

Family disappointed at manslaughter plea

The death of Gerard Devlin, who died in February 2006 after being beaten and stabbed, should have been treated as murder, according to his aunt, Bernadette O'Rawe. Ms O'Rawe was reacting to the prosecution's acceptance of a plea of guilty to manslaughter by Francisco Notarantonio (21) in Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday. Three other members of the Notarantonio family, as well as Paul Burns, pleaded guilty to unlawfully fighting and to making an affray.

The Devlin family now propose to take to the Attorney General the decision not to prosecute the members of the Notarantonio family for the murder.

£55k compensation for harassed ex-policewoman

Former policewoman Jacinta Mackie, who claimed her health suffered as a result of harassment and discrimination at work, was awarded £55k by the NI Equality Commission. Ms Mackie, who served 28 years in the force, retired from the PSNI last February. Her complaints of being undermined and sidelined were not properly addressed by the PSNI, according to the Equality Commission.

Accusations of sectarianism on both sides after Tyrone victory

Charges and counter-charges have been made about sectarian behaviour during the victory celebrations for Tyrone's win of the All-Ireland last weekend. John McNamee, Sinn Féin councillor in Cookstown, cited vandalism on homes and cars carrying Tyrone flags and intimidation of the team's supporters, while DUP Mid Ulster assembly member Ian McCrea complained of sectarian abuse being shouted at members of the British Legion as they marched to and from a church service.

Man wanted over hit-and-run dies in Norway

An unnamed Lithuanian aged 19, whom the PSNI wanted to question in relation to a hit-and-run incident two years ago, has been murdered in Norway. The man, who was believed to have driven the car which killed Seamus Graffin (58) from Antrim town two years ago, died from stabbing wounds following an argument with a group of men.

Charges dropped against man accused of murdering mother

All charges have been dropped against David McCartan, held in custody for ten months for the June 2006 murder of his mother, Annie. Mrs McCartan was stabbed with a screwdriver and had her throat cut at her home in Warrenpoint, Co. Down and Mr McCartan and his wife Geraldine were charged with the murder six months later; Mr McCartan is now intent on bringing an action against the PSNI.

North's concert prices a better bargain

Attending music concerts in the North is a good deal less expensive than going to see the same artists in the Republic, according to a report in the Irish News. The article cited differences of between £14 and £19 for the appearances of Kanye West in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast and the RDS in Dublin, and a £9.30 difference in ticket price for the Christy Moore concerts in the two cities. A spokesman for Aiken Promotions said the differences were largely due to cross-border variations in insurance and venue costs.

No audience for Stone's final "show"

On the final day of the trial of convicted murderer Michael Stone for trying to force his way into Stormont in November 2006 there was no audience for the man who had claimed that his actions constituted performance art. Justice Deeney is to consider the evidence before pronouncing judgement at a later date. Stone is charged with the attempted murder of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and 12 other related offences.

Sectarian motive suspected in clubhouse fire

The PSNI suspects a sectarian motive in the fire which badly damaged the clubhouse of St John's GAA club in Drumnaquoile near Castlewellan, Co. Down early on Friday. The fire, which will probably mean the demolition of the building, came a week after the nearby Ballywillwill Orange Hall was subject to graffiti. The actions have been condemned by the Orange Order, the SDLP, Sinn Féin and the GAA.

Twenty-five years on, only one Maze escaper still inside

Twenty-five years after 38 IRA inmates of the Maze prison escaped in a food van, only Pol Brennan remains in custody. He was arrested in the US in January and is being held in prison in Texas while legal proceedings to have him extradited back to the North are completed. The BBC broadcast a television documentary on the anniversary of the escape, interviewing some of those involved, escapees and prison officers. Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly appeared on the programme, which was criticised by unionist politicians.

Belfast-Warsaw and Derry-Glasgow services to end

At the end of October Wizzair will cease to provide a service between Belfast and Warsaw, due to high fuel prices and a dramatic fall in the numbers of migrant workers using the route. This is the latest in a number of services being dropped at the airport; Wizzair ceased its Belfast to Katowice service in June.

