Jul 2, 2025 | BREAKING NEWS, NEWS
Emeis Ireland, the company behind the two nursing homes exposed in RTÉ’s recent Investigates programme, has halted admissions across all 25 of its Irish care centres, following regulatory concerns raised by HIQA
The interim HIQA report highlights serious, long-standing issues in several of these homes, including failures in care, governance, and infection control.
The Residence Portlaoise faced threats of prosecution after breaching an admissions ban, while Firstcare Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin has struggled with compliance since 2021, despite periods of improvement.
Other homes under the spotlight include The Residence Carton in Raheny, Belmont Private Nursing Home in Stillorgan, and Brookvale Manor in Mayo, all with histories of regulatory failures and restrictive conditions imposed to safeguard residents.
Inspections at some centres, like Residence Citywest and The Residence Ashbourne, have shown recent progress, but concerns persist, particularly around management stability and resident safety. HIQA described many facilities as “a work in progress,” while its report confirmed hundreds of alleged or confirmed abuse cases at Beneavin Manor and The Residence Portlaoise since 2022.
Jul 2, 2025 | BREAKING NEWS, NEWS
A teenage boy has tragically died following a fall near a lake in the west Kerry Gaeltacht area of Corca Dhuibhne.
The 16-year-old, from north Cork, had been visiting the region with his parents when the accident occurred.
The family had stopped near a waterfall along An Chonair, the scenic mountain pass connecting Daingean Uí Chúis (Dingle) to the village of An Clochán.
It is believed the boy climbed a short distance to Loch an Pheidléara, a lake situated above the waterfall. Sadly, he fell from a height near the lake, sustaining fatal injuries.
Emergency services, including the local Coast Guard unit, Kerry Mountain Rescue, gardaí, and the National Ambulance Service, were called to the scene around 3:30pm yesterday.
The rescue operation was coordinated by Valentia’s Marine Rescue Centre, with the Shannon-based Rescue 115 helicopter also deployed. The boy’s body was later transferred to University Hospital Kerry, where a post-mortem examination will take place.
Jul 1, 2025 | BREAKING NEWS, NEWS
A Cork man has been jailed for a violent and disturbing attack on a woman in her own home.
Shane Casey, 32, turned up uninvited at the woman’s house in Blackpool while heavily intoxicated. He punched her multiple times, leaving facial injuries, threatened to kill her, and threw an urn containing her late partner’s ashes across the room
The terrified woman feared he was reaching for a knife during the ordeal. Casey also demanded money from her, forcing her to hand over €50. A neighbour intervened, and gardaí arrested Casey, who has 53 previous convictions. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard he suffers from severe mental health issues, including psychosis.
Defence counsel noted his guilty plea spared the victim from testifying and that he expressed remorse. Judge Helen Boyle described the incident as a frightening invasion of the woman’s home, emphasising that everyone has the right to feel safe in their own space. She sentenced Casey to three years, with the final nine months suspended.
Jul 1, 2025 | BREAKING NEWS, NEWS
A tragic discovery has been made in the village of Glounthaune, Co Cork, where an elderly couple, both in their 80s, were found dead in their home.
The alarm was raised yesterday after concerned relatives, unable to get a response, visited the house around 5pm and made the heartbreaking find at the bottom of the stairs. Gardaí arrived at the scene and launched a full technical examination.
The couple were well known and respected in the local community. While investigations are ongoing, there are currently no indications of foul play.
The coroner has been notified and both bodies were taken to Cork University Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The results will guide the next steps of the Gardaí’s investigation. The news has left the close-knit village in shock and sadness.
