News Thread for all ES related

goldie fish

You must be stationed in the wrong place. It is already a garda tradition...

wreckless

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/topheavy-fire-service-costing-vital-frontline-2628344.html

kerry4sam

Gardaí in Cork have arrested an armed man who tried to ram an aeroplane in a stolen fire engine at Cork airport this afternoon.

Wish the injured Garda a speedy recovery to duty.

kerry4sam

ONLY 8YEARS for the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin :eek: :mad:

Shield

kerry4sam wrote: »

ONLY 8YEARS for the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin :eek: :mad:

91 previous convictions too. I can't stress enough how badly the criminal justice system needs a drastic overhaul from the ground up. Utterly shameful stuff.

Zambia

Sydney teenager Madeleine Pulver safe after hoax bomb ordeal in exclusive Sydney suburb of Mosman

UPDATE 4.15pm: MADELEINE Pulver has emerged from her horrifying ordeal in good spirits, although she is 'tired and sore' after holding the hoax bomb that was chained to her neck for 10 hours, her father William told the media this afternoon.

Police say a masked man broke into the 18-year-old's Mosman home, on Sydney's lower north shore, and strapped a device to her neck yesterday afternoon.

It sparked a tense, drawn out operation that ended shortly before midnight, when bomb disposal experts safely removed the hoax device after 10 hours.

"From our family's perspective we are clearly extremely eager for our lives to return to normal," Mr Pulver told reporters in Sydney this afternoon.

"We have a daughter on the cusp of doing HSC exams ... our appeal to you is that you request our privacy after this and leave us to get on with our lives."

Mr Pulver, with his wife by his side, thanked everyone involved in the operation, including police, hospital staff and emergency workers.

"You are a wonderful group of people, you were an extraordinary support and comfort to my daughter last night," he said.
In particular, he said his daughter wanted to thank the officers who had stayed with her for many hours "with little regard to their own personal safety".

"They were an incredible comfort during a horrific ordeal."

Mr Pulver said he was proud of 'Maddy' who was coping well.

"She has woken up this morning in pretty good spirits," he said.

"She is a little tired, a little sore from holding this damned device in place for about 10 hours."

The Daily Telegraph reported a note at the scene made no demands for money or action, but said if Madeleine went to the police the bomb would be detonated.

She was also told any attempt to cut wires would also mean it would be detonated.

“The note made no demand in dollar terms or ask for any type of action. While it was articulate and coherent it didn’t seem to have any specific demands,’’ a NSW police officer said.

”It did say don’t go to the cops or I will detonate. Don’t cut the wires or will detonate.’’

A balaclava-clad intruder broke into the Pulver's home and fitted the fake bomb around the teen's neck in a possible extortion bid.

Police revealed they found no explosives on the device as Ms Pulver was released from hospital this morning and back with her parents.

A manhunt is underway for the intruder.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said the device was "a very, very elaborate hoax".

"But it was made and certainly gave the appearance of a legitimate improvised explosive device," he said this morning.

"We had to treat it seriously until we could prove otherwise and that's exactly what we did and that's why it took so long."

The terrifying hoax had disturbing similarities to a recent episode of Hawaii Five-O, according to a top security expert.


Former Victoria Police officer turned private security advisor John Moncrieff said a recent episode of the show involved a similar scenario.

“These shows all have ex-military and police officers giving them advice and telling war stories which get picked up by script writers to make them more realistic, and one of the unforeseen consequences is that they might inspire copycats,” Mr Moncrieff said.

"The Sydney incident is certainly a very serious incident."

Mr Pulver is said to be one of the richest men in Australia.

The family recently moved back to Australia from New York and live in a mansion in the exclusive harbour-side suburb (see map below).

Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said it was only after the bomb was removed from around the teenager's neck that officers determined "there was no explosive found".

He said the device was "very elaborate, very sophisticated" and it took "the best we have in our NSW police force bomb technicians ... it took their best to free the girl and make her safe after 10 hours".

Bomb specialists had been treating it as a collar bomb after getting expert advice from the Australian Federal Police and British military.

Mr Murdoch said detectives are at a loss as to why Madeleine and her family were targeted.

"We haven't made any contact with who's responsible but hopefully that doesn't remain the position too much longer. We want to get our hands on who has done this," he said.

During the ordeal at the family's mansion in Burrawong Ave, Madeleine was fed, given water, kept warm and was in the company of specialist police officers while her parents were kept away.

Mr Murdoch said she was in a "uncomfortable position" during the "unusual incident" and was taken to hospital for checks afterwards.

