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Deaf groups say their members haven't been able to get the Ophelia news they need

The Irish Deaf Society and the Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters have expressed their disappointment at the lack of sign language interpreters present during briefings regarding Storm Ophelia.

Screenshot 2017-10-16 at 16.28.43 A sign language interpreter working at the briefing of the National Emergency Coordination Group this afternoon - this was the first time such an interpreter had been present at these briefings

TWO PROMINENT BODIES representing the deaf have expressed their “deep disappointment and annoyance” at the failure of the emergency coordination group to alert those they represent to the “imminent dangers of Hurricane Ophelia”.

The Irish Deaf Society and the Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters directed their ire earlier this afternoon at the National Emergency Coordination Group (NEC) and Met Éireann, saying that “neither organisation has followed the growing international trend of using sign language interpreters when holding a public briefing session”.

This omission puts the lives and property of deaf Irish citizens in danger. The incident has left us wondering if the State has any concern for the lives and safety of deaf Irish citizens at all.
We have seen a number of live streaming videos from various media sources, with visual and verbal announcements which can be seen and heard, but for the vast majority of deaf Irish sign language users, these announcements are inaccessible. Hence we miss out on vital emergency information, which could end up being harmful to us and our dependants.
Were it not for interpreters who have volunteered to translate some of these safety announcements via social media, the situation may have been even worse.

“We stress how serious and unsatisfactory this situation is,” the groups’ joint statement concluded.

The move may have had the desired effect – at the 4.15pm briefing from the NEC in Dublin a sign language interpreter was present to translate the various speakers.

Live: Country in lockdown as Storm Ophelia kills three people

Read: Storm Ophelia: Thousands of households will be without power for 10 days

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Dec 12th 2015, 7:09 AM

    I know everyone deserves a shot but if paddy went to Romania and behaved like that, he’d be sure of a good hiding from the cops or have the book flung at him in the courts for a sentence he wouldn’t forget.

    315
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    Mute Andrea Brown
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    Dec 12th 2015, 10:35 AM

    In Balkan countries you do not mess with the police and jails make Mountjoy look like Disneyland.

    78
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    Mute Claire Healey
    Favourite Claire Healey
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:46 AM

    Why brin the Balkans into it? They have nothing to do with Romania!

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    Mute Claire Healey
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Why bring the Balkans into it? They have nothing to do with Romania!

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Dec 12th 2015, 12:00 PM

    The baltic weather sometimes causes brain-freeze, Romania is indeed part of the Balkan peninsula.

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    Mute Claire Healey
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    Dec 12th 2015, 12:10 PM

    Ah – I hadn’t realised the border extended all the way up to the Danube. I have been to a Baltic prison however, which would make any Irish prison seem like a 5 star holiday camp.

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    Mute Dawn Ní Shíocháin
    Favourite Dawn Ní Shíocháin
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    Dec 12th 2015, 7:27 AM

    And this is exactly why people reoffend.

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    Mute None
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    Dec 12th 2015, 8:51 AM

    Yes and no previous convictions translates as hasn’t been caught before until now. What a joke of a justice system we have, no wonder Dublin is in decay, there’s no consequence to bad behaviour.

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    Mute nikki
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    Dec 12th 2015, 9:38 AM

    St Vincent de Paul will prob pay the fine for him anyway

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:04 AM

    Why? To pay 3k every time?

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:06 AM

    First paragraph states that he has now paid the fine.
    Further down states that at court in June he was given 6 months to pay.
    6 months = december

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:22 AM

    Maybe he shouldn’t have paid the fine. He would have got “six months” but would have been let of of prison after an hour an a half.

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    Mute Dawn Ní Shíocháin
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    Dec 12th 2015, 12:41 PM

    He acted very violently in a corner shop to an innocent man doing his job. If this is his style of dealing with things that irritate him, who knows what he could do to source the €3000.

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    Mute Maximus
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    Dec 12th 2015, 7:25 AM

    €3000 = sorrow and regret are Genuine, Judge = Joke.

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    Mute Paul FitzGerald
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    Dec 12th 2015, 7:27 AM

    Seems as though the Romanian chap has integrated well with the local population.

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    Mute John Doyle
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    Dec 12th 2015, 8:02 AM

    Back on the boat for that Romanian parasite

    125
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    Mute bandido
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    Dec 12th 2015, 7:51 AM

    Not the first time of heard of that particular judge giving soft sentences

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    Mute Mr G
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    Dec 12th 2015, 8:09 AM

    I can bet it he headbutted a member of the emergency services. The story would be calling for mandatory sentences to be introduced. Do ordinary people not count when it comes to assault.

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    Mute Ronan McDermott
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    Dec 12th 2015, 8:52 AM

    Sounds like a real nice guy. 3000 for an attack like that involving bleeding caused by biting sounds too low. After blood testing it would have taken a long time to be sure he wasn’t infected with something.

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    Mute mickmc
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    Dec 12th 2015, 8:12 AM

    It’s a bit like a Scottish bloke I kind of half know who’s being living here about 15 years and is always giving out the eastern European “Foreigners” he has to work with. I point the irony out to him once but for some reason he didn’t consider himself a “foreigner”.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Dec 12th 2015, 9:29 AM

    You do know the history of population movement between Ireland and Scotland ?

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    Mute mickmc
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    Dec 12th 2015, 9:41 AM

    I’d have a working knowledge. What’s your point?

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Dec 12th 2015, 2:38 PM

    Brits abroad call themselves expats, not migrants, or emigrants. Everyone is a foreigner to them, regardless.

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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Dec 12th 2015, 9:34 AM

    I thought only white folks could be racist

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    Mute whereisspace
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    Dec 12th 2015, 9:54 AM

    Pop to any Middle Eastern country and you’ll see more racism in 1 day there than you would in 1 year in Europe. There’s no attempt to hide or discourage it over there.

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    Mute Ariana
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    Dec 12th 2015, 10:15 AM

    Most Romanians are white, so that’s a pointless comment.

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    Mute Liamnolan
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:25 AM

    Send the yoke back to where he came from…..

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    Mute John Molloy
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    Dec 12th 2015, 1:05 PM

    Madness that the incident happened in June 2014 and only getting sorted out now. Only arrived in Ireland and was unemployed.For this type of offence he should be told to “paint and decorate” Romania and be kicked out.

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    Mute Eddie Byrne
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    Dec 12th 2015, 1:52 PM

    Just deport him

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    Mute An Sciathán Deas
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    Dec 12th 2015, 1:06 PM

    If this was any other country with sane border laws he would be sent home after a long prison sentence.

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Dec 12th 2015, 11:02 AM

    3000 out of pocket. He will remember that the next time he is having a few scoops

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    Mute Paul Freeman
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    Dec 12th 2015, 12:23 PM

    Who hasn’t had a few scoops and then a good Indian meal.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Dec 12th 2015, 2:33 PM

    Sounds like the sort who wouldn’t want a Muslim consultant.

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    Mute Katherine
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    Dec 31st 2015, 5:02 AM

    Hello! Your site is great!
    How much time did you spend to write so awesome articlesHappy New Year T Shirts

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    Mute HotPotato
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    Dec 12th 2015, 12:56 PM

    Absolutely disgusting! If an animal bit a person it would be put down!! This vile person should be deported back to his motherland & never again be allowed back to Ireland. Much too lenient a sentence in my opinion.

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