The service between City of Derry Airport and Glasgow, which has been run by Loganair for the past 28 years, is to cease on October 19. The airline is also citing rising fuel costs as one of the reasons for the termination of the service.

Other news:

• The trial of a number of accused in the murder of Michael McIlveen (15) in May 2006 heard evidence from a key witness on Monday last. During a dispute which broke out the youth was kicked up to 60 times and was also severely beaten with a baseball bat. The trial continues.
• A fire at the Camden Group's glazing factory in Antrim town on Monday could lead to the loss of up to 60 jobs, though it is hoped that the workers might be relocated to the two other factories in Antrim owned by the group. The fire, which gutted the factory, is believed to have started accidentally when a machine caught alight.
• The Crown Princess, the largest cruise liner to visit Belfast, docked in the city on Monday with 3,500 tourists on board. The liner is on a tour of the British Isles.
• On Thursday the Seagate plant in Limavady closed its doors for the last time. One year ago the disk manufacturer announced the closure with the loss of 960 jobs.
• Rev Ian Paisley has refuted Bertie Ahern's assertion that the devolution of policing and justice should have been achieved long ago since it was a commitment at St Andrews. Mr Paisley said the DUP made no commitment with regard to a date for devolution to be completed.
• Ten-month-old Anna Lee Clelland Harkin died in a house fire on the Springfarm estate in Antrim town on Saturday night. The baby's mother, a man and three other young children managed to escape. The man and a five-year-old boy were treated for smoke inhalation.

The Courts

"Unlawful killing" by man who has since died

A verdict of "unlawful killing" was returned in the case of Rebekah Kiely (15) who died as a result of a single blow to the head in Castleknock, Dublin in November 2006. A coroner's court heard that Gerard Farmer (47) and his friend David Griffiths had been drinking heavily throughout the day and in the evening got into a fight with a teenager.

Farmer armed himself with a baton which he had in his car and as he attempted to strike the teenager he hit Ms Kiely on the side of the head by accident. She died two weeks later. Farmer died from natural causes arising from an epileptic condition on the day that the DPP decided he should be charged in connection with the incident.

The dead girl's father made a very articulate and well-argued plea for a major change in the country's relationship with alcohol.

Director sought over pension deductions

Colm McNulty, director of Limestone Construction Ltd, is the subject of a bench warrant in relation to the deduction of pension contributions of €80k which have not been paid into any pension scheme. Mr McNulty failed to appear at Dublin District Court on Wednesday to face a criminal case brought by the Irish Pensions Board.

Du Plantier family takes French case of intimidation

Members of the family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have filed a lawsuit for intimidation at the Paris High Court. The case refers to the withdrawal of testimony of a witness who had reported seeing a suspect near the scene of Ms Toscan de Plantier's murder in December 1996.

Employment & Industrial Relations

Swissco to close with loss of 150 Cork jobs

Concerns have been raised for the 150 jobs at the ready meals supplier Swissco in Little Island, Cork, as the company said it had been unprofitable for a prolonged period of time and the only solution is to close the factory. The firm, which employs 154 full and part-time employees and is part of the British-based ready meals supplier International Cuisine Ltd, is now entering talks with the workforce about redundancies or relocating staff where possible.

Netezza to create 65 jobs in Dundalk

Netezza Corporation of Massachusetts is to locate a European Operations Centre in Dundalk, Co. Louth. The company will create 65 highly-skilled positions over five years in a customer support and financial services operation to serve the European market. Netezza provides data warehouse equipment that helps store, retrieve and analyse large amounts of data.

Tyco to shed 320 jobs in Cork

On Thursday 320 staff at Cork-based Tyco Safety Products, formerly Sensormatic, were told that they will be made redundant over the next 12 months. It was known that some redundancies would be announced but it was thought that they would have been limited to 200. The company, which manufactures fire detection products and security tagging devices for retail outlets, will retain 20 staff at its shared services centre in Bishopstown.