"From what Madeline told police when they first arrived, that caused us some level of significant concern," Mr Murdoch told Sydney radio station 2GB today.

"She was seated in the house ... she was clearly upset".

Mr Murdoch said a young female officer sat with Madeleine "talking to her and keeping her calm".

"She has disclosed a lot of information to police. That information will now be acted upon," he said.


Madeleine is wheeled into hospital after the ordeal
"The family are at a loss to explain this. You would hardly think someone would go to this much trouble if there wasn't a motive behind it."

He was not aware of "anything like this happening in NSW or this country before".

Police have not had contact with who is responsible but "want to get our hands on them pretty smartly".

The Daily Telegraph understands the extortionist, clad in a balaclava, entered the house shortly after 2pm and took Madeleine hostage.

It is believed he ordered her to a room towards the front of the house and directed her to sit down while he strapped a device around her neck.

Police were called to the mansion by Mr Pulver after a frantic phone call from his daughter just before 2.30pm.

Experts from the NSW Bomb Squad spent several hours examining the device while it remained secured around the terrified teenager's neck.

X-rays were taken to allow a more detailed check before any attempt to defuse it was made.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined Madeleine's friends in expressing shock at the teen's ordeal this morning, with Ms Gillard likening the drama to a Hollywood script.

As the drama continued to unfold, Mr Murdoch appeared before media outside the mansion, describing the situation as a "very serious and sensitive matter".

Mr Murdoch said police spoke with a number of agencies, "not internationally, but within Australia, the AFP in particular" but that the AFP were "making inquiries internationally".


Madeleine with millionaire father William Pulver
He said there were four bomb disposal specialists and negotiators in the room and it was getting cold in the house.

"We've got a perimeter in place to protect the scene, to protect other people from being injured," he said.

"We have evacuated nearby residences. It would be foolish to put other people at risk, parents or not."

While he was rigging up the explosive, the man ordered a terrified Madeleine to be limited in what she told police, or else he would remotely detonate the bomb.

It is understood the girl was told she could ring police to alert them to her predicament, but she must not give too much detail about him or their conversation.

The man told Madeleine he would be able to hear her and what she told police, indicating he had planted listening devices within the house. With the bomb secured, he then left.

Mr Murdoch said that the Robbery and Serious Crimes Squad, which also deals with extortion attempts, was called to head the investigation.

"We don't know what we are dealing with ... we are working very hard to find out exactly what it is and, equally, what it isn't," he said.

The teenager did not move from a room at the front of the house during the ordeal last night.

Asked whether the girl could move away from the bomb, Mr Murdoch said: "No, she can't get away from it."


The Pulvers live on one of Sydney's most exclusive streets
Burrawong Ave remained a hive of police activity this morning as detectives continued to scour the mansion.

A neighbour said he was shocked at what had unfolded in the prestigious street. He did not know the Pulver family well as they had only moved in a few years ago, he said.

Forensics officers left the the hospital overnight with evidence bags, possibly containing victim's clothing and other remained outside the home fingerprinting a white Ford station wagon.

Madeleine, who celebrated her birthday last month, is in her final year at the prestigious Wenona School in North Sydney.

Madeleine's parents remained outside a perimeter set up a safe distance away.

Mr Pulver's resume includes holding top positions here and overseas with market research companies including AC Nielsen, and he has been president of the Shore Foundation, the fundraiser organisation of the elite Sydney Church of England Grammar School, of which he is an old boy.

Appen provides linguistics technologies to companies including Microsoft, Google and Nokia.

Chris Vonwiller, whose wife founded the company, told The Australian in 2008: "Appen's technology is virtually used in most of the world's automated telephone call centres as well as in-car navigation systems."

"Our customers are large IT firms and government bodies, including the US Defence Department - Appen is well known in Washington's government agencies."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sydney-teenager-madeleine-pulver-safe-after-bomb-ordeal/story-e6frf7jo-1226107574967

Very odd offender??? WTF

themanwashere

Satellite navigation still not reliable enough

THE WIFE of an ill man left waiting three times as ambulances got stuck on a rural lane fears lives could be put at risk.

Pensioner Hugh Anderson was left waiting for five hours at his Helford home when two ambulances got stuck on a public byway after following their satellite navigation systems.

