Órla O'Donnell
@Orlaodo
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Legal Affairs Correspondent, @Rtenews - Presenter, Finné, @tg4tv - ‘I am Miss D/Amy Dunne' @GillBooks - Views my own.
Dublin
Joined February 2011
Just passing the dr’s surgery at the end of the road, heard the rare sound of happy chatter - they have a marquee with balloons and sign for “vaccination centre” - the happy chatter coming from the local 85+ y olds on their way in and out. Was great to see.
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Do we really need NPHET to tell us if children are “allowed” trick or treat? Does common sense not tell us that kids can’t be calling around to people’s houses - not to mention the fact that it would really worry older people to have streams of kids knocking at their doors?.
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This is quite something. Fair play to my colleague for his admirable restraint.
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A friend makes a valid point - whole country is going to bed confused and worried and scared with no official statement from anyone. (I’ve already had a crying child).
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Queuing outside local coffee shop this morning, getting annoyed the couple inside were taking a LONG time to order and having cheery chats with the staff. Gave them evil eye and thought murderous thoughts as they left, to discover it was MATT DAMON and his wife! 😱 @Country_Bake.
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“There’s still a Dr Ali and I’m going to do my best to follow in his footsteps and keep his legacy alive.” Amazing words from Dr Syed Waqqar Ali’s eldest child.
"He's been an outstanding doctor and the best dad we could have asked for” – Samar Fatima Ali, daughter of Dr Syed Waqqar Ali, pays tribute to her father. Dr Ali died after contracting Covid-19 and spending three months in ICU | More:
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Another brave survivor of sexual abuse waived her anonymity outside the Criminal courts. Aoife Farrelly said she had been determined to go public as she had been silenced by her brother, Cian.
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The Mater hospital in Dublin confirms with “profound sadness” that a doctor who worked there has died after contracting Covid 19. In a statement it says Dr Waqar Ali Shah passed away after spending 3 months in ICU being cared for by his colleagues. @rtenews.
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Dismissing the leave application by Gemma O'Doherty and John Waters, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said: unsubstantiated opinions, speeches, rhetoric and a bogus, "absurd and offensive" historical parallel with Nazi Germany, were not substitutes for facts. @rtenews.
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Inside the proposed 'step down' facility at the Citywest conference centre, Dublin. There will be 450 beds for people who are recovering but still need medical care.The HSE hopes it will never have to use this facility but is planning for the worst case scenario. @rtenews
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Peak 2020: eating Christmas dinner, on my own in the department of health.
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Strong words from Professor Philip Nolan at the end of tonight’s briefing “speaking as a citizen” he says, there’s NO excuse for going back to uncontrolled community transmission. We know how to prevent it now he says, to make sure it doesn’t happen. @rtenews.
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Not often I am delighted to have my microphone taken off me outside the courts. ! This little boy is such a tonic, despite the tragedy of his birth. 'I can talk' - Boy, 7, injured at birth hails progress via @RTENewsNow
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Nipped home after the 1pm news to wish Mammy O'Donnell a happy socially distant, cocooned 82nd birthday.
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“What I have to get across is the seriousness of the situation in this country. We’re really genuinely worried. ” This is grim stuff from @CMOIreland. If we want the schools to stay open and to have some kind of even semi-ok Christmas, everyone needs to step up. .
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The saddest news. Puts everything in perspective. RIP Keelin. RTÉ broadcaster Keelin Shanley dies following illness via @RTENewsNow
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I first reported on the case of Amy Dunne or ‘Miss D’ as she was known in court, in 2007. I’m privileged 15 years later to have been able to help her tell her remarkable story in full. Her book is out in March. But you can pre-order at #GillBooksSS22
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Enoch Burke now responding: "I will never leave Mountjoy prison if in leaving that prison I must violate my well informed conscience, and my religious beliefs and deny my God.".
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Denis O'Brien has lost his defamation action against the Sunday Business Post.
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Question: is this normal usage now??? It drives me insane.
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The portrait of Ms J Mary Laffoy unveiled at a dinner celebrating women in law for #iwd2020 at the king’s inns. Painted by 20 year old Hetty Lawlor. @TheBarofIreland
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No pcr tests available in Dublin today or tomorrow. To get one, you’ve to stay up until midnight when new appts released. Does that not point to fact that people are being responsible and booking PCRs AS WELL AS using antigen tests?
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Once again, a reminder, fadas are not just ornamental.