Also in Cork, Allen Vanguard Corporation, a Canadian company which manufactures robots used in security work, is to close its Kilbrittain factory with the loss of 43 jobs. Two years ago the Cork factory was designated a global centre of excellence for the company.

National pay deal may collapse

The Construction Industry Federation has indicated that its members will almost certainly reject the terms of the proposed National Pay Agreement on the basis that they cannot afford the 3.5% pay increase which in their case will become due on October 1. A spokesman for the CIF argues that the industry is in crisis and a pay pause of at least a year is essential.

For reasons which escape the casual observer a builder is legally obliged to pay certain minimum wages (well in excess of the official national minimum wage), which includes national wage agreement amounts, irrespective of ability to pay.

Meanwhile the trade union Unite, the second largest in the country, has recommended to its 60,000 members that they reject the new national pay deal, which the union's executive committee believes constitutes a pay cut for its members. A ballot of members is to be carried out after a consultative conference on October 10. The largest public service union, Impact, has, however, voted to recommend acceptance of the deal.

Minister proposes redundancy scheme for civil and public servants

While confirming that some HSE administrative staff would be offered voluntary redundancy, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan expressed a desire to see a similar scheme made available to civil and public servants. This caused something of an outcry and it had to be explained that the Minister was just voicing his own view and that the matter had not been discussed at Cabinet.

Later in the week Health Service Executive CEO Prof. Brendan Drumm revealed that he was preparing for 1,000 voluntary redundancies. By that stage there appeared to be an acceptance that such a scheme would be extended, as suggested by Minister Lenihan.

Galmoy mines to close with the loss of 221 jobs

Zinc deposits at Galmoy Mines in north Co Kilkenny are close to being exhausted with the result that the operation will close on a phased basis over the next two years. The closure process will commence in December and will eventually lead to the loss of all 221 jobs. In addition a number people working for sub-contractors will also be affected, as will local businesses that survive on the spending power the mine brought to the area.

MBNA ordered to pay €56k discrimination award

A former employee of MBNA in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim is to receive €56,315 as a result of a ruling by an Equality Tribunal, which found that she had been discriminated against after she became pregnant. Heather Lane (35) claimed that she had discussed promotion with her boss prior to her pregnancy but after returning from maternity leave she was allocated a new job but not given a desk. She was subsequently passed over for promotion and received a negative annual appraisal which was at odds with her monthly reviews.

MBNA does not appear to have had anything to say about the case.

Politics & Politicians

Government believes EU rules allow marriages of convenience

The Government has aligned itself with Denmark in an effort to bring about a change in a 2004 EU directive which, whether it was meant to or not, affects the rights of immigrants to the EU who marry EU citizens. The move also has the support of Austria, Britain, the Czech Republic and Germany but is opposed by the EU Commission, Cyprus, Portugal and Sweden.

Ireland recently lost a case in the European Court of Justice which ruled that failed asylum seekers who married non-Irish EU citizens in Ireland could not be deported. The ruling is seen as limiting the ability of member states to deal adequately with marriages of convenience.

Since the directive came into effect in May 2006 Ireland has received 4,600 residency applications from non-EU nationals who married EU citizens here. The most common application was from an immigrant from the Indian subcontinent who had married a Latvian. Some 15% of marriages involve an asylum seeker, with the balance mainly from people who are here illegally or whose visa is about to expire.

Tánaiste orders investigation into FÁS

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan has asked the Comptroller & Auditor General to carry out an inquiry into the management of training and employment authority FÁS. The move comes following FÁS internal audit reports which raised questions about compliance with expenditure and procurement controls. One senior manager has been suspended while an investigation takes place into the placing of €200k worth of advertising with a local newspaper.

No such thing as bad publicity for Declan Ganley

Businessman Declan Ganley and the Libertas group he founded to campaign for a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum are receiving all the publicity needed to become a permanent fixture on the political stage. Most of the exposure is generated by critics of Mr Ganley. Minister of State for Europe Dick Roche created some of it by questioning why some ten-year-old business documents in London stated that Mr Ganley's nationality was British; he was born in London of Irish parents.

