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Sunday World
a day ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Women using cocaine as ‘low fat alternative' to alcohol sees sharp rise in drug use
'loophole' | 'There's a lot more stigma and shame for women entering treatment' . According to the Rutland Centre rehab clinic's 2024 annual report, a 'growing national crisis' has evolved through the use of cocaine in this country. While children are storing cocaine in their school lockers, the centre's head of clinical services, Emma Kavanagh, described how young women feel like cocaine will not impede their weight-loss journeys or progress in the gym. 'If they were to use alcohol, it would negatively affect those things,' she also told 'So, cocaine is nearly kind of a loophole to get a buzz without having to ingest additional calories.' . News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29 Cocaine accounted for 23 pre cent of all admissions last year to the private rehab clinic, the new figures reveal. This is up from 17 per cent in 2023 and is 'one of the sharpest single-year increases the Rutland Centre has recorded for any substance', the Dublin-based centre warned. Rutland CEO Meave Mullany told RTÉ Radio how women traditionally face more barriers to entering treatment than men. 'There's a lot more stigma and shame for women entering treatment,' she said. 'There's a lot more considerations around childcare, around family life, so they tend not to come forward for treatment as frequently or as often as men do. Ms Mullany said according to people coming in for treatment cocaine is 'literally everywhere'. 'It's in the lockers, it's in school, it's after sport,' she said. 'We even hear from clients coming into treatment that there's an app that people can use to order it by drones,' she remarked. In response to this crisis, the centre has announced plans to open a dedicated inpatient detox unit later this year. Read more More than 200 people received intensive treatment through Rutland's residential and outpatient programmes in 2024, as staff answered more than 16,800 calls and facilitated over 11,000 aftercare attendances. According to the Health Research Board's latest drug treatment figures, cocaine is now the most common problem drug among new treatment cases, accounting for over 30% of all new presentations, and overtaking cannabis for the first time. Men made up two-thirds (66 per cent) of those treated at the Rutland Centre in 2024, with women accounting for 34 per cent. The age group with the most people seeking help was those aged 25 to 44, who represent more than half of all clients. 'These figures highlight the age and gender realities of addiction in Ireland today, with younger adults and men continuing to face particularly acute risks,' the facility said in a statement. The Rutland report also revealed that 94 per cent of residential clients completed the full treatment programme, while 89per cent of those who moved into aftercare remained in active recovery. Many former clients attribute Rutland their life-changing recovery to the Rutland with one former client, Chris, saying that when he arrived four years ago, he was 'completely broken'. 'The 35 days in the house was the hardest of my life. I finally had to face me. 'Now I look back and recovery hasn't just been about sobriety, it's about growing up and reconnecting with the people I love.' He added: 'Halfway through, I wanted to leave, I wanted to run – but that same night something clicked, no one else was going to do this for me. I needed to show up for myself. What's happened since still blows my mind.'
Extra.ie
29-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Victims detail abuse suffered under care of predator brother
Edward Phiri is 37, the father of four young children aged between four and eight. He lives in a one-room, mud-brick home in Mzuzu, Malawi, and supports his family by selling potions that his wife makes from herbs in the local market. As a child, although Edward had parents, he often slept rough at the bus depot in the centre of Mzuzu. Edward Phiri and Makaiko Bando Chimaliro. Pic: File In 1999, at age 11, Brother Aidan Clohessy invited Edward home to wash his clothes and bathe. Then the abuse started. 'He used to wash my penis. Of course, I was young. I didn't know what was happening but most of the time when I took my bath he would come and take my penis – – touch my penis. Now, as I am mature, I can say he was doing it like masturbation. But I was young, and didn't understand.' Edward was also physically punished, accused by Brother Aidan of stealing wine. The abuse and punishment led him to consider suicide. 'During my time, I used to even think to hang myself,' he told 'I went home and I take strings. I even put strings up in the house to kill myself, but some neighbour passing by took me from those strings.' Aidan Clohessy, a former Christian Brother. Pic: Collins Courts Today, despite Edward's experiences with St. John of God, he remains dedicated to religion, working alongside a local pastor. 'Brother Aidan, yeah, he was a man of God but you know sometimes the devil uses such people,' he said. Edward told us that he is happy to speak out, as he hopes this will encourage others to come forward. In 2022, Edward sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order. The order ultimately settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. Looking to the future, Edward is planning to buy a farm and a house for his family. 