@orlagartland A wee word in your ear. Orla = Vomit.Órla = Golden Princess. Órla beag = little Órla .Órla beag = little (see above).Be proud of your fada or be damned without it. @OrlaBFagan @TheOrlacle .@Orlaodo @OrlaahBradyy @OrlaGuerin @OrlaJohannes @OrlaVeale @OrlaMcGinley @OrlaNicSuibhne.
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@MarkPaulTimes People need to stop demonising young people and also start thinking of creative ways to engage them and help them rather than telling them to stay indoors and away from everyone for the foreseeable future.
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“Women are not playthings, consent is not a decision for the perpetrators.”.Worth reading the comments of Ms J Burns:.Four given jail terms of up to 19 years for girl's rape via @RTENews @viviennetraynor
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Enoch Burke was brought to the Bridewell Garda Station in handcuffs last night to await his transfer to Mountjoy Prison where he will stay for 'an indefinite duration' after 'flagrant' breaching of a High Court order: via @RTENews @colmwhatyalike
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You see all kinds of things down at the courts, but until today I had never before seen a man walk out of the Bridewell garda station with a large, brightly coloured parrot on his shoulder. 👀.
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On behalf of parents, everywhere, a plea to the weather gods: keep snowing. !.
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Ruth Morrissey’s husband, Paul describes her as having “a sparkle to her smile, her wit and intelligence”. The High Court heard they were teenage sweethearts who both wanted a large family.
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Dr Ronan Glynn: everyone in Kildare, Laois and Offaly needs to pay particular attention if they have any symptoms of Covid19 and double down on public health measures. Large number of cases notified to NPHET in these counties which will be part of the new case numbers tomorrow.
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And they were probably thinking how nice everyone in Ireland is, except that grumpy one outside the coffee shop.
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These photographs in this report by Barry Cummins give a real sense of a vibrant, much-loved young girl.
Ana Kriégel's parents were among the first to give evidence in the trial. They told the court about the last time they'd seen their daughter and about some of the difficulties she'd faced. They also gave evidence about their memories of their daughter
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Lawyers for Wilson's Hospital school told the court there was an attempt by Mr Burke to say that this case was about his refusal to call a boy a girl. They said this case not was about transgenderism.
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The high court testimony of a mother who knew she would have to leave her beloved daughter and husband was devastating and likely to stay with all those who heard it. RIP CervivalCheck campaigner Ruth Morrissey has died via @RTENewsNow
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I have no words suitable for publication on twitter to express my feelings on this.
Primary school pupils may only return for one day a week, if 2m physical distancing remains - says Education Minister @McHughJoeTD. It would be a 2-day week for secondary school students. @rtenews.
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V sad day. Ingrid has been an amazing colleague - never afraid to give advice to colleagues or speak her mind to mgmt. She had words of wisdom last night for women working in tv and worried about getting older - essentially, know your shit and people won’t notice the wrinkles!.
Some personal news . today is my last day with #RTE after too many years to count. Thanks to all the wonderful colleagues and friends I’ve worked with in radio television and news - and to all who trusted me to tell their stories. Still excited to go to work on the last day. .
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Remote fun continues in the High Court: Judge: “I will see you all at 11 and hopefully I won’t still be upside down by that point.”.
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Today’s statement from @CMOIreland coupled with remarks on foreign travel are more than a little worrying:
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@GibbonsDirector I think every so often, it’s worth exposing the carry on of those who scream “fake news” to the light of day.
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‘We’re just as angry as the public’ – Orla O’Donnell shows frustration over RTÉ payment scandal.
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I wasted my one and only Matt Damon in Dalkey encounter by thinking grumpy thoughts. 😢 The staff said he is as lovely as everyone says and is always friendly and chatty to them!.
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The High Court President, Mary Irvine has VERY strongly criticised barristers & solicitors for not complying with public health regulations - social distancing and wearing face coverings. Physical hearings may be stopped if they don’t sort it out she warned. More shortly @rtenews.
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Solicitor Paul Tweed and broadcaster @MiriamOCal outside the high court after her action against @meta was settled. The settlement will make it easier for Irish users to report ads for being misleading or a scam.
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Except, it is not good enough for children to be in school one day a week. It’s detrimental to their mental health and social development and unworkable for parents and we need to sort this out as a society.
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My 95 years young grandmother in law got her first dose of the vaccine this morning. A ray of hope in the face of so much bad news, especially from the UK.
Best of luck to my 95-year-old grandmother who had the #Covid jab this morning in Manchester. Hopefully, it's the first step on the road back to some kind of normality for her and so many others in high risk groups.
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16.5 years reporting from the courts and I have never seen anything like this before….