Somewhere along the line it was reported that one of Mr Ganley's telecoms companies has a contract in Iraq. This has led some MEPs to suspect that perhaps the funding which supported the Libertas campaign came from the CIA or the Pentagon. One of the conspiracy theorists is Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament. He is demanding that Mr Ganley reveal the source of all Libertas funding.

Comptroller & Auditor General exposes waste

A report from Comptroller and Auditor General John Buckley has criticised a number of public bodies for wasting taxpayers' money. Among those cited in the report are the Health Service Executive for failing to manage its budget properly; An Garda Síochána for spending €3.8m on cars, some of which remained in storage for 18 months; and Revenue itself for failing to pay tax on benefit-in-kind payments to staff.

The C&AG also discovered that members of the Defence Forces are still receiving special allowances for border duty although there have been no border patrols, checkpoints or searches since 2002. These allowances cost the Exchequer €25m over the past five years, with the figure increasing in 2006. What is more disturbing is that the Department of Defence seems intent on continuing with the practice.

Dáil resumes after summer recess

The Dáil resumed on Wednesday after the summer recess, giving Opposition leaders a platform to attack the Government over the economy. Fine Gael's Enda Kenny was annoyed at the Government's refusal to allow time to debate the economy and retaliated by refusing "pairs" for Ministers who are away on official business when Dáil votes take place.

Later in the day Fine Gael used its private members' time to focus on the economic downturn but by then Taoiseach Brian Cowen was on his way to the US to represent Ireland at the UN.

The troubled economic situation prompted the Cabinet to meet on Sunday morning. Ministers reviewed their option for the forthcoming Budget in which they have to deal with a deficit of at least €7bn. Spending cuts of €1bn are already agreed but more are expected.

Subcommittee on Lisbon result to be led by Fine Gael

The Government has agreed that a subcommittee of the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, which will inquire into the result of the Lisbon Treaty referendum, will be led by Fine Gael. It has also been decided to increase the membership of the committee to include a representative of Sinn Féin and one Independent. It is due to report on its findings within eight weeks.

Government rejects council's tax plans

The Department of Finance has rejected plans by Dublin City Council to impose taxes on hotel accommodation or a general sales levy, saying they would be difficult to implement and might well be against EU regulations. The two recommendations were contained in a report, "Funding the Dublin City Region", launched on Thursday by Dublin's Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne. The report also called for an end to the exemption which allows Government buildings to be free from rates charges.

McGuinness' words come home to roost

Minister of State John McGuinness might have had cause to regret his description of civil servants as "featherless but still plump State hens" when the number he himself employs was questioned by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore. Speaking in the Dáil Mr Gilmore pointed out that between his private and constituency offices Mr McGuinness employed a total of ten people.

Cowen and Robinson meet in Edinburgh

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is in Edinburgh on Friday for a meeting of the British-Irish Council, which is also being attended by the North's First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. The meeting was hosted by Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond.

There had been serious doubts about Mr Robinson's attendance as DUP Ministers had stopped attending meetings of North-South bodies in protest at Sinn Féin's refusal to take part in a meeting of the Executive. Sinn Féin is holding this stance until the DUP agree a timetable for the devolution of responsibility for policing and justice from Westminster to Stormont.

Health

Oral hearing into Cork co-located hospital

Following an appeal against planning permission being granted to the Beacon Medical Group for a private hospital in the grounds of Cork University Hospital, An Bord Pleanála is holding an oral hearing to allow those who oppose the project to have their say. Objections to the 185-bed €242m hospital centre on concerns about additional traffic in the area.

Health services cutbacks announced and rumoured

Plans to extend the offer of free anti-'flu vaccine to all those over the age of 50 have been put on hold. Doctors throughout the country will receive a letter from the Health Service Executive in the coming days, informing them of the change in plan. An HSE spokesperson acknowledged that cost was a concern, but claimed the real motive was to focus on ensuring that the over 65s, who are already being offered the vaccine, avail of it.