'I think there is hope that somehow, something might change in my life,' he said. Makaiko Bando Chimaliro is a 42-year-old gardener and father of five children aged between eight and 22. Makaiko and his wife and family live in a shed-like home made from mud bricks on the outskirts of Mzuzu. Aidan Clohessy, a former Christian Brother. Pic: Seán Dwyer He met Brother Aidan on the streets of Mzuzu in January 1995, when he was 12. 'He was in the company of some black men,' Makaiko told 'They approached us, and they said to us that the man worked for St John of God and he wanted to help us – to remove us from the streets because the streets are dangerous and we could easily be killed. 'We were happy that this white man was going to take care of us.' Makaiko recalled being bathed by Brother Aidan. He also spoke of beatings: 'If we didn't go to school, he would ask you to take off all your clothes and then lie down. Then he would whip you naked.' Describing other abuse, he added: 'There were two bathrooms in Brother Aidan's yard – outside and in the house. When he tells you to go and bathe in the bathroom in the house, he would come there and then start having you help him masturbate.' Makaiko remembers there were 'about 15' other boys living at Brother Aidan's compound. He said the boys slept inside Brother Aidan's house, but knew not to go inside when there were visitors or until the cook left each evening. Saint John of God. Pic: File 'The cook would leave, and then we were able to go into the house at around 7.30. But whenever the cook was in the house, we would never enter the house,' he recalled. Makaiko said that he is angry at those who sent Brother Aidan to Malawi. 'What makes me angry is the fact that someone in Ireland knew that he was a risk to us, and they still decided to send him to Malawi to do the same work where he was exposed to more kids. That makes me disappointed and angry at the authorities for doing that.' In 2023, Makaiko sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order. The order settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. But Makaiko said: 'No matter how much compensation we get, it's not enough because the pain and the hurt goes deep. It's beyond compensation. There is no amount of money that can make up for the shame and the pain that we've gone through.' John Phiri. Pic: File John Phiri is 36 years old and has never had a home or a steady job. He met Brother Aidan when he was just eight, living at the bus depot in Mzuzu, where street children slept. He then went to live with Brother Aidan, where at first things were good. 'After four years, he began to treat us badly,' John told 'He used to abuse us in different ways. He used to touch our buttocks. 'One day he gave me a soft drink, and in two minutes I fell down. I was knocked out. I didn't know what happened for some time. 'But when I got up, I realised my buttocks were hurting. 'I didn't know what was causing the pain until I went to the toilet. Then I realised something was wrong. The pain lasted for a whole four days.' John went to hospital, where he was told: 'You've been raped.' 'I couldn't do anything because I was so young and I did not know what to do,' he recalled. 'It hurts me so much. How could a man have sex with me? I feel like I was robbed of my future. It hurts me. Sometimes I even want to kill myself.' John said he wants those who put him at risk to face justice. 'The fact they knew he was a threat to kids here in Africa shows they are very bad people. What I want to say is I wish they would get arrested. I would be very happy to see that.' Last year, John sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order, Donatus Forkan. The order settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. 'I will try to start a business, to multiply that money and make life better,' John said. Stephen Chiumia. Pic: File Stephen Chiumia is a 33-year-old carpenter from Mzuzu. He was orphaned as a child and grew up in the streets of the city, moving around daily to find shelter and food. In 1999, when he was aged 11, he met Brother Aidan. 'Brother Aidan said he could help us,' Stephen told when we met him in Mzuzu. 'He picked us up and took us to St John of God.' Stephen then lived in Brother Aidan's walled compound, on the outskirts of Mzuzu, for five years, until he was 16. Being bathed by Brother Aidan was a routine that took place two or three times a week. 'Sometimes he raped us, sometimes he played with our private parts, sometimes he beat us,' he recalled. 'Most of the things he was doing, he was doing when we went to the bathroom. He would take us to the bathroom, one after the other.' Stephen and the other boys living in Brother Aidan's house felt imprisoned with no escape. 'We could not get out because there was a guard. The guard did not let us get out. His orders were not to let us get out.' Stephen said he is still affected by the abuse he suffered. 'It hurts me that he did this to me. I can tell you if I met him today, things would not end well.' In 2024, Stephen sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order. The order settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. But no one apologised, something Stephen mentioned that he would like. Instead, he said, 'They just gave me money'.
