A Galway man who was involved in a tragic accident that left him paralysed has been made feel like a “bed-blocker” according to his family.

John Conneely, a 59 year old, retired Garda Sergeant from Salthill had been holidaying with his partner in Amsterdam when he felt unwell during dinner.

When he went outside to get some air, he passed out and fell down a series of steep granite stairs, breaking his neck and caused severe spinal cord damage.

After ten hours in the operating theatre, surgeons managed to save his life – but sadly it left him in a quadriplegic state.

After spending some months in hospital in the Netherlands, John was medevaced back to Ireland where he several weeks at the Mater Hospital and from there was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire where he is currently located.

Unfortunately this is only a temporary solution for John and he has already been told he will soon need to make provisions for finding alternative care.

His family have been forced to launch a fundraising to campaign to try to meet the growing costs of such care, given that that assistance from the state will fall far short of what John needs in order to have a minimum quality of life.

Speaking of the problem, John’s brother Jarlath stated, “There is a big issue there at the moment Dun Laoghaire – they want him out but they cannot offer him any place that will meet his needs. He needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week care, and sometimes there needs to be two people with him.”

“He is basically in the terminology of the bureaucrats a ‘bed-blocker,’ but he can’t go because has nowhere to go,” added his brother.

John currently resides in a three bedroom two storey house but given the unsuitability of the building he is been forced to sell his home.

He is looking to purchase a more suitable bungalow house that can be modified to suit his needs but once again this is serious financial drain on both John and his family.

“He feels terrible, on top of all his woes he really feels rotten about the situation he’s in because this has been put to him that he’s a bed ‘block-blocker’. He has been incredibly resilient and he’s an amazing fella and he was always turns the best side out when we are up with him in Dublin,” said Jarlath.

John had only retired from the Gardaí two years ago where he was a member of Garda Sub-Aqua Unit. Before the accident he was described as a very active man. “He was such a fit man. This guy loved life and loved swimming, walking and going to the gym,” his brother told the Connacht Tribune.

John has two children Jennie and Peter and one grandchild called Erin who are all said to be “absolutely devastated” following the heart-breaking incident.

His family have launched the “Jogging for John” campaign which aims to bridge the gap between the government funding and the actual financial costs of ensuring John has a reasonable standard of life. Family and friends of will partake in the Galway Bay 10K run to be held on October 1.

Thus far there have been donations bordering on €18,000 but they are hoping to raise in excess of €50,000. To donate to this fundraiser please do so at- https://www.fundandseek.com/joggingforjohn

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A young woman walking home from a party died instantly when she was thrown nearly 30 metres after being struck by a car, a Galway Inquest heard.

Tracey Melia (24) of Tumnahulla, Corrandulla suffered ‘catastrophic head injuries’ when she was hit by a drink driver who left the scene in the early hours of May 10 last year.

Tracey and her boyfriend, John McDonagh, had attended the after-party of a wedding in Peggy’s Bar at Aughclogheen, Corrandulla and had decided to walk the half mile home to her parents’ house.

They had been with Tracey’s parents earlier in the evening at the party and had enjoyed a night among friends and neighbours before heading home shortly after midnight.

The Coroner’s Court heard that there was no footpaths or public lighting and that John had used the torch on his mobile phone to assist them and alert motorists too of their presence.

They had just crossed the road as there was a wider road margin when they heard the noise of a car revving and then coming at high speed.

They jumped up onto the high verge but the car kept coming at them. John told the Inquest he kept waving his torch but he knew they were going to be hit.

Next he knew he woke up on the road and called Tracey’s name but he got no response. Then he saw her lying motionless on the road and he thought she had lost her leg so he ran for help as his phone was dead.

He ran the wrong way and got to Tracey’s home where he found a phone in her dad’s van which he used to call the emergency services.

Meanwhile, passing motorists had also called the emergency services and the road was closed to passing traffic.

A statement given by the drink driver – also a neighbour of Tracey’s – Stephen Flaherty was read at the Inquest.

He admitted to having drunk about 15 pints that evening in Peggy’s Bar and had driven home. However, he had no memory of the accident and was found unconscious in his car in his own driveway by Gardaí. He later cried in the hospital when he was told what had happened.