Cost-saving methods being considered by the Government could see the end of the automatic issuing of medical cards to those over 70 years of age. When the scheme was instigated, in 2001, an underestimation of the numbers involved meant that it cost twice the original estimate. Also under threat is the Drug Payment Scheme, which could see a rise in the threshold from €95 per month to €105.

Concern at lack of interviews and references for medical personnel

An internal report has found that one fifth of locum staff in the north east region were employed without references having been taken up, while 39 locum consultants were appointed without interviews being carried out. The hospitals involved include Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, Monaghan General Hospital, Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. The report has caused concern, given the current revelations concerning misdiagnoses of cancer patients.

Cancer victim receives screening offer - 20 years after death

It has emerged that John Mulvihill, a Cork County Councillor, received a letter at his home addressed to his late wife, Mary Mulvihill, who died from breast cancer 20 years ago at the age of 42. The letter was from BreastCheck, offering the late Mrs Mulvihill an appointment for the breast cancer screening service; the service has since apologised to Mrs Mulvihill's husband and family.

Travel & Tourism

Ireland of the welcomes - but not for everyone

The Irish Times reports on the case of an Indian man who won a trip to Ireland being harassed by immigration officers at the start of his holiday. Tourism Ireland now has an office in Mumbai and it organised a promotional event at which the man won the holiday.

It was only after he returned to India that he wrote to complain about his experience. Despite having a valid visa and a letter from Tourism Ireland, the immigration officer refused to accept that they were valid. In his letter to Tourism Ireland the visitor wrote, "It was only the Indians who were being photographed at the immigration counter. It was clear-cut racial discrimination". In a subsequent letter to the secretary general of the Department of Tourism, Tourism Ireland CEO Paul O'Toole indicated that such behaviour by immigration officers is not uncommon.

Just two weeks ago we had the story of the Nigerian priest who came here on holiday to visit a relative and spent his first night in a cell because the immigration officer refused to believe his story.

Taxi fares to increase by 8%

The Taxi Regulator has approved an 8% increase in taxi fares nationally with effect from November 1. The basic fare goes up to €4.10 plus, after the first kilometre, a charge of €1.03 per kilometre. For taxis hired between the hours of 8:00pm and 8:00am and at weekends, fares go up to €4.45, plus €1.35 for the second and subsequent kilometres.

New speed detection vans deployed

Gardaí have introduced a fleet of eight speed detection vehicles which will be used to discourage speeding at accident black spots around the country. The vehicles, known as Gatso vans, are equipped with the latest technology which can read number plates after dark. In addition to detecting speeding drivers the equipment will read the number plates on all passing vehicles and will be able to immediately identify those reported as stolen.

260km of roads upgraded to motorway

As of Wednesday an additional 260km of national roads have been designated motorway. All the roads in question link Dublin with provincial towns and all were already high-quality dual-carriageways. The change means that the speed limit will increase from 100kph to 120kph but it also means that learner drivers are barred from using roads on which they were allowed to drive a day earlier.

No explanation was given for failing to change the designation of equally good roads which link provincial cities, such as the Ennis by-pass.

CIE to lose money by introducing station parking fees

Questioned by the Oireachtas Transport Committee on the cost of clampers employed by CIE, group property manager Niall Grogan cited financial confidentiality as the reason for refusing to reveal how much the clamping company is to be paid; CIE recently introduced parking fees at 37 railway stations. Managing director Dick Fearn maintained that CIE, as a property owner, had the right to decide how to use the property and, while the company would lose money on the parking scheme this year and next, it would be a long-term asset.

Moves to safeguard cyclists

In order to cut deaths among pedestrians and cyclists, heavy trucks are to be fitted with new safety mirrors which will enable them to see to their left and down. The new regulations, which have been welcomed by the Irish Road Haulage Association, are to be introduced in January 2009.

Dublin County Council and the Department of Transport are in advanced discussions with a view to reducing the city centre speed limit to 30km/h next year. The reduction would coincide with the introduction of the shared bicycle scheme.