Extra.ie
05-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Amanda Brunker 'numb and exhilarated' as stalker jailed
Broadcaster Amanda Brunker has broken her silence after a convicted rapist who threatened and harassed three female Sunday World journalists was sentenced to 11 years behind bars. Mark McAnaw, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. Mother-of-two Amanda, who was in court on Thursday as 53-year-old McAnaw was led away in handcuffs, spoke to directly after sentencing, saying she feels both 'numb and exhilarated' at the outcome of what was a harrowing ordeal. Amanda Brunker. Pic: Collins Courts Journalist and popular Irish personality's seven-year stalking nightmare began back in 2017 when, unbeknownst to her, Mr McAnaw developed a dangerous fixation on her from his jail cell, where he was serving a lengthy term for a violent kidnapping, rape and assault of a woman. McAnaw has a litany of previous convictions, which include a conviction of raping a foreign student in Donegal in October 2010. He was convicted by a jury in 2012 of orally raping and sexually assaulting the student. He was sentenced to nine years in prison for this offence. Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds. Pic: Collins Courts McAnaw also has a 1989 conviction for kidnapping and convictions for assault causing actual bodily harm from a Derry court in 2011. He also attacked a woman in her home days after they had gone on a date together in April 2018. In this incident, he was armed with a large kitchen knife when he forced his way into a woman's home. McAnaw received an eight-year, four-month sentence for this in June 2023, backdated to 2018, when he went into custody. Amanda Brunker. Pic: Collins Courts It was during the 2018 prison term that McAnaw's obsession with Amanda began to ferment. 'He was in jail already for a really violent rape and kidnapping,' Amanda told 'And when he was in jail, he was reading my column in The Sunday World, and he developed a fixation on me and two other journalists at the paper.' Upon his release, McAnaw's jail obsession followed him into the real world, where he actively sought out Amanda and initiated contact, sending her sexually explicit and threatening messages on social media. 'He started sending me messages through Facebook, and they were very, very explicit messages,' she said. 'He was threatening to kill me, saying he wanted to rape me and sending me other threats of what he was going to do to me through private message on Facebook. So, yeah, he's a really, really dangerous man and he is a threat to all women, not just me,' Amanda told us. Amanda once again immediately reported the messages, and gardai quickly identified Mr McAnaw. 'It was terrifying. It was all kind of surreal, as in you think 'how can this be happening?'' An extrovert by nature, Amanda said the most terrifying part of the entire seven-year ordeal was that she had no idea who this man was or, more pertinent, what he actually looked like. 'And that was the most terrifying thing, because, you know, he was protected because of GDPR and there was no photograph of him anywhere,' she said. 'Nobody could give me a photograph. I couldn't give a photograph to show my kids. I couldn't show my family or my friends to say 'hey this is somebody we need to look out for'. 'There was only one photograph of him from a grainy CCTV image taken from a cafe that was posted on Facebook, and I had no clue how old it was. I think it was about 20 years old. But you wouldn't recognise him. He could have been standing beside me and I wouldn't have even known, which was terrifying.' As a result of daily facing an unknown assailant, Amanda is now calling for the mandatory release of mug shots of all dangerous offenders. 'There is innocent until proven guilty and all that. But this person is most definitely not innocent. And I had no way of knowing what he looked like. So yeah, if someone is found guilty and sent to jail for crimes like this, they should have their mug shots out there for all the world to see.' As a result of living in perpetual fear, Amanda, not knowing where danger lurked, said she had to change her routine and even curtailed her social engagements. 'I gave a statement about him back ages ago, and then he got convicted for something else,' said Amanda. But if she had thought her predator had been stopped in his tracks, her worst fears were very soon to be once again realised. 'So then I was horrified when I saw messages from him again in August of 2023. He started messaging me again publicly on Facebook. And I just knew this guy just wasn't going to stop.' Amanda once again notified the authorities, who she says acted immediately to ensure McAnaw was apprehended before he could seriously harm Amanda or any other woman whom he set his sights on. 'This is the mad thing that there's nothing in place that you don't have to be notified when the predator is back out.' Upon his release, McAnaw upped his attempts to make physical contact with Amanda. 