Flaherty has since been convicted of drunk driving and received a five year prison sentence and has been disqualified from driving for twenty years. He had a blood alcohol reading of 261mg/100mls.

Garda Ollie White, a road traffic accident forensic specialist, said he had concluded that the driver mounted the raised ditch before hitting the pedestrians and that there had been no evidence of him braking.

He estimated that the driver was doing between 59km and 72km per hour at the point of impact and judged this on how far Tracey had been thrown after the impact.

Dr Michael Curtis, pathologist, in his statement, concluded that the cause of death had been from catastrophic head injuries as a result of being struck by a car and thrown almost 30 metres. Her injuries would have caused instant death.

A jury of six returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

The Coroner, Ciaran McLoughlin, said it had been an extremely difficult and tragic case saying his heart went out to the whole family on the loss of a young vibrant woman.

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The Jobs Minister will visit the city tomorrow to launch a major research partnership.
CURAM is a Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre which unites academia and industry partners to push the boundaries of medical device research. It’ll be launched by Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
CURAM’s research hopes to push medical devices to the stage where they can mimic the body’s biology.
It’s hoped advancements in the field will lead to more effective treatment of chronic diseases including diabetes, Parkinson’s and heart disease.
The launch will take place at the Biomedical Sciences Building at Newcastle Road at 1pm tomorrow.
Meanwhile, six leaders of Ireland’s medical technology sector will be conferred with honorary degrees at NUI Galway.
John Power of Aerogen, Helen Ryan of Creganna, Ian Quinn of Creganna, John O’Dea of Crospon, Paul Gilson of MedNova and Veryan, John O’Shaughnessy of MedNova and Neuravi will all be recognised for their contribution to the sector.
The conferring ceremony will get underway at the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway at 5 tomorrow evening.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Gardai are at the scene of a three vehicle crash in Mervue.
The incident involving a bus and two cars happened near the Credit Union at Walter Macken Road at around 8.15
Motorists are being advised to avoid the area if possible.
It’s not yet known if anyone has been injured in the incident.

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The Gaeltacht Minister has secured €6m in funding to offset outstanding debts following the development of two harbours on the Aran Islands.
Junior Minister and Galway West/South Mayo TD Sean Kyne says the funds will cover the outstanding costs relating to the development and upgrade of Cill Rónáin Pier on Inis Mór and Caladh Mór on Inis Meain.
There were significant cost overruns on both the Caladh Mór project which was completed in 2008, and on the Cill Rónáin development which was completed in 2010.
Minister Kyne says the legacy debt has been an ongoing concern for the council, which can now focus on other responsibilities in relation to the islands.

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Residents of three apartment blocks in Salthill are still waiting for a meeting with city officials about flooding at Toft Park – six months on from when it was requested.

Last March, Galway City Councillor Niall McNelis asked engineers at the local authority to meet with Salthill residents, including those at Carraig Palmer, whose cars were ruined by floods while parked at Toft Park car-park.

As many as two dozen cars were flooded in January and last August as high tides and rain flooded the car-park beside the aquarium.

Several motorists who heeded the flood warnings and moved their cars out of the car park were subsequently ticketed for illegal parking.

The Labour Party councillor, who has had representations from residents, said he has requested a meeting for residents at City Hall several times in the past six months, but has yet to get one.

Cllr McNelis claims he has dealt with three different engineers for his request, and has been sent from ‘Billy to Jack’ and got nowhere.

“I was dealing with the Transport Department and now they are telling me that this isn’t a Transport Department issue and that it is a Parks Department. I really think the Council is not taking residents’ concerns seriously. It is very frustrating,” he said.

He said the meeting between officials and residents would cover three items.

“Firstly, I would be looking for the Council to liaise with the management companies in those apartments when they issue flood warnings, to alert residents not to park in the car park. It is a very simple thing that could prevent damage to cars in future,” he said.

Cllr McNelis said he would be seeking assurances that residents were not ticketed for parking illegally on the road having moved their vehicles out of the car park due to flooding. “There has to be some element of fairness and compassion,” he said.

The meeting would also discuss how the Council could improve its communication with residents, as well as use their local knowledge when implementing flood prevention measures.

