Police injured during violent clashes at illegal rave in London

Seven Halloween revellers arrested after confronting police who tried to break up suspected illegal rave at disused building

• 
  

• Haroon Siddique and agencies
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 31 October 2010 10.49 GMT
• Article history

The scene in Museum Street, central London, where riot police surrounded a suspected illegal rave. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

Hundreds of revellers went ahead with a illegal rave in central Londontoday despite clashes with police officers who tried to break up the gathering.

Several police officers were hurt after bottles and bricks were thrown during the disturbance in High Holborn, the Metropolitan police said. One needed hospital treatment for a minor head injury but was later discharged. At least seven people were arrested for suspected public order offences.

Police were first called to the event in a disused building at 11.20pm last night. They said some people became aggressive after being asked to leave the area and commanders then called in dozens of riot squad officers from the Met's territorial support group (TSG).

A number of buildings and vehicles were damaged during the affray but most of the revellers went back into the eight-storey building where the event was taking place after the clashes. "Most of the people are still there," said a Met spokesman. "They have gone back inside the building, and are going ahead with the rave. Officers at the scene have a watching brief."

As the rave continued into the morning with deafening music blaring out, the atmosphere inside was said to be friendly. Hundreds of revellers spilled out onto New Oxford Street, many dressed in Halloween costumes. There were ravers in boiler suits, bear suits, and jester costumes, and an array of hoodies, top hats, fluorescent caps and dreadlocks.

Some were drinking beer in the road, many were clinging to water bottles. As people left, some shook hands with officers or asked the best way to get home.

Flavia Pickler, 28, a nanny, from Brighton, and her friend Samanta Coletti, 27, a waitress from west London, tried to have their picture taken with some officers. Pickler, dressed as a toffee apple with her face paint fading away, said: "It's very friendly, you can trust people." David Ameri, 24, a squatter in Hounslow, said: "We're rebelling but we're not harming anyone, we don't cause damage."

Up on the roof one raver lowered himself over the ledge, obscuring graffiti which read "Fuck the police." But he soon pulled himself back up.

As well as a police officer, two other people received hospital treatment. A woman in her 30s who police said was caught up in the disorder was also taken to hospital with a cut face, while a man in his 20s needed treatment for intoxication.

Police maintained their presence around the building, which is bordered by High Holborn, Museum Road and New Oxford Street, as the rave continued. About a dozen officers were stationed in sight on the nearby corners. Road closures are also in place around the site. It is not known when the event is due to end. One officer said: "We're hoping people will get tired and go home

Citizens' forum discusses pathways to an equal Ireland

SATURDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2010 10:58 ALISON SPILLANE

1,000 people have gathered at the RDS today to discuss ways of achieving an equal, sustainable, and inclusive Ireland. The Claiming Our Future (COF) event, organised by civil society groups such as Is Feidir Linn, Social Justice Ireland and the Community Platform, aims to debate and agree on alternative policies for dealing with the recession. By Alison Spillane

The movement began in January of this year when six civil society groups met to discuss ways of co-ordinating action to achieve a more equal and proactive Ireland. From these initial discussions, the movement has grown to include a wide range of organisations.

Participants in the event come from all sectors of society and among those represented are trade unions, community and voluntary groups and the education, arts and culture sector.

The day is divided into three main sessions where attendees will first discuss the values that COF should promote in the current climate such as equality, accountability, solidarity, environmental sustainability and human dignity. Each table is asked to decide on five key values which are then submitted – the results are presented at the end of each session.

The following two sessions will concentrate on potential policy choices COF should focus on and agreement on the kind of action that should be taken to advance these policy choices.

The groups will be asked to list the policy choices in order of preference in four groups – Economy & environment, Income, wealth & work, Governance, and Access to services and public sector renewal.

Mary Murphy, part of the organising group, opened the event. She stressed that COF is "very much a work in progress" and one of the main aims of the initiative is to provide Irish citizens with a space for diaolgue. The emphasis of the day is on discussion and turning the current crisis into a positive turning point for the country.

Follow the liveblog of the event here.