'He had already done another three and a half years in jail, and then when he came back out again, he was back sending me messages and trying to get in contact with me. He was asking people where I lived, he was trying to get my number. It was very unnerving.' Thanks to a combination of Amanda's indefatigable nature and her persistence not to be victimised, the professionalism of the gardai and the severity of the courts system, Amanda said she finally got to face down her stalker in person. 'I had to walk by him in court, and that was very, very unnerving. He is exceptionally, exceptionally dangerous. And I've been told that he is definitely one of the most dangerous that they've seen in recent times. 'So, like it's unnerving, but I have to take all the positives out of it, and I'm trying to, because I have to be. You just can't keep living in fear, and I have to try and get on with things. But you know, today was, it was such a lovely feeling to know that he is locked up.' She added: 'Before the sentencing, I felt numb, I felt sick, I felt enormous trepidation because I just didn't know, for how much longer, you know, was he going to get out for time served? Was he going to get a lenient sentence? 'So yeah, I feel very lucky, and I know that there are, there are other cases and other people who haven't been as lucky. And I'm very aware of that.' Having come through her nightmare, Amanda said that she would wholeheartedly encourage anyone in a similar situation to summon the strength and see the judicial process through, no matter how daunting or isolating it may feel. 'You have to try, try, try. No matter how hard it is, you just have to keep going and getting up and putting one foot in front of the other and keep on going.' And as for Amanda, true to her social butterfly form, she is out tonight for a fear-free celebratory tipple. 'I'm going out to meet friends tonight, for a drink, or perhaps two,' she said.
Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Celebs line up to congratulate Holly Carpenter as she gets married in Dublin
Taking to Instagram, Holly posted a series of snaps from her big day, describing it as a 'moment I have dreamed of with my dad' Fellow celebrities have congratulated former Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter as she got hitched in the restaurant where she and her fiancé had their very first date. Taking to Instagram, Holly posted a series of snaps from her big day, describing it as a 'moment I have dreamed of with my dad'. She also thanked photographer Evan Doherty, 'for capturing this special moment that I'll never forget'. The comments section was flooded with messages from well-wishers, including DJ Nikki Hayes who offered 'congratulations, stunning as always', while writer Vicki Notaro posted a series of red heart emojis. Podcaster Louise McSherry also added some hearts, as did Glenda Gilson while model Sarah McGovern wrote: 'Aww, wow Holly! You look sensational, congratulations to you both.' Holly and Corkman hubby Jamie Hunt had their registry ceremony at the Charlotte Quay Restaurant in Dublin, before their marriage abroad this summer. The 'intimate' gathering of 12 guests included family members and photographer Evan Doherty, who has been friends with the couple for years, as well as Max, their beloved pooch. Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday at the VIP Style Awards on Friday night, Holly said she was 'really looking forward' to the day. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content While their legal ceremony was this week, later this year the couple will have a bigger wedding in France, 'in a little town called Auch, 'where it's always sunny'. Last week, Holly explained how the official registry ceremony was taking place in Charlotte Quay, 'the restaurant where we had our first date'. "Evan Doherty is doing our wedding photos,' she told 'He's obviously been friends for years, and then it's just 12 of us, so it's just our closest family, and it's going to be really intimate and chilled. Holly's father, Karl, who was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome in February 2020, walked her down the aisle. Holly and Jamie pictured together on holiday News in 90 Seconds - May 29th She had previously offered an insight into her dad's battle with cancer after he was admitted to hospital for six weeks when he picked up an infection. Writing alongside a Facebook post in February, Holly shared 'an update on Karl's journey so far'. 'This is just a small insight into the uncertainty he has faced and how quick things can change,' she wrote. 'Like so many, Karl is extremely grateful to @mariekeatingfoundation and everyone who is supporting @paddys_day_dip. 'We are stronger together.' Since her dad's cancer diagnosis Holly and Jamie have been throwing their support behind the Marie Keating Foundation's cancer support services, which are provided free of charge to anyone who needs them. Last year, they raised over €20,000 for the charity and hope to raise even more this year. Jamie's father Keith was diagnosed with terminal cancer and sadly passed away in September 2024. Holly said: 'Jamie's dad Keith was still around with us at the time. He was a big fan of sea swimming right up until he was 89, up until the end. 