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InvestigatesWicklow Army RangeINCOMING DUBLIN MID West TDs have said they are willing to meet with the survivors of a historic 1979 explosion in which three children died and others were injured.
Three children died and 10 others were injured when an unexploded Army shell exploded in the Glen of Imaal, a rugged, scenic area of the western Wicklow mountains on the 14 April 1979.
The Journal Investigates published an investigation into the explosion and its aftermath in September. The investigation uncovered a litany of issues with regards to health and safety on the Glen of Imaal firing range.
Survivors of the blast spoke to our team expressing anger over what happened and how they were treated by the State after. They called for the Government to apologise.
The Journal Investigates contacted the five incoming Dublin Mid West TDs to enquire whether they would be willing to meet with survivors, or the raise the matter during the incoming Dáil term. All five said they would be willing to meet with survivors.
“I’m fully aware of the need for the Government to make a formal apology and it’s something I would like to work with survivors and their families to pursue,” said new Independent TD Paul Gogarty.
But equally I don’t want to do anything that causes upset to anyone and does not have their consent.
“So I think an agreed approach is needed and in this context I’m happy to meet with people to see if we can come up with a course to action that everyone can broadly work towards,” Gogarty said.
This was echoed by sitting Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin, who was re-elected to the constituency with his party colleague Mark Ward.
He said it was important to hear “the views and concerns” of the victims and survivors. Ó Broin said it would be appropriate for the Dublin Mid West TDs to meet with survivors and their families to discuss with them “how they would like to proceed”.
“The best place to start would be to meet with them, listen to them, hear with what they have to say, and then raise it with the Dáil in the most appropriate manner,” he said.
Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins and new Fianna Fáil TD Shane Moynihan also both said they would meet with survivors if they wanted to meet.
The victims of the explosion were part of a group of children and youth leaders from St Mary’s Youth Club in Lucan who had travelled to the Glen for the Easter weekend. While out hiking, a member of the group picked up an unexploded Army shell, without realising what it was.
Later, another member of the group threw the shell against a rock and it exploded. Two boys – Derek Finn and Declan Kane – were killed instantly. Another boy – Victor Mills – later died from his injuries.
Ten children were injured (eight boys and two girls), five critically. Some of the injuries included severed and severely damaged limbs, shattered bones, burning and shrapnel damage. Others suffered long-term psychological trauma.
Following our investigation, the matter was raised in the Dáil by then-Dublin Mid West TD Gino Kenny. Lucan is located in the Dublin Mid West constituency.
“The families of the children never got an apology from the State. And considering this new information that has come forward, would this government consider giving the families of those that were affected and killed on the day, a state apology?” Kenny said at the time.
Minister Darragh O’Brien (who was standing in for Tánaiste Micheál Martin) said he was aware of the incident and would revert back to Kenny with an answer.
Kenny lost his seat in November’s election, but had received no response from the department by the end of the last Dáil term.
The Journal Investigates contacted the Department of Defence for a comment, but a spokesperson said it had no additional statement to make.
Commenting on what he would like to see from the next Dáil, Ron O’Neill – who was severely injured in the blast – said he wanted an acknowledgment from the State “that we weren’t in the wrong”.
“For [the State] to recognise that the Government at the time and the Defence Forces were at fault, and some type of an apology that would in some way ease the mental anxiety of people that were there at the time,” he said.
It’s been 45 years of physical, mental and financial hardship, and particularly for those that were injured and severely injured.
“I’d like some kind of apology and recognition from the Government to say they were in the wrong.”
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Especially when you have to interact with a machine any time you go into a branch
@Tom: Especially when they’re making 2 billion profit a year!
@Tom: Especially when the government instigated a €64 billion bank bailout from taxpayers money.
@Tom: Have to cover their losses when staff steal from them.
Revolut is free and offers a better service
@Keyser Söze: if a service is free then you are the product.
Revolut is full of spammy adverts pushing referrals and other such nonsense. In time they will bring in fee’s.
@Martin Bishop: still better than AIB or BOI literally charging what they do in fees……
@Keyser Söze: Wait until they start taking mortgage applications.