14.00 Session 1 Results. The following values were voted the most important for COF to promote at the moment: Equality, Environmental Sustainability, Accountability, Participation and Solidarity. The values of Justice and Human Dignity also ranked high.

14.39 Session 2a Results. In terms of Economy and environment, the two policies prioritised by participants were:

(i) Change the current development model and define and measure progress in a balanced way that stresses economic security and social and environmental sustainability.

(ii) Regulate banking to change the culture from one of speculative banking to one where currently state-owned banks and new local banking models focus on guaranteeing credit to local enterprises and communities.

14.44 Session 2b Results. With regard to Income, wealth and work, the most highly ranked proposals were:

(i) Achieve greater income equality and reduce poverty through wage, tax and income policies that support maximum and minimum income thresholds.

(ii) Prioritise high levels of decent employment with a stimulus package to maximise job creation in a green/social economy.

16.11 Session 3a Results. Concerning Governance, the following proposals were voted for:

(i) Reform representative political institututions to enhance accountability, equality, capacity, and efficiency of national and local decision makers.

(ii) Develop participatory and deliberative forms of citizens' engagement in public governance and enhance democratic participation by fostering the advocacy role of civil society organisations, civics and ethics education in all school levels and a diverse media.

16.18 Session 3b Results. On Access to services and public sector renewal the most popular policy proposals were:

(i) Provide universal access to quality healthcare, childcare and services for older people.

(ii) Invest in equality in access to and participation in all levels of education (preschool to university).

Welfare faces significant cutbacks - Ó Cuív

Updated: 22:47, Saturday, 30 October 2010

Éamon Ó Cuív has said his department is facing significant cutbacks in the budget which will affect a number of benefits.

1 of 2

Éamon Ó Cuív - Benefits will be affected

Play

Six One News: O Cúiv says benefits will be affected in budget

Related Stories

Social Protection Minister Éamon Ó Cuív has said his department is facing significant cutbacks in the budget which will affect a number of benefits.

Minister Ó Cuív told delegates at a regional conference of Fianna Fáil members in Co Clare that the current budget in his Department is €21 billion and accounts for 38% of the Government's current spending.

He said the Government is still working out the details of the budget but he said one thing is for certain, there will be significant cutbacks in the budget of his department.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with special responsibility for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary told delegates that the Government is determined to push for reform and transformation of the public service despite actions by some lower paid civil servants about banking time.

Mr Calleary said the reluctance among some lower paid public servants to give up weekly time to lodge their paychecks showed there is entrenchment and considerable resistance to that change.

But he said the Government have an action plan about reform and transformation under the Croke Park Aggreement in which they have given guarantees about pay and he said that they are determined to implement the plans in these very difficult economic times.

Those who do not support the plan do not also have its protection, he added.

Last night, the Taoiseach has said that closing the gap between spending and revenue is now critical to the country's future.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the ICMSA in Limerick, Mr Cowen said failure to implement a four-year budget strategy that included spending cuts, tax rises and a plan for growth would put our chances of economic recovery at risk.

He said getting the public finances under control would reduce the cost of borrowing money on the international markets and would help to create and maintain jobs.

Ministers have been meeting this week to consider measures to reduce the deficit by €15 billion.

The Taoiseach said the cost of the Government itself had already been reduced, and that all costs are being kept under review.

Meanwhile, Pat The Cope Gallagher Fianna Fáil MEP said he did not believe that the former Ireland and Celtic footballer Packie Bonner had been approached to stand for Fianna Fáil in the Donegal by-election.

He confirmed that a number of overtures had been made for him to return to stand in the by-election although his election to Europe had caused the seat vacancy in the first place.

Pat The Cope Gallagher said he remains committed to his work as an MEP for the constituency of North Wes
t

Tragic leukaemia tot's parents were told by doctors 'he just has constipation' Friday, 29 October 2010

Tragic leukaemia tot's parents were told by doctors 'he just has constipation'

Friday, 29 October 2010

• • NORMAL
  • LARGE
  • EXTRA LARGE
  • TEXT SIZE
    • NORMAL
    • LARGE
    • EXTRA LARGE

Adam O'Connor from Cork who died of acute leukaemia, aged 14 weeks

• ENLARGE

A three-month old baby in the Republic of Ireland died from acute leukaemia after being repeatedly sent home from hospital by doctors who treated him for constipation.