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Local residents are up in arms that their much loved park has become the ‘Wild West’ of Galway.

Regular users of Doughiska Park contacted the Galway City Tribune about the state of the park, claiming the grass has not been cut all summer and the area has become a faeces-laden den where children and adults alike are at risk of serious accident due to the lack of maintenance.

Two dead rats were recently discovered at the entrance to Merlin Woods school.

Walkways have become extremely overgrown with weeds and brambles. Boulders which had been placed by the Council to prevent a Traveller encampment have been moved to the centre of the park and are being used by kids to jump off.

Doughiska Park was opened to much fanfare six years ago as a vital resource in an area under intense pressure due to rapid development in the boom years. However, it is now regarded as a no-go area by a large section of the community, according to one resident who bought a home there 11 years ago.

“Myself and my friend were walking up there the other week and there were two dead rats at the entrance to the school. It was absolutely disgusting,” remarked Rosaleen Garvey.

“The wooden slats on the path have become so grown over that if you fell, you’d break your leg. The place is used as a playground by dogs who run around without a leash and is full of faeces – there’s no signs up and when you ask people to pick up after their dog or put them on a leash, you’re told where to go.

“I was told by one man that I should be on a leash myself. My friend who is training for a marathon was bitten by one of these big dogs, she was also hit with a stick and abused verbally by one of the Travellers now living there. It’s got to the point we can’t go there anymore.”

Ms Garvey said she and several neighbours have rang Galway City Council several times and emailed the Parks Department to clean up the park.

But all to no avail.

In response to warnings that the boulders posed a health and safety risk to children, one official told her they had not been put there by the local authority.

“And then they’re on about stopping the kids from playing ball on the beach. One councillor is selling bottled air, another wanted the dustbins painted – you couldn’t make this up. All of us pay for those people to be in jobs. I went to a meeting once and it was like a bad episode of the Muppets.”

Some locals who used to take it upon themselves to pick up the broken bottles, cans and papers strewn throughout the green have given up in despair.

“All through the summer this has been left as a wasteland – the grass is five feet high. It’s like the wild west,” insisted Ms Garvey.

“It wouldn’t happen in Salthill or Barna, but because the majority of people who live here are foreign nationals they don’t care. People here are obviously not shouting loud enough.”

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People living in private rented accommodation in Galway City are paying an average of around €850 extra per year to their landlords compared to a year ago, according to new Government figures.

And the latest statistics from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) show that Woodquay has overtaken Newcastle as the most expensive location in which to rent.

The report shows that monthly rents in the city at the end of June were averaging €961 – up €71 (around 8%) from a year previously.

The RTB Rent Index is the most accurate rent report of its kind on the private accommodation sector in Ireland because it reflects the actual rents being paid, according to the RTB’s records, as distinct from the asking or advertised rent, which is the basis of other rent reports such as from Daft.ie.

An analysis of the figures by the Galway City Tribune show the most expensive location in the city in which to rent is Woodquay at an average of €1,098 (up 14% from €962 a year previously) and Newcastle at €1,060 (up 7% from €990).

The other most expensive areas in which to rent are Barna (an average of €975) and Salthill (€972).

The cheapest average rents were recorded in Ballybane at €760; Oranmore at €826 and Doughiska at €831.

Meanwhile, the report shows that monthly rents in the county at the end of June were averaging €866 – up €57 per month from a year previously.

The most expensive areas in which to rent in the county are Headford at €989 per month (up 2% from €966 a year earlier) and Barna at €975 (up 4% from €935).

However, the biggest jump in rents in county towns and villages over the past year was in Monivea, which is up almost 54% from €575 to €886 per month.