@ Martin: That platititude doesn’t really work with transaction fees. It’s more to do with paying membership. The banks hit you with plenty of advertising too.
@Keyser Söze: how fo you get money to revolut when its a requirment to have an irish bank account. Also need Irish account for business setup and some services only accept mainsteam bank accounts.
@Martin Bishop: I’ve not once ever had an advert or spammy advert in the Revolut app. So either your device is infested with malware, or you’re using some third party app (if they exist).
@Barney: It is an Irish account with the usual Irish IBAN
@Keyser Söze: They will bring in fees no doubt
@Keyser Söze: it’s not fully free as they charge for some transfers and currency exchanges, depending on your level of membership. But i find it much easier to use especially when going abroad and better rates for exchange when changing currency etc
@Martin Bishop: i have revolut premium or what it’s called, so many extras which i occasionally use and no ridiculous fees. If paid for 1 year in advance you even get a discount compared to monthly and those 8€ are much better value than ‘offline’ banks
@Martin Bishop: Zero ads on Revolut. Unless promotional emails for services are considered ads (they’re not). But you get those from your regular brick and mortar bank as well.
@Barney: There is zero requirement for an Irish bank account (even though a Revolut account is linked to an Irish IBAN). IBAN discrimination is forbidden in the EU. If the government or company refuses a non-Irish account, you should report them.
And the fact the banks arent paying any tax on profits is another joke on top of the high fees…
@Tom Newell: In fairness the banks never asked anyone for anything. Tis all their own graft. :/
And the other quarter thought the fees were grand?….. really???
@Peter B (V Eight): my thoughts too. Must be asking bank managers?
@Peter B (V Eight): maybe the other quarter, or some of them, thought the fees were too low
And cash machines all out of order … reduced staff .. worse they are becoming for higher fees
@D: Yoda?
@Scimon Harris: haha
@Scimon Harris: hahahahahajahahahaha
They charge 20 cent per tap, a rip off by all accounts. So greedy these banks and we still pay usc.
@Basildon Joe: while I’m not a fan ofvthe way banks charge fees…aib don’t charge anything for tapping payments
@Basildon Joe: No banks in Ireland charge anything for tap and pay contactless payments. I think some do charge for debit card chip and pin transactions though (use your phone to pay for free if transaction limits are an issue, or alternatively just pay with a credit card).
@Sean: incorrect. My AIB quarterly statement charges me 20 cent per contactless transaction, so this is a lot over the year and increases the charge of everything I pay with them. Obviously I try to transfer to revolut and use that, but AIB also charge per transfer to revolut. They charge for everything in fact, very bad. Then pay USC also for tha bailout still, yet they make 2 billion year? It is not right.
@Basildon Joe: AIB do not charge for contactless transactions. Check the itemised breakdown of your quarterly statement charges and it should explain that no such charges have applied. If you have been incorrectly charged for contactless transactions, you should submit a complaint to dispute these charges. You can cite the following statement on the AIB website:
“For debit cards the transaction fee is waived on contactless transactions until further notice”
@Kevin Collins: covid finished a long time ago. They have been charging for years since covid ended.
@Basildon Joe: No they haven’t Joe. No Irish bank applies fees for contactless payments. You are either mistaken or your bank has made an error. If the latter I suggest you contact them to request a refund.
@Kevin Collins: they charge for Gpay then? I am definitely being charged Kevin
@Basildon Joe: if using Gpay to pay with your phone, this is a contactless transaction which is free. You may be getting charged for using your debit card for other transactions such as chip & pin or online transactions or ATM withdrawals.
Your breakdown of fees should itemise all such transactions (note you could see e.g. €4 in contactless transaction fees, with a corresponding credit of this same €4 meaning it nets off as free.)
@Kevin Collins: thanks Kevin it looks like they have been charging me no 2 ways about it. They probably do this to loads of unsuspecting customers. They are for it now, I will take it up with them.
@Basildon Joe: if this is the case, I would most certainly contact AIB to enquire and/or complain. As you say yourself, 20c per transaction adds up to a lot over the course of a year.
@Kevin Collins: they won’t be plucking this turkey. Thanks Kevin and good luck.