The Irish Abroad

President McAleese visits Romania

President Mary McAleese paid a three-day State Visit to Romania, during which she received a ceremonial welcome to the country prior to a formal meeting with President Basescu. During her stay the president was conferred with an Honorary Professorship by the University of Cluj, where she met faculty and students of the Irish Studies MA programme.

Chad troops replaced at end of four-month tour of duty

The 200 members of the 98th Infantry Battalion flew out to Chad last Sunday night for the start of a four-month tour of peace enforcement duties. The battalion comprises troops from barracks in Clonmel, Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick. The plane that brought the 98th Battalion out brought the 97th home. The mission is proving to be one of the toughest facing the Defence Forces in recent years. The troops came under fire in June and have had to operate in temperatures of over 50C at times. There were, however, no casualties,

$300k wanted for portrait of US navy leader

A portrait of Wexford man John Barry, who emigrated to the United States and received the first commission in the US Navy from George Washington in 1790, is on sale in the US. By artist Gilbert Stuart, the 200-year-old painting has had an asking price of $300k placed on it by art dealer Bruce Gimelson.

Ruth Kelly resigns from British Cabinet

Britain's Minister for Transport, Limavady-born Ruth Kelly, has announced her intention to resign her ministerial post. There is speculation that the Bolton West MP is just the latest Labour MP to show her dissatisfaction with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown but it seems her explanation that she wants to spend more time with her four children, aged four to ten, is genuine.

Dublin man jailed in Britain for drug smuggling

Martin Whelan (25) from Coolock in Dublin was jailed for ten years when he appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday charged with bringing cocaine worth £600k into Britain. Whelan arrived at Gatwick Airport on July 10 with his wife and three-year-old daughter and was found to be carrying nine kilograms of the drug in his suitcase.

Aid funds to be cut, but UN target still in sight

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has intimated that overseas development aid might have to be cut this year, in view of the economic climate, but that the Government is still intent on reaching the UN target of 0.7% of Gross National Product by 2012. The level of overseas aid this year was 0.54%.

Another award for Young Scientist

Emer Jones (14) from Tralee, Co. Kerry, who was named as this year's BT Young Scientist of the Year, has now received an EU award. Representing Ireland at the EU contest for young scientists in Copenhagen, she achieved second place in the engineering category of the contest for her project "Research and Development of Emergency Sandbag Shelters".

Annual peace award goes to former Taoiseach

Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds has been presented with the annual peace award of the Flax Trust in New York, for his contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Céili nights return to London

A Céili Night will take place at the London Irish Centre, Murray Street, Camden Town on Sunday October 12, to the music of Carlow band Cupla. Admission £5.00, all are welcome.

Conservation & The Environment

EPA refutes claims of "dead zones" off Irish coast

Claims about pollution in Irish coastal waters, made in the US journal "Science", have been refuted by the Environmental Protection Agency and a Galway-based marine biologist. In a Study entitled "Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems", two scientists claimed that 400 dead zones had been identified in coastal areas around the world and that 20 of these were off the Irish coast. The scientists had relied on data from the OSPAR Commission, which guides international cooperation on the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. It in turn had collected data on Ireland from 15 different bodies. Neither the EPA nor Dr Brendan O'Connor had come across any evidence of the existence of any dead zones off our coast.

Plan to end building on flood plains

New draft planning guidelines have been published for public consultation. The main feature of the guidelines is a ban on the construction of houses on flood plains. It is also recommended that the current rules be amended which exempt from planning permission the paving of suburban front gardens for parking spaces. The Department of the Environment has committed to change this exemption so that it only refers to permeable paving, gravel or loose chippings.

Shannon protesters resist moves to supply Dublin

A group of people living in the River Shannon catchment area gathered outside the Dáil on Wednesday in protest at plans to draw water from the Shannon to supply Dublin. The protest was led by PJ Walsh, who had undertaken a four-day march from Lough Ree, and included members of the Shannon Protection Alliance. The proposal is for up to 350 million litres of water a day to be taken from either Lough Ree or Lough Derg and piped to Dublin.