The cheapest areas in the county in which to rent were Portumna at €456 per month on average; Ballinasloe at €520; and Clifden at €543.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway is set to receive a sizeable employment boost from an NUI Galway-based global med-tech research centre.
CÚRAM, the centre for research in medical devices, is a research hub that focuses on the research and treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s and heart disease.
The centre has received backing of €68 million, and is partnered with Galway-based companies such as Medtronic and Boston Scientific.
Co-Principal investigator of CÚRAM, Professor David Braden says Galway’s medtech industry will benefit significantly.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – NUI Galway is one of the hosts for the new national Health Innovation Hub
It’s aim is to drive collaboration between the health service and enterprise, leading to the development of new healthcare technologies, products, and services.
Minister for Health, Simon Harris has officially launched Health Innovation Hub Ireland, a key element of the Action Plan for Jobs 2016 and the Programme for Government.
The Hub is hosted by University College Cork in partnership with NUI Galway, Cork Institute of Technology & Trinity College Dublin.
It’s supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland, and the Department of Health through the HSE.
The project will establish Ireland as a leading location for start-ups and expanding healthcare companies, allowing easy interaction with hospitals and primary care centres.

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Yet another extension has been granted for the current contract for the provision of the Aran Islands air service.
The tender deadline for an air service for the Aran Islands has already been extended several times in recent months – largely due to an impasse between the owners of Na Minna airport and the Department.
The latest extension has been granted following the provision of advice by the Attorney General to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Minister of State at the Department Fine Gael TD for Galway West and Mayo South, Seán Kyne has today approved the extension.
The original public service obligation contract for the Aran Islands air service has been due to expire at the end of this month.
Minister Kyne said he has approved the extension as it’s the best way of ensuring continuity of this important service.
He added that it also ensures that the applications for the new contract can be thoroughly evaluated and examined by the Office of Government Procurement without resulting in a gap in service.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – A decision is due next month on a planned upgrade of the waste water treatment plant in Glenamaddy.
The new facility will have more than double the capacity of the old one, which is located in an area prone to flooding.
The proposed works will include an upgrade of the existing sewers along the R362 and the contruction of rising mains along the R362 and the local road off the R362 leading to the townland of Mountkelly.
It also provides for a new waste water treatment plant in the townland of Mountkelly.
This would have an administration building, a sludge thickener tank and the would involve the construction of four treatment tanks.
Irish Water says the new plant is needed to replace the old existing plant which is overloaded and discharging partly treated effluent into a special area of conservation.
County planners are due to make a decision next month.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – There has been a 20 percent increase in sexual assaults in the city so far this year.
18 non-aggravated sexual assaults have been reported to Gardai since January, 3 more than the same period last year.
8 rapes have also been reported this year, according to the latest Garda figures.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Representatives of IDA Ireland are meeting with the Parkmore Transport Action Group this afternoon to discuss possible solutions to the Parkmore traffic controversy.
It’s been suggested that Galway Racecourse could be used as a Park n Ride facility for Parkmore employees.
The City CEO has agreed to look at the suggestion as part of the overall solution.
It follows An Bord Pleanala’s rejection of plans for a new link road at Parkmore following a series of appeals.
Galway West/South Mayo TD Hildegarde Naughton says using the racecourse is the ‘only feasible short term solution’ to the current gridlock experienced by employees at the industrial estate.
Speaking to Keith Finnegan, Racecourse Manager Michael Moloney says most of the access points at Ballybrit can only be used on a race day due to planning restrictions.
However, he says that doesn’t necessarily rule out the Park and Ride suggestion.

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The manager of Galway Racecourse says he’s winning to work with the IDA following suggestions that the racecourse could be used as a Park and Ride for Parkmore employees.
The City CEO has agreed to look at the suggestion as part of the overall solution.
It comes as the IDA meets with the Parkmore Traffic Action Group in a bid to find a solution to ongoing congestion problems.
It follows An Bord Pleanala’s rejection of plans for a new link road at Parkmore following a series of appeals.
Galway West/South Mayo TD Hildegarde Naughton says using the racecourse is the ‘only feasible short term solution’ to the current gridlock experienced by employees at the industrial estate.
Speaking to Keith Finnegan, Racecourse Manager Michael Moloney said most of the access points at Ballybrit can only be used on a race day due to planning restrictions.
However, he says that doesn’t necessarily rule out the Park and Ride suggestion.
Michael Moloney says racecourse management is willing to meet with the IDA to discuss the proposals.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – Gardaí are investigating after a derelict house in the city went on fire two nights in a row.
The vacant home at 111 Upper Newcastle Road went up in flames at around 11 last night.
Two units of the city fire brigade attended the scene, and it took almost two hours to bring the blaze under control.
A smaller fire was dealt with at the same premises on Sunday night.
Gardaí are now investigating, and are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious behavior in the area last night or on Sunday night to contact them at 091 – 53 8000

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Fáilte Ireland has still not detailed its plans for the future of the tourist office building at the Fairgreen, despite agreeing to furnish Galway City Council with a full report in August.