@Basildon Joe: https://aib.ie/help-and-guidance/personal-current-account-fee-changes-faqs explaining:
What is the fee for a contactless transaction?
Currently we do not charge for contactless transactions. While contactless transactions carry a fee of 20 cent per transaction, we have not charged this fee since we introduced contactless payments in 2012. We announced on 4th September 2020 that we will continue to provide contactless transactions free of charge until further notice for all our customers.
Too HIGH for EVERYTHING in this kip
Incredibly, this means 25% of people think the charges are perfect. Who are these people?
As Brendan Behan said “what’s a banker but a robber with an office.”
Banks & Bankers are the lowest common denominator in Irish society. Bankers are white collar criminals in suits & their track record in Ireland has proven this. Even after all the scandals & Govt appointed over seers & being told the culture had changed, they couldn’t tell the truth around the Tracker scandal. Just like the RTE criminals, it had to be pulled out of them but by bit, rotten to the core & aided & abetted by our Govt, Central Bank & Regulators.
@SV3tN8M4: Indeed. Just look at Brendan Mullin’s shenanigans at BOI Private. Tip of the iceberg. How much more underhanded and criminal behaviour is going on?
Banks should pay US interest for use of OUR money. The money belongs to depositors, not to the bank! Banks have lost sight of this drastically important fact!
Do away with them
Yes when ffg get back in they will sort everything out.
Giving free money to everyone,
Take on the banks, build trillions of houses, cure all disabilities. Bless the homeless.
Turn carers into saints.
Can’t wait!
For Bankers…Replace the B with a W and you’re more accurate with the type of people/institutions they are.
I’ve ported over to Revolut. No fees, and never been happier.
Greedy Irish banks charge high low benefits for customers. Never pass on ECB rate cuts always have an excuse as why they can’t do it
I’ve transferred 65k to Revolut, but am unsure as what to do with the remainder, as I am concerned as to what happens if Revolut go belly up.
I get 4 euro post tax interest per day from Revolut.
BOI charge me 6 euro a month
@Paul: Very risky
@Sean Hayes: it’s not risky as revolut included in bank guarantee.
@Paul: They’ve been around for many years, and like with any other back you’re protected up to 100k. They have a full Irish banking license.
Using less cash and bank fees are higher. Something s wrong . Banks are ripping us off is what is
Everything is automated… just like how digital products got more expensive despite them not being affected by medium production cost and shipping… pure greed.
Hence the push for cashless, then every spend has like a new tax applied for allowing you spend you own money.
I get charged €10 per quarter I don’t use tap my account is only used for Skytv and broadband €69 and 48 mobile €12.99 and storage fees. My sister uses tap like there’s no tomorrow and her car comes out monthly and she gets charged over €50 per quarter tap is the killer
@Nemethon: tap and pay transactions are free with all banks in Ireland.
@Kevin Collins: what if through Gpay? Maybe this is what they charge the 20cent for.
@Basildon Joe: Google and Apple Pay are also free. You’re talking out of your a r s e Joe. All wireless payments are free.
Account fees. Too high
My background is in Financial Services (Underwriter not Banker) and I will NEVER engage with a mainstream bank again.
Everything I had (Mortgage, current account, overdraft, personal loan, credit card) was vis AIB.
I resigned from my job and missed a mortgage repayment. I hate being in debt so immediately put my place up on the market…
Having engaged with them fully and truthfully, I was guaranteed a moratorium.
However someone never pressed the button so I ended up with such a bad credit rating that I couldn’t even open another account. Ended up on the streets literally as a result. Lol after we bailed them out!!
@Donna Fallon: if i could definitely consider living off grid . Banks are ripping ordinary people off on daily basis
Not unlike ticketmaster charges…€24 of service charges on top of 3 tickets totalling €160. What are these charges actually for???
suck.it.up.and.smile.
They are definitely way too high, considering that they charge per electronic transaction, regardless of the amount, which is something that they don’t mention as they try to get more of us to do. I use cash and just withdraw the week’s budget at the start of the week and work off that, and only use electronic payments when I really have to.
Ptsb 8€ for what? 96€/year to have an account where the salary goes in, can have the same with revolut and several other perks which no irish bank offers bit don’t want to move savings
have your say