5500

Overtime up for the axe and obi closed for 3 months in DFB -
http://www.thejournal.ie/overtime-may-be-axed-in-e1-7m-dublin-fire-brigade-budget-shortfall-201559-Aug2011/

Zambia

Zambia wrote: »

Sydney teenager Madeleine Pulver safe after hoax bomb ordeal in exclusive Sydney suburb of Mosman


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sydney-teenager-madeleine-pulver-safe-after-bomb-ordeal/story-e6frf7jo-1226107574967

Very odd offender??? WTF

Update on this
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/officers-close-in-on-bomb-hoax-suspect/story-e6frf7jo-1226115656549

Turner

from breakingnews.ie

Two men have been arrested in Limerick after an incident involving gardaí, and another car, in which gunshots were fired.

It is understood the shots fired during the exchange, were discharged by gardaí.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission has been notified.

Gardaí say they discharged a number of shots after a car failed to stop for them on the Dooradoyle Rd at approx 4.30pm this afternoon.

It is understood the vehicle then rammed one of the patrol cars.

Two garda cars were damaged and an officer who was injured in the incident has been taken to Limerick Regional Hospital for observation.

The two men arrested, one in his late 20s, the other in his late 30s, are being held at Roxboro Rd Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The scene has been preserved for technical examination.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission has been notified.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/gardai-arrest-two-in-limerick-shooting-incident-523985.html#ixzz1aVLaaRUn

Hooch

Yet another reason why we need a manslaughter or mandatory minimum sentence for this......disgraceful.....4 years and out in what, three??? Four lives ended and families devastated. RIP

RTE News wrote:

A 29-year-old Monaghan man has been sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people and an unborn baby.

Kevin McArdle was more than three times over the drink-driving limit when he caused a three-car pile-up on a straight stretch of road near Carrickmacross last Christmas.

McArdle had drunk nine pints of beer and five glasses of brandy as he and his friends drove from pub to pub around Meath and Monaghan on 27 December.
At approximately 6.40pm, he was driving at speed on the incorrect side of the stretch of road near Carrickmacross.

One oncoming car managed to swerve to avoid his car, but those in the car behind did not have the opportunity to do so.

A 38-year-old pregnant woman was among those killed.

Roisin Connolly of Grace Park, Drumcondra, Dublin, was driving on the Carrickmacross by-pass with her husband Stephen when their Seat car was struck in heavy rain by the BMW being driven by McArdle.
Mrs Connolly, who was five months pregnant, was killed. Doctors delivered her baby, Catherine, but she also died. Mrs Connolly's husband survived with injuries.

Two passengers in the BMW, Glen Curtis and Paul Carroll, were also killed, while another man in that car was seriously injured but survived.

Supt Noel Cunningham told the Court McArdle was three and a half times over the legal drink driving limit.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1018/mcardlek.html

eroo

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1019/breaking44.html

A Garda Ombudsman Commission inquiry into the shooting dead by gardaí of two men, one of them unarmed, during an attempted post office robbery has deemed the killings as proportionate and lawful.

In a report into the incident published today, the Garda Ombudsman clears the gardaí involved of wrongdoing and recommends improved management of incidents involving firearms.
Eric Hopkins (24), Lower Rutland Street, both Dublin 1, were shot dead by Emergency Response Unit officers as they tried to steal €48,500 on the morning of May 26th, 2005, from the Village Stores post office and shop in Lusk, Co Dublin.

The family of Mr Hopkins sought an investigation into the incident saying the use of lethal force was unlawful. They said that CCTV footage showed Mr Hopkins attempting to flee the scene. The Griffin family also filed a complaint but the commission ruled it inadmissible as it was filed outside a set time limit.

The case was contentious because one of the men shot dead was unarmed and because both men were members of one of two feuding drugs gangs in Sheriff Street in Dublin’s north inner city that threatened to kill gardaí in revenge for the double shooting.

The gardaí involved in the operation six years ago were for personal safety reasons allowed to conceal their identities during the inquest into the deaths. They gave their evidence from behind a curtain in Dublin Coroner’s Court and did not have to state their names.

A Garda operation was put in place in Lusk after intelligence suggested a raid was to take place there on the morning in question. Two armed members of the Emergency Response Unit dressed as construction workers and took up positions in the post office.

While gardaí expected the raiders to enter the post office via the front door where the gang was to be stopped, the men drove around the back of the building and entered via the rear entrance.

The three-man gang then gained access to the public area in the shop’s post office, where there were customers and staff present as gardaí shouted at the men to drop any weapons, before both were shot dead.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission investigation identified a number of weaknesses in the planning of the Garda operation. “These had an adverse effect of the command and control of the operation and led to Garda A being put in a position where he was required to make a split-second life and death decision,” the commission said.

“The investigation concluded that the level of force used by Garda A in the shooting of Colm Griffin and Eric Hopkins was proportionate, lawful and no more than absolutely necessary."

