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William Murphy

'Slow, tortuous, difficult and costly': The tale of Galway Port's long-delayed expansion plans

The west of Ireland port first applied for development approval in 2014.

ON THE FACE of it, the Port of Galway appears in rude health.

Its operations have been largely profitable since the turn of the decade, with bulk traffic continuing to climb last year as the port processed nearly 600,000 tonnes of goods.

Revenue rose 12% in 2016, while its operating profits were up nearly 20% to just under €820,000 – further bolstered by a property sale that netted the port €5 million to fund its expansion plans.

However, those behind the port fear it may be left behind as long-delayed redevelopment proposals, which would bring the facility into the 21st century, remain in limbo three years after planning documents were first filed.

According to Eamon Bradshaw, who heads the Galway Harbour Company, the facility is largely dependent on oil shipping – and with oil companies using ever-larger ships, the constrained facility may be fast out of business.

He says the works would help give it a fighting chance and prevent a terminal decline for a commercial entity that dates back to the 1800s.

“We’re three and a half years into that process. It has been slow and torturous, difficult and costly,” he tells Fora.

“We would hope by the middle of next year that there would be a final decision in relation to the planning process. I’m optimistic.”

Galway Port 1 Galway Port at present YouTube YouTube

Size restraints

The Port of Galway is constrained by its size. The gated port is only open four hours each day due to tides and is restricted in the sizes of ship it can service.

Last year, it was only the eighth-busiest port in Ireland by total goods tonnage – handling less than 3% of the cargo processed by Dublin Port and around 5% of that processed by Shannon Foynes.

Bradshaw, who has been the chief executive of the state-owned Galway Harbour Company since 2008, says the first decision to expand the port was mooted in the early 2000s.

However, it took until January 2014 for concrete plans to be lodged with An Bord Pleanála. The €126 million project to overhaul the area was pinned as a ‘strategic infrastructure development’, a designation intended to speed up the planning process.

The works, which would be carried out over four phases, would involve the construction of new deep water berths, a marina and nautical centre at the port. This would allow for larger ships, such as cruise liners, to dock at the port.

The organisation also applied for Iropi – or Imperative Reasons for Overriding Public Interest – status, an EU derogation also designed to speed up approval of the plans.

However, the strategy appears to have further complicated matters.

Galway Port 2 Proposed Galway Port layout post development YouTube YouTube

Objection

Some 126 submissions, including objections by Shannon Foynes Port Company and An Taisce, were lodged with the national planning authority about the expansion plans in Galway.

A year after it first applied for planning, an oral hearing was held in Galway and An Bord Pleanála held the application under consideration.

Later that year, the planning board was due to give a final decision, however it wrote to Galway Port to say it was still weighing the case and required further information before it could make a judgement.

“They asked us to submit compensatory proposals for the development,” says Bradshaw. “When you take away part of a habitat like we would by moving the ports berth, we must compensate somewhere else.

“We submitted those compensatory proposals in November 2015, and that has been the process to date. We have received no deadline for when we can expect a decision.”

A spokeswoman for the planning authority told Fora that a decision is expected by 28 September of this year. However, she also noted that usually with larger cases like that of Galway Port, the board may not meet the deadline.

Galway Port 3 An artist's impression of the new port terminal. YouTube YouTube

Lobbying attempts

As the first Irish development to use the Iropi provision, Bradshaw accepts the port plans have been tough for planning officials to assess as they wrestle with the new system.

With that process under way, he has been left with little choice but to wait – and to squeeze officials for faster progress.

This year alone, the Port of Galway has lobbied the Irish government on a number of occasions for a progress report on its long-delayed development.

It has also made its case  to political representatives for receiving upgraded port status in next year’s revised national ports policy.

Bradshaw says as Galway is only designated a tier-three ‘port of regional significance’, it misses out on a large amount of EU funding that could help bankroll the development.

Tier-one and -two ports can apply for up to one-fifth of the funding needed for development works, but he says that leaves Galway in a ”catch-22″ situation.

“Not being a tier-one or tier-two port means we can’t qualify for EC funding or any kind of funding because government is not allowed to support commercial ports, it only supports fishing ports.

“We make the argument we are servicing the entire west coast, 1,500 km from Loop Head up to Derry and also the entire province of Connacht and Donegal and into the midlands.”