'When they talk about how good sea swimming is for you, he was a living testament at the time. 'We're encouraging people to take part all around the country. It's something we'd love to keep growing and growing.' Last year Holly also opened up about her decision to become sober after a night of heavy drinking, telling followers that it has been one of her best decisions. The former Miss Ireland told followers that the previous September she woke up 'extremely hungover' and levels of anxiety that felt 'through the roof'. "I had drank so much the night before that I blacked out. I remember I woke up with the all too familiar feelings of self-hatred and shame and severe, severe anxiety,' she said, adding that even a few drinks would impact her mental health. She said her life is 'so much better' since she made the decision to give up alcohol and even though she did not drink daily or even weekly, the aftermath was 'so bad' for her when she did drink that she grew tired of it.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘A moment I have dreamed of' – Holly Carpenter marries long-term boyfriend in ‘intimate' Dublin wedding
Taking to Instagram, Holly posted a series of snaps from her big day, describing it as a 'moment I have dreamed of with my dad'. She also thanked photographer Evan Doherty, 'for capturing this special moment that I'll never forget'. The comments section was flooded with messages from well-wishers, including DJ Nikki Hayes who offered 'congratulations, stunning as always', while writer Vicki Notaro posted a series of red heart emojis. Podcaster Louise McSherry also added some hearts, as did Glenda Gilson while model Sarah McGovern wrote: 'Aww, wow Holly! You look sensational, congratulations to you both.' Holly and Corkman Jamie Hunt had their registry ceremony at the Charlotte Quay Restaurant in Dublin, before their marriage abroad this summer. The 'intimate' gathering of 12 guests included family members and photographer Evan Doherty, who has been friends with the couple for years, as well as Max, their beloved pooch. Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday at the VIP Style Awards on Friday night, Holly said she was 'really looking forward' to the day. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content While their legal ceremony was this week, later this year the couple will have a bigger wedding in France, 'in a little town called Auch, 'where it's always sunny'. Last week, Holly explained how the official registry ceremony was taking place in Charlotte Quay, 'the restaurant where we had our first date'. "Evan Doherty is doing our wedding photos,' she told 'He's obviously been friends for years, and then it's just 12 of us, so it's just our closest family, and it's going to be really intimate and chilled. Holly's father, Karl, who was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome in February 2020, walked her down the aisle. She had previously offered an insight into her dad's battle with cancer after he was admitted to hospital for six weeks when he picked up an infection. Writing alongside a Facebook post in February, Holly shared 'an update on Karl's journey so far'. 'This is just a small insight into the uncertainty he has faced and how quick things can change,' she wrote. 'Like so many, Karl is extremely grateful to @mariekeatingfoundation and everyone who is supporting @paddys_day_dip. 'We are stronger together.' Since her dad's cancer diagnosis Holly and Jamie have been throwing their support behind the Marie Keating Foundation's cancer support services, which are provided free of charge to anyone who needs them. Last year, they raised over €20,000 for the charity and hope to raise even more this year. Jamie's father Keith was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away in September 2024. Holly said: 'Jamie's dad Keith was still around with us at the time. He was a big fan of sea swimming right up until he was 89, up until the end. 'When they talk about how good sea swimming is for you, he was a living testament at the time. 'We're encouraging people to take part all around the country. It's something we'd love to keep growing and growing.' Last year, Holly also opened up about her decision to become sober after a night of heavy drinking, telling followers that it has been one of her best decisions. The former Miss Ireland told followers that the previous September she woke up 'extremely hungover' and levels of anxiety that felt 'through the roof'. "I had drank so much the night before that I blacked out. I remember I woke up with the all too familiar feelings of self-hatred and shame and severe, severe anxiety,' she said, adding that even a few drinks would impact her mental health. She said her life is 'so much better' since she made the decision to give up alcohol and even though she did not drink daily or even weekly, the aftermath was 'so bad' for her when she did drink that she grew tired of it.