Julia and Tom O'Connor, both aged 38 and from Mallow, Co Cork, last night claimed the healthcare system had failed their infant son Adam in every possible way.

Adam was eventually diagnosed as suffering from acute leukaemia just two days before his death.

Last night it emerged a major investigation into Adam's care had made 17 separate recommendations about paediatric care in one of Ireland's biggest hospitals. The report - seen by the Irish Independent - revealed one hospital doctor who examined Adam had no emergency department or paediatric experience.

It also revealed the baby was discharged without the registrar on duty carrying out a full clinical assessment.

Julia last night said the hard-hitting 27-page Health Service Executive (HSE) report would not bring back Adam -- but she expressed hope that no other parent would have to endure the nightmare they suffered.

"The system failed our son from the very moment he was born - at every turn he was failed. The service provided for Adam was truly appalling -- and our comments are about Cork hospitals and not Mallow General Hospital, where the first signal that something was wrong was picked up," Julia told the Irish Independent.

Julia was convinced something was badly wrong with Adam from the moment he was born.

But despite her fears she was told he was constipated.

One doctor wrote in medical notes, later seen by the O'Connors, that: "Mum would want to relax, Mum would want to calm down - Mum would want to go home and enjoy (her) baby more."

However, despite repeated visits to hospital Adam was only diagnosed with leukaemia two days before his death. Adam - who was born on November 10, 2008 - died on February 17, 2009 with his heartbroken parents at his hospital bedside.

"The only thing we can do for Adam is to go public in the hope no other parent goes through what we have suffered," she said.

Adam became ill over Christmas 2008. He would cry non-stop for hours and scream in obvious pain.

Over the next six weeks his worried parents repeatedly took him to see GPs, out-of-hours doctors, rang nurse helplines and twice brought him to A&E at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

"Adam was crying to us -- trying to let us know he was (very) sick. But people didn't want to listen to us," Julia added.

On both of their visits to the CUH A&E unit -- on January 4 and February 14 - the couple did not get to see a paediatric consultant, being dealt with by junior doctors on both occasions.

Doctors told Tom and Julia their son had constipation.

However, Adam's condition continued to deteriorate.

On February 14, Adam was screaming in so much in pain he was again brought to CUH. Traces of blood were now detected in his vomit.

After waiting for almost two hours at CUH, they finally saw a junior doctor who prescribed suppositories for constipation.

However, the baby became so ill the next day - February 15 - that the couple brought him to Mallow General Hospital (MGH) in a desperate plea for help.

MGH doctors immediately advised them to get Adam to a paediatrician and the baby was rushed to CUH by ambulance.

After being admitted, blood tests and CT scans were conducted. Adam was later diagnosed with acute leukaemia.

He died 48 hours later.

The 27-page HSE report highlighted six major issues under care provision and systems delivery - and made a total of 17 different recommendations.

The report found that on February 14 Adam had an abnormal heart rate -- but no detailed assessment was undertaken in the emergency department.

"The (report) review team have found that it would have been reasonable for baby Adam to have been reviewed by a member of the paediatric team as he was representing at CUH with an unresolving problem -- his heart rate was elevated, and the registrar had advised the family to attend the hospital," it said
.

Micheal Martin's daughter dies

Friday, 29 October 2010

• • NORMAL
  • LARGE
  • EXTRA LARGE
  • TEXT SIZE
    • NORMAL
    • LARGE
    • EXTRA LARGE

The seven-year-old daughter of Micheal Martin has died

• E

The seven-year-old daughter of Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has died.

It is understood Leana, the youngest daughter of Mr Martin and his wife Mary, suffered from a heart condition.

She died peacefully in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

Her parents and family were at her bedside.

Mr Martin and his wife said they are heartbroken at the loss of their "darling Leana".

"She was a beautiful light in our lives," they said