Council taking legal advice over tree-felling

The felling of 17 trees on Cromwell's Lane in Drogheda, carried out by landowner Eugene O'Connor, has led to the Borough Council seeking legal advice. Although the trees were designated for protection, the status had not been established and Mr O'Connor claimed he had felled the 300-year-old trees on the advice of a tree survey which found them in a state of decay. However on examination by the council it was found that only four of the felled trees were in a decayed condition.

Greenhouse gas emissions higher than thought

A report from the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions are much higher than had been thought and that meeting both our Kyoto commitments by 2012 and proposed EU goals for 2020 present an even greater challenge. Agriculture and transport are the sectors causing greater problems than previously estimated.

Minor fine and costs for developer who demolished Dublin convent

At Dublin District Court on Thursday Kimpton Vale Ltd, with an address at Carpenterstown, Dublin, was fined €1,000 and ordered to pay costs of just over €3k for demolishing a building which was to be added to the list of protected structures. The company demolished the Presentation Convent on Terenure Road West, and it is expected that they will now apply for planning permission for the site.

Education

Perpetual debate about return of tuition fees

Each day seems to bring some new comment, view or disagreement about the wisdom or otherwise of bringing back tuition fees for undergraduates at our universities. Students are vehemently opposed to such a move; Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe would like fees for the children of the well-off; the heads of our universities say that the return of fees in some form is essential for the maintenance of standards.

On Wednesday when the University Presidents met Mr O'Keeffe they stressed that they faced serious financial difficulties as things stand at present. They also advocated a loan system similar to one in operation in Australia whereby the student borrows for tuition fees and repays in instalments when his or her income reaches an agreed level.

Schools to make own rules on wearing hijab in classroom

The Department of Education has decided not to offer any advice on whether schools should permit pupils to wear the Islamic headscarf, the hijab, in the classroom. The belief is that each school should make its own rules. The matter became a hot topic for a time in May when a school principal in Gorey, Co. Wexford urged the Department to issue guidelines on the issue.

Entertainment & The Arts

James Joyce Award for Beatles musicman

George Martin, producer of the Beatles' music, received the James Joyce Award at University College Dublin when he addressed the Literary and Historical Society on Friday. Mr Martin (82) was a producer of comedy records at the Abbey Road studios and was initially unimpressed when Brian Epstein played him a recording of the four.

Deaths

Death of economist Paul Tansey

Paul Tansey, the Economics Editor of the Irish Times, died suddenly last Sunday at the age of 59. Mr Tansey was playing tennis at the Enniskerry home of Senator Shane Ross when he collapsed. An ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Mr Tansey is survived by his wife, journalist and broadcaster Olivia O'Leary, and their daughter Emily.

Many tributes were paid to the late Mr Tansey who was highly regarded among his fellow professionals in the worlds of both journalism and economics.

Divers locate body of missing fisherman

Divers searching the sea just off Kilkee, Co. Clare recovered the body of local man Eddie Sweeney (75). Mr Sweeney was one of two men in a small boat which overturned while lobster fishing four days earlier. Philip Browne (55), from Limerick, was rescued and treated in hospital.

Two die in industrial accidents

Peter McAndrew (44), with an address at Coolarty, Co. Longford but originally from Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, died on Monday while working on the construction of the M3 motorway. Mr McAndrew was trapped underneath the dumper truck he was driving when it overturned into a gully near Dunshaughlin.

In Co. Tipperary a man died when he fell down a stairwell at the Tipperary Mineral Water plant in Borrisoleigh. The accident happened on Tuesday morning. The victim, who has not been named, is said to be in his 30s and well known locally.

Unidentified man murdered in west Dublin

Gardaí launched a murder investigation following the discovery of the body of a man off Mill Lane, in Palmerstown in west Dublin on Friday evening. Gardaí are still trying to identify the victim who is described as in his 30s, about 6' 1", strong build, clean shaven and with a very tight haircut. A description of his clothing was also given. The results of a post mortem have not been made public but at least one media report says the victim died from multiple stab wounds.