28985912975_ed147a95b1_k Galway Port William Murphy William Murphy

Plan B

Besides shipping facilities, the port has other streams of income, including renting properties and providing car parking services. Bradshaw says these subside “to a large degree” the core operations at the port.

If the expansion plans fail, he says the port will need a plan B – which would likely involve improvements at the existing port and widening the gate for vessels – “but that would be totally unsatisfactory”.

“Ships nowadays are getting bigger and bigger because the cost benefit of using bigger ships is obvious.

“The port is too small – if we have three ships in, it’s the maximum you can fit in at any one time.”

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Written by Killian Woods and posted on Fora.ie

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    Mute Gene Parmesan
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:16 PM

    What is the point at this stage?

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    Mute John
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:16 AM

    Because he did the crime and that was the stipulated penalty !!

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 7:39 AM

    In this country he would serve 6 years .

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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:52 PM

    Incorrect Dave. Life can mean life here; it’s discretionary but there is no alternative to a life sentence if convicted of murder here.

    Catch the Journals recent 3 Part Series on Lifers; currently 31 Prisoners who’re serving 20 years +.

    Jimmy Ennis is 87; he’ll die in prison, another guy there 42 years.

    John Shaw & Geoffrey Evans? One of them died after a stroke; other one’s in Castlerea & unlikely to see light of day.

    Average Life Sentence here is 18-22 but it is discretionary; look at MacArthur; 30 years he did.

    There is absolutely no guarantee that once sentenced to life you will ever be released. None.

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Feb 3rd 2016, 1:41 AM
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    Mute Ísla Carabine
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:15 PM

    I disagree with the death penalty but this man has already served his time. Without making light of a murder, there are a lot worse out there like serial killers, rapists etc that should technically be in his place. The US justice system is so warped, he’s already been in hell for decades.

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    Mute John Collins
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:56 PM

    Been in hell for decades? Yeah if he’d been in solitary confinement for the whole time, which he wasn’t. Its not that bad.

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    Mute Ísla Carabine
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:57 PM

    The article states that his case is being used as an example because he was kept in solitary confinement

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    Mute Ísla Carabine
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:15 PM

    There’s no defending that but still, human rights should be observed

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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:40 PM

    And what about the human rights of the person he killed?

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    Mute JayK
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 10:46 AM

    What about them?

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    Mute BannerBoyDesmond
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:21 PM

    Brandon Astor Jones was sentenced to death for the June 17, 1979 murder of 29-year-old gas station manager Roger Tackett. Jones and Van Roosevelt Solomon were arrested at the scene after an officer just happened to drive up and heard gunshots. In the storeroom, the officer found Tackett’s body. He had been shot in the arms and legs and beaten before the fatal shot was fired into his skull.

    Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time!

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    Mute Gene Parmesan
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:27 PM

    He has done 36 years…the sentence was supposed to be death. Why wait?? That’s a ludicrous stay of execution.

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    Mute BannerBoyDesmond
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:43 PM

    I would guess that he kept finding new grounds to appeal and prolonged the appeal process. Now his time has finally ran out..

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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:56 PM

    He’s damn right to use/abuse/manipulate the system to save his own life; think most of us in his situation would if what you’re saying re appeals is true.

    Desperation to preserve his life is totally understandable.

    But the Death Penalty is wrong for so many reasons. It’s barbaric.

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    Mute Breno Rodgers
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:17 PM

    In Ireland he would of gotten out 30 years ago and would be treated like nothing happened. Although I really think after spending 36 years in solitary confinement he should be released and definetely not killed.

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    Mute Valo
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:58 PM

    Released? What planet are you living on, he beat, shot and killed an innocent shop worked! Albeit 36 odd years ago, but he should get a life sentence instead of a death sentence. We’re too lenient with sentencing here. Had it been here he would have got 12years or with a few suspended for “good” behavior.

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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:02 AM

    The sentence is apt. he should serve 40 and leave him out.

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    Mute JayK
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 10:51 AM

    The average time spent in prison in Ireland on a life sentence is 20 years. Sorry about that, I know you all like to pretend it’s shorter because you love being constantly outraged about everything. Maybe you should try being outraged about something that’s actually true instead of making things up.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/average-life-sentence-up-to-two-decades-from-7-years-in-1980s-1.2181655

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:24 PM

    To keep someone locked up for 36yrs and then put him to death is pure and simple sadism but then the whole US justice system is warped

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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:29 PM

    They sure as hell know how to deal with white collar crime though.