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The courts service has said it’s disappointed and appalled that people chose or organised to attend court in large numbers today despite not being required to be there.
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Student Rebecca Carter has won her High Court case over incorrectly totted up marks in her Leaving Cert exam. Court has ordered the State Examinations Commission to decide her appeal by tomorrow evening and UCD should confirm its offer to her, if it's making one, by Friday eve.
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Deleted earlier tweet re the Irish Times letter. Didn’t expect so many replies and am concerned about a pile on against the woman who wrote it. We all should think twice before writing/publishing comments re others + women should be able to play sport without being commented on.
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Speaking outside court after rapist, Shane Noonan was jailed for 7 years, Ciara Mangan paid tribute to other victims of rape and sexual violence who waived their anonymity in previous cases. She said this had given her the courage to come forward in her case. @rtenews
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Dr Ronan Glynn: “as things stand, we are absolutely on track for children to go back to school in September.” (@SiCarswell and I want to hug him).
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Supreme Court has ruled that the unborn does not have inherent constitutional rights outside the right to life in the 8th amendment. Unborn's constitutional rights confined to those in 8th amendment.
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The HSE says there are 88 people with Covid 19 in ICU beds at the moment - 68% of them in Dublin hospitals. Still a capacity of 167 critical care beds available - not including capacity from private hospitals - around the same again - which is due to come onstream this week.
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BREAKING: High Court has directed another inquiry into the detention of a man in quarantine. Case has been taken by an Irish man who flew home from working in Israel to be with his critically ill, dying father and is in quarantine at Crowne Plaza Hotel. More on @rtenews.
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0 deaths and 38 new cases. Dr Ronan Glynn said yesterday he would like to see that number come back down below 40 tonight so that is some good news as long as it continues that way.
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Publication day has finally arrived! I’d love people to read this story of a girl who took on the state, and won. But winning her court case was only a small part of Amy Dunne’s incredible journey. Available now! @Gill_Books @easons
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High Court grants further injunction to Wilson's hospital school preventing teacher Enoch Burke from attending or attempting to teach. Mr Burke is to be returned to prison until he purges his contempt. He says he'd love to obey the court but he cannot.
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Irish Daily Mail fined 25,000 euro for contempt of court during the Ana Kriégel trial.
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“. neither the HSE nor the State has ever apologised to her, and now it is too late.”.
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Very positive messages from Dept of Health briefing this evening. R rate down, rate of increase stabilising. Dr Ronan Glynn says they are now uncertain about future but optimistic. But people must maintain effort - especially re physical distancing.
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The court heard that Mr Burke is currently in an empty classroom at Wilson's Hospital school despite the injunction. He was placed on admin leave after allegedly publicly confronting the principal to voice his opposition to a request to address a pupil with "they" pronoun.
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Ms Mallon said this was not about Mr Burke's beliefs but about his alleged conduct. The principal had expressed serious concerns about how he might act in the school in the future.
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Barrister Rosemary Mallon said the case was in court because Enoch Burke was a teacher who ignored the nature and effect of the lawful decision of the school's board of management to suspend him on pay pending the outcome of the disciplinary process. @rtenews.
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Ellen Coyne: The backlash against Natasha O’Brien for speaking out shows our support for female victims is conditional.
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Please watch this on the player if you can. Gut-wrenching. A reminder of what so many have gone through and what we could yet face.
On behalf of #rteinvestigates thank you to everyone in @stjamesdublin for allowing us behind the scenes to document this strange time in Irish history, also for your patience and generosity when giving your time & expertise over the past few months. Go raibh mile maith agaibh.
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Karen Harkin speaks outside court, accompanied by family members and investigating officer, Sergeant Michael McHugh after her father Michael Carter is jailed for 10.5 years for raping and sexually assaulting her when she was between 9 and 12 years old. More @rtenews
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Charlene Masterson who is now 32 has waived her anonymity. She compared her experience to the movie ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’. She says she’s speaking out to shoe survivors it is possible to rebuild your life.
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I was in local park today with my kids. Everyone strictly observing social distancing rules and giving other family or solo walkers a very wide berth. We played football in an empty playing field. A lockdown will be horrible for people's mental health although may have to happen.
Many ppl who go walking in parks etc together, and don’t social distance from each other, probably live together. As long as they keep distance from others, they’re still observing guidelines. Social distancing and social isolating are not the same. Ppl on here conflate them.
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Teacher Enoch Burke is in the High Court waiting for the proceedings against him to start. His employer claims he's in contempt of court for breaching an injunction preventing him from attending at the school premises.
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