One councillor has now accused the tourism authority of treating the City Council with contempt.

Fáilte Ireland – which currently leases the building from the Council on a 99-year lease from 2004 – is attempting to sell the lease and move to a “suitable location”.

At a meeting of the local authority, Councillor Padraig Conneely said concerns had been expressed at a previous Council meeting about where the tourist office would move to, and issues in relation to the lease itself, as the Council has an interest in the building.

Cllr Donal Lyons pointed out that at that meeting, it was agreed that legal opinion be sought on Fáilte Ireland’s right to sell the lease, and that opinion be circulated to councillors. That had not happened, he said.

The Acting Director of Services for Economic Development, Community and Culture, and Corporate Services, Eileen Ruane, said a meeting had taken place with an executive from Fáilte Ireland, at which the Council’s Chief Executive Brendan McGrath had requested details on the body’s plans.

“They agreed to provide a report in August. We haven’t received it. We need to know what they propose to use it [the building] as before we go for legal advice,” said Ms Ruane.

Cllr Conneely said: “They’ve ignored you totally since August. Fáilte Ireland are treating us with contempt.”

Following the meeting, Cllr Conneely said: “They won’t tell me where they want to move to. I’ve asked, but they won’t tell me. I will be wanting assurances from Fáilte Ireland and the Council that any deal to terminate the lease agreement, will have to include plans for a new tourist office at a city centre location.

“Galway is a city dependent on tourism and a tourist office in a central location is a basic requirement for visitors. I will be asking for a central location, in and around Eyre Square; somewhere that is accessible,” said Cllr Conneely.

Last June, an executive from Fáilte Ireland informed the Council “as a courtesy” that it was disposing of its lease on the tourist office.

In a letter, they wrote: “The decision has been made in light of the building’s considerable ongoing maintenance cost and the emergence of an opportunity to sell the lease.

“Though a sale has yet to be agreed, we anticipate an expedient process. It is our intention to relocate to a suitable location in the city centre. Once we have agreed a location, we will make you aware of same.”

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Burn-out among researchers has been identified as an issue by management at NUI Galway.

Údarás na hOllscoile, the university’s governing authority, which is responsible for managing and controlling all affairs of NUIG, has been briefed on the problem.

It was stated at a Governing Body meeting last December that “there had been a high turnover of staff in the Research Office as a result of burn-out”.

It was said that a “solution for this problem must involve cross-functional training of replacement staff as a means of broadening the expertise available to the office”.

At the December 2015 Governing Body meeting it was noted that the university’s Support Services Annual Report made no reference to “gaps in research support services, especially in the Research Office.”

NUIG President, Jim Browne, said that the University Management Team “was aware of the problem” of burn-out among research staff. He suggested the Vice-President for Research, Professor Lokesh Joshi, “should brief the incoming new Údarás na hOllscoile on the work of the Research Office and the strategic and operational challenges it faces”.

In President Browne’s report to last February’s meeting of the Governing Body, it was noted that the university had won a “further research grant” of €650,000.

“The meeting warmly congratulated the member concerned,” said the minutes, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act.

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Galway Bay fm newsroom – City planners have approved plans for improvement works at St. Anne’s child and adolescent mental health unit at Merlin Park Hospital.
The HSE is leading the plans for a single storey extension on the north-eastern side of the adolescent unit, consisting of a meeting room, together with associated internal changes.
The project also involves a single storey extension on the north-western side of the adolescent unit, consisting of two additional single bedrooms.
There will also be a single storey extension consisting of a link building with one additional bedroom and homework room between the children’s unit and the adolescent unit on the southern side of the complex.
City planners have approved the project with seven conditions.
Demolition and construction activity is to be carried out between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 1pm on Saturday.

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