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    Mute Fergal Concannon
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:38 PM

    No they don’t. A few token incarcerations so does not mean they are dealing with white collar criminals…

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    Mute Frank Mac
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:47 PM

    He has done 864 Months

    # 44

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    Mute Frank Mac
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:48 PM

    Age that should be

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 7:42 AM

    I agree with Martin I think what the system did is as barbaric as the murder.

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    Mute Tom Burke
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:21 PM

    What a sick barbaric country.
    The answer to murder is not murder.
    Death penalty is wrong.

    An eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.

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    Mute Tony Hogan
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:32 PM

    You got it in on

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    Mute Kenny Concannon
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:24 PM

    Was it Gandhi that once said “An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind”?

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    Mute Teddington
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:41 PM

    But Gandi was wrong! As long as you don’t take someone else’s eye you have nothing to fear and those who do take eyes will find themselves short an eye! It works perfectly! Do onto others as you would have them do to you seems more fitting to me!

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    Mute TheCredibleHulk
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:34 PM

    He’s not being put to death for no reason. Good riddance

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    Mute Ronano LeTucci
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:00 PM

    And what about the poor store clerk who lost his/her life? Barely got a mention in this post and wasnt given an opportunity to live his/her life back so many yes ago..as usual lets not focus on the victim and feel sorry for the perpetrators!!!!!

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    Mute Luke Sarpish
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:27 PM

    Why was he on death row for 36 years?. It’s usually 10 after all the appeals.

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    Mute Jeanette McDonald
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:38 PM

    @luke, many have spent more than 20 yrs in death row in America.

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    Mute Luke Sarpish
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:00 PM

    Why is there such a difference in conviction to execution date, in so many different cases?. Just curious.

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:30 PM

    Good Riddance.

    31
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    Mute tuigim
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:21 PM

    Dept. of Corrections?
    Cén corrections a rinne siad?

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    Mute Rumpelstiltskin
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:55 PM

    America is such a confused country. Plenty of people over there are pro-life, pro-guns and pro-capital punishment. It don’t make no darned sense

    28
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    Mute Frank Mac
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:21 PM

    A Dog is shot dead by US cops every 98 minutes,

    10
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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:33 AM

    Are they white dogs or black dogs?

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 5:25 AM

    Some States have the death penalty, some don’t. However there should be a time bound limit on the process of appeals.

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 7:44 AM

    Black and white Spanish speaking Chinese dogs.

    3
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:27 PM

    Barbarous and pointless.

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    Mute Ridiculous
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:34 PM

    For taking another life ,he should spend the rest of his life in prison to die

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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:11 PM

    He is spending the rest of his life in prison.

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    Mute Ridiculous
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 1:39 AM

    He is not. They are executing him tomorrow

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    Mute Demise Grad
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 3:34 AM

    Will he ever live a day outside prison? No. Therefore he is spending the rest of his life in prison. I suspect you mean they should keep him in and let nature run its course, not execute him.

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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 2:20 PM

    Yes, Ridiculous, he will be spending the rest of his life in prison.

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:54 AM

    I for one have mixed feelings about the death penalty in so far as I think it’s a total contradiction in terms that a nation that illegalises killing amongst its citizens can be legally allowed to kill its citizens itself. I could debate that till the cows come home but in any event, I really don’t see the point of execution in this case. He’s served time, he’s not going to be released, why not let nature run its course?

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    Mute Stiofán De Priondárgas
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:04 AM

    I heard a man say to his wife after 25 years married “if I murdered you that day I’d be free now” which is true, we are so lenient in comparison to the U.S. Life should be life, I’m not so sure on capital punishment though

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    Mute Seán Ó Donnaile
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:27 PM

    Two wrongs don’t make a right, a death for a death is illogical in this day and age. I would have liked to have thought humanity had evolved from these customs but no.

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    Mute John Brendan Mullen
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:47 PM

    And justice for all. ? Seems like a case of bureaucratic murder. Surely he has literally done a life sentence. ?

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    Mute Frank Mac
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:31 PM

    Murder of the old folks

    # Only in America.

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    Mute John
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:21 PM

    Eh! The Store clerk was only 29, hardly ‘Old Folks’???

