REVIEW OF THE YEAR: MAY/JUNE 2023

Junior and senior lawyers pictured outside The Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street, protesting the rates of pay paid to defence lawyers practicing in the District Court under the criminal legal aid scheme.

Lawyer protest

Junior and senior lawyers gathered outside courthouses around the country on May 2 to protest about the rates of pay paid to defence lawyers practicing in the District Court under the criminal legal aid scheme.

Barristers practicing in the District Court are paid €25.20 for a remand hearing, €50.40 for a plea in mitigation at a sentence hearing and €67.50 for a full trial hearing.

One of the organizers of the protest, Dublin based barrister Darren Lalor BL explained to Dublin People:

“I believe that it is good for the administration of justice to have people from different backgrounds working as barristers in the criminal justice system.

“It is bad for the administration of justice to create an environment where only people with independent resources can survive in the profession.

“It is time to shout STOP! We must never sit back and become the face of failure – Stand up and be the face for change.”

Frank Berry wins best Director Award at the Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTAs)

A former student and tutor of Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education, Frank Berry (pictured above) beat Banshees of Inisheerin Director Martin McDonagh in the category for his film Aisha, which also won Best Script at an awards ceremony held in Dublin in May.

Berry’s work focusses on hard hitting documentaries in his trademark social reality style.

‘URGENT’ NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DONABATE 

Urgent action was needed for the provision of affordable homes for the Donabate and Portrane areas, according to local Social Democrats councillor Paul Mulville. Mulville was speaking following the publication of a report which found that home ownerships have fallen under the current Government.

The Howth Inshore Lifeboat towing the rescued sailing yacht on Friday, 26 May. (Credit: Tom Ryan)

BUSY WEEK FOR LOCAL LIFESAVERS

The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat to two separate incidents over the last weekend in May to boats which had suffered engine failure.

On Friday night (26th), shortly after 21:30, the lifeboat was launched to reports of a sailing yacht with three people on board which had suffered engine failure on its passage from Malahide to Howth.

The lifeboat located the yacht under sail but its engine had failed.

As darkness began to fall, the crew passed a tow line from the lifeboat and the yacht was towed back to Howth harbour.

At 09:37 on Sunday morning (28th) the crew were paged by Dublin Coast Guard following a 999 call from a member of the public who witnessed a small motorboat with three people on board in difficulty and drifting towards rocks just east of Howth harbour.

The late Christy Dignam

Christy Dignam passes away

Christy Dignam, Aslan lead singer and Irish musical legend died aged 63 on June 13.

The sad news was announced by his daughter Kiera.

“On behalf of my family, it is with a broken heart that we convey the news of my father’s passing, Christy Dignam,” Kiera wrote on her Facebook page.

“Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home today 4pm Tuesday, June 13th 2023, after a courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family.”

Christy had been receiving palliative care at home since last December.

He was diagnosed with amyloidosis in 2013 and had been undergoing regular chemotherapy to manage it ever since.

His outstanding contribution to Irish music will live on forever.

His career of over 40 years was characterised by numerous successes on the Irish charts.

His funeral was held in his hometown of Finglas on Saturday, June 17

Hundreds lined the streets for the funeral procession with many wearing Aslan T-shirts.

The crowds sang along to some of the band’s biggest hits including Crazy World and This Is as the funeral procession stopped in Farnham Drive.

Christy’s wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera and grandchildren Cian, Jake and Ava were applauded by those gathered when they stepped out of the car following the hearse.

A screen showed clips and photographs of Christy’s performances from his 40 years of entertaining.