The report commends the courage of the gardaí involved in the incident and sympathises with the Hopkins and Griffin families on the death of their relatives.

It says the operational response of the Garda Síochána to incidents of this nature could be strengthened and that work is already under way within the Garda Síochána in reviewing the use of force policies, procedures and training.



Colm Griffin (33), Canon Lillis Avenue, and

Well done to Garda A, commended for making a split second decision; the right one.

kerry4sam

whoever you are: Well Done You

linky

"Took me 3 hours to get from Heuston Station to Lucan earlier, lot of cars and a bus broken down, once past Lucan the roads were clear. Mad rainfall altogether.

Fair play to the young Guard out clearing the drains on the Chapelizod bypass with a metal pole in the rotten rain and cold floodwaters. Not a nice job.
And then he was making sure all the cars went into the outer lane only to get through the flooding safely with just a hi-viz jacket and a small torch. Legend."

kerry4sam

Gardaí reunited with girl they saved from burning house

Zambia

The photo board for this crook would be interesting.

The link is a news article

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/bumcrack-bandit-woman-suspect-in-two-latest-shootings-on-gold-coast/story-fn7x8me2-1226232160025

Dermot Illogical

Indo maintains journalistic standards.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardai-will-have-almost-half-year-off-under-deal-2982586.html

goldie fish

Clearly jim works a 7 day week himself. Winker.(in an australian accent).

Zambia

Strewth !!!

Sierra Oscar

Man dies after Newport stand-off

Two Gardaí very very luck to be alive tonight.

Sierra Oscar

Dramatic incident no doubt - Gunman kills himself after firing seven shots at unarmed gardai

Scott medal for the two Gardai for sure.

Zambia

My heart was in my mouth reading that, Jesus wept they were very lucky.

Well done to those members. If arming members on mass is ever discussed they should be at the table.

wreckless

Hundreds of Belgian firefighters gathered outside the prime minister's office in Brussels to protest against plans to increase the retirement age from 58. The government wants the majority of people to work two more years until they reach 67, but firefighters argue their arduous job does not allow them to work into their sixties. The firefighters broke through police barricades to cover riot police and the cabinet office in water and smoke

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/feb/10/belgium-firefighters-protest-video?INTCMP=SRCH

deadwood

http://www.godvine.com/Police-Officer-s-Final-Act-of-Kindness-Caught-on-Tape-Before-Dying-1065.html

ivabiggon

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2106423/Simon-Burgess-body-floats-Walpole-Park-pond-emergency-workers-stand-watch.html?ICO=most_read_module


this looks all to familiar and looks as if risk assessment has began to rule the way we safe lives, it happpened here years ago to.

maglite

Going the rounds on Facebook, Must have been hard, harder in a lot of respects compared to going at the time.

PC Shot by Raoul Moat last year

goldie fish

Very sad. A shame moat's accomplices can't be charged with this Poor man's death also.

TMC99

They were:

Karl Ness, 26, and Qhuram Awan, 23, who helped Moat during his rampage, were jailed for life in March last year.
Both were found guilty of the attempted murder of PC Rathband as well as other charges.

Read More http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/03/01/pc-david-rathband-found-dead-at-his-home-in-blyth-72703-30437163/#ixzz1nyPMAAxz

Bosh

Gary McLaughlin

ivabiggon

http://www.herald.ie/news/hse-paramedic-suspended-over-filming-in-toilet-3103315.html

I came across this the other night in the herald, not good for the public image.

Hightower21

Chopper service to fly injured to hospital


By Brendan Farrelly

Thursday May 17 2012


A new national helicopter ambulance service will be launched by the Air Corps next week.
The service provided by the Air Corps and the HSE will be capable of flying badly injured patients to hospital from the scenes of car crashes.
The service will be launched at Custume Barracks in Athlone, Co Westmeath, by Health Minister James Reilly and Defence Minister Alan Shatter.
But while the service will be used to fly patients to hospital from accident scenes it will not be the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) air ambulance service available in nearly every other country in Europe.
The new service will be limited and will use a small Air Corps EC-135 helicopter based in Custume Barracks.
The service will operate seven days a week in daylight hours and will have the capacity to respond quickly to emergencies where patients need rapid access to acute services in larger hospitals.
The Air Corps helicopter will have an advanced paramedic crew on board from the National Ambulance Service.
Roscommon Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan, who revealed details of the service, said: "This development will provide critical additional options for responding to major emergency incidents."
- Brendan Farrelly
Irish Independent