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    Mute John
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:18 PM

    The cheek of the Department of Corrections to keep appealing the ‘Death’ sentence for 30 odd years just to keep him alive,

    Oh sorry that was the ‘Do-Gooders’ Lobby and his well paid lawyers.

    He got a choice about his future, the store clerk working for a living didn’t so all the weenies should cop themselves on

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    Mute Jack Mulveen
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:38 PM

    Totally savage treatment of a prisoner

    15
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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:35 PM

    In 1979, Jimmy Carter was President.
    Pink Floyd released their bestselling album “The Wall.”
    Denim overalls were in, Mork and Mindy was on TV, and news about the Iranian hostage crisis dominated every headline.
    His co-accused Soloman was executed in 1985.
    Brandon Jones writes a blog about life on death row.
    https://brandonswriting.wordpress.com/about/

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    Mute John
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:31 PM

    @Oran

    Could you point us to the ‘blog’ written by Roger Tackett just for a bit of balance or do victims not count??????

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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Feb 1st 2016, 11:34 PM

    I’m not arguing against the death penalty.
    Just sharing some information with the community.

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    Mute Niall Power
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    Feb 1st 2016, 10:35 PM

    Stay classy Merika!

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    Mute Frank Mac
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 1:13 AM
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    Mute Anthony Kielthy
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:40 AM

    Cap him !

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 6:41 AM

    Primitive backward barbarians and cruel to the core…What a sick nation of people to allow such disgusting behaviour.

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    Mute Pat Gorman
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 6:51 AM

    The American prison industry is completely privatized.
    Prisons are one of the biggest industries in America.
    Locking people up forever makes billions for the American prison corporations.
    “Three strikes and you are out” was concocted by the American prison industry.
    (Eternal prison,without possibility of being released, for being naughty 3 times when you were a teenager).
    .
    A few executions here and there makes no difference to the profits of the vast American Prison Industry.

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    Mute Greg Power
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 8:29 AM

    I’m totally against the death penalty for two reasons, if you execute the wrong person, you can never take it back, and if it was in fact a real deterrent then surely people wouldn’t commit murder. Letting him rot in a cell is the right thing to do in my book.

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    Mute Keith McDonagh
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 10:10 AM

    It’s all well & good letting them rot in a cell, but with more and more prisoners being added to the system, all that will lead to is prison overcrowding. Then to combat that, they have to let some prisoners out earlier than expected. For murderers, rapists & the like, if all the right evidence is there, it should be death, & not death row for 30 years, death immediatly on conviction.

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    Mute Eilis Scott
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 1:02 PM

    Keith we’re talking about the US. They don’t release prisoners early because of overcrowding, they build more prisons.

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    Mute Keith McDonagh
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 1:17 PM

    Elis, if life meant life over here & overcrowding became an issue. Would they build more and more prisons then? Even in the US, there’ll come a time when they can’t build anymore.

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    Mute Allison Smith
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 6:35 AM

    Why is this making Irish news?

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 12:08 PM

    36 years is an excessively long sentence. What’s the point, I mean really. Unless he’s some crazed serial killer, I’m sure he’s learned his lesson and holds that guilt very close to his chest.
    He’s taken someone else’s life and rightly so he was punished. He should have been released years ago.
    He took someone’s life, but he is a human being too and this isn’t a perfect world where everything is equal.

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    Mute Missyb211
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 6:50 AM

    After all those years in prison and solitary confinement it would be cruel to let him out too at this stage! He wouldn’t last p***ing time!

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    Mute Eilis Scott
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 1:05 PM

    The US for-profit prison system is totally corrupt. Only a couple of years ago in the ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal, a former judge in Pennsylvania, Mark Ciavarella, was sentenced to 28 years for racketeering and receiving kick-backs for incarcerating children as young as ten for such heinous crimes as cursing at a friend’s mother, stealing a jar of nutmeg and sometimes no crime at all.

    The US has the highest prison population in the world, this is not likely to change. It’s one of the fastest growing industries in America with massive profits being made by investors on Wall St. The US has 25% of the world’s prison population but only 5% of the world’s people. Many inmates now work for various industries for 25c an hour and if they refuse to work they’re placed in solitary confinement.

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    Mute Malachy Diamond
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    Feb 2nd 2016, 11:59 AM

    Wait till Trump is president. America will make more sense then

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