Road deaths in Counties Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Cavan and Louth

• The woman cyclist who died after being struck by a truck in Ferns, Co. Wexford last Saturday was named as Niamh Kane (51), a mother of four who lived in Mount Merrion in Dublin, but was originally from Collooney, Co. Sligo. She had been taking part in the annual Welcome Home charity cycle which raises funds for the Peter McVerry Trust.
• An 18-year-old youth died in Sligo General Hospital on Tuesday evening from injuries he received in a single vehicle accident last weekend. Karl Galvin, Riverstown, Co. Sligo had been a passenger in a car that went out of control at Aghaleane, Riverstown shortly before 4:00am last Sunday.
• On Wednesday Lily Bustard (64) died in Letterkenny Hospital from injuries she received 12 days earlier in a three-car collision near her home at Clar, on the N15 outside Donegal town.
• A collision between a car and an SUV in Tulla, Co. Clare at around 11:30pm on Friday resulted in the death of Patrick Meehan (70) of O'Callaghan's Mills, who was driving the car.
• A 19-year-old woman was killed at around 3:50am on Saturday when she was struck by a vehicle while walking on the N3 at Burrenrea, Co. Cavan, about 3km on the Kells side of Virginia. Gardaí are describing this as a hit-and-run incident and are appealing to the man who phoned them at 4:00am to make himself known.
• A 23-year-old man lost his life at 2:30am on Sunday when his motorcycle went out of control and crashed into a ditch near Louth village in Co. Louth.

Business News

Another tough week for investors

The gains made by the ISEQ Index ten days ago were short-lived. The Dublin Stock Exchange and financial stocks in particular came under more pressure in the past week.

Economy is officially in recession

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate that the economy is officially in recession. In the second quarter of 2008 GDP decreased by 0.8% compared with the same period in 2007 while GNP decreased by 2.1% over the same period. This is the second successive quarter in which GDP showed a decrease compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the criteria which defines recession.

Weather

It is too late in the year for high temperatures but for the past week we almost had the summer that passed us by. The sun shone every day except on Saturday afternoon and the only rain to fall was some light drizzle that night.

The good spell of weather is coming to an end with rain coming in from the north west on Monday. We expect some showers on Tuesday and by Wednesday they will be more frequent and heavier with gale force winds. Thursday will remain windy with some showers still around but Friday should be another fine day.

Latest Temperatures: Day 14C (57F).................Night 6C (43F)

S P O R T

G.A.A.

All Ireland Ladies Football Final
    Cork 4-13    Monaghan 0-11

All Ireland Minor Football Final Replay
    Tyrone 1-20     Mayo 1-15 (aet)

• Glasgow-based Tír Conaill Harps camogie team swapped their camans for shinty sticks and defeated Glengarry and win the Scottish Women’s Camanachd final. The 2-1 victory gave the Irish women the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup, described as the most prestigious trophy in women's shinty today.

Soccer

Setanta Sports Cup
Mon:    Cork City 4    Dungannon S 1
    Cliftonville 0    Drogheda Utd 2
    St Pat’s Ath. 0    Derry City 1

Eircom League Cup Final
    Wexford Yths 1    Derry City 6

FAI Cup Quarter Final Replay
    St Pat’s Ath. 2    Sporting Fingal 0

Eircom Premier Division
    Bray Wand. 0    Finn Harps 1
    Cork City 2    UCD 0
    Drogheda Utd 1    Galway Utd 1
    Shamrock Rov. 1    Bohemians 2
    Sligo Rovers 4    Cobh Ramblers 0

Rugby

Magners League
    Cardiff B. 58    Connacht 0
    Ospreys 43    Ulster 0
    Leinster 0    Munster 18

Golf: In the end the Irish challenge in the Quinn Insurance British Masters at the Belfry in England didn't amount to much. The event was won by Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño on 12-under. He defeated Lee Westwood in a play-off. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell finished on two-over, sharing 39th place. Paul McGinley was three strokes further back, Peter Lawrie was on eight-over and Darren Clarke failed to make the cut.
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