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The Herald Scotland
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Forget the fuss about the Scots language. First, improve our English
There's also the huge question of dialect or regional accents that have survived for centuries. We hear this more and more in TV and movies with what we would call proper English almost never used. It's mainly newsreaders or weather people who use the standard English I was taught at school. We are already struggling with dozens of languages being spoken in many of our inner city schools. The need for pupils to communicate in a common language remains vital to development and integration into society. A language can only survive if passed down from generation to generation. It cannot survive by millions of pounds of public cash being used to prop it up. The ultimate irony is that most Scandinavians and Dutch now speak better English than many of us. John Gilligan, Ayr. Royals not fit for 21st century Guy Stenhouse's article ("It's time for us to cast aside prejudice and go for the cash", The Herald, July 12) started out purporting to support continuing the existence of the royal family as it presently operates, but dwindled into a defence of their more wealthy subjects. He mentioned the tax which the "non-doms" pay and the threat of this being increased by Rachel Reeves. He failed to mention that the royal family for many years paid no tax at all until embarrassed into doing so and that recently Prince William chose not to reveal details of his financial affairs. He apparently has the right to do so. Would that we all had this right. Around this time he publicly made a promise to help solve the problem of our homeless people while Buckingham Palace, containing over 700 rooms, is undergoing a refurbishment costing hundreds of millions of pounds. Mr Stenhouse lauds the amount of revenue gained through tourism but if the royal family were given less expensive but secure accommodation, then I believe that all the palaces and castles could be opened to the public, which could possibly generate more income for the country. Read more letters He made many other puerile points, one of which compliments Princess Anne on at least knowing where Lanark is. But would she know the price of a loaf of bread? I do not know any royal person and bear none any malice or harm but I am seriously concerned about us not having any clear control over how "The Firm" is operated. They invent new titles for each other as did the Queen Mother, bestow each other accolades and continue to live in extreme luxury while the increase in child poverty in Great Britain has never been so high. Mr Stenhouse does make one true statement when he writes "the royal family doesn't cost us a penny". They cost us millions, they are not appropriate for the 21st century and we are not given any choice about what they choose to do. Tina Oakes, Stonehaven. Vexed over vaccinations The recent outbreak of measles in Liverpool and justifiable concerns about low vaccination rates brings the debate on rights and responsibilities into focus ("Child dies after getting measles", The Herald, July 14). The parents of their little Jonny have the right to demur from vaccinating him and in the sad event of harm to their son they bear the harsh Darwinian responsibility for any adverse outcome. On the other side, society asks its members to take a small risk of an adverse event from a vaccine for the greater good. There cannot be a clearer case for automatic, rapid financial support of Jonny in such an event. What, however happens to Jonny's pal Peter, an immunocompromised child at school, who gets measles from Jonny and is harmed or dies? Do Jonny's parents not have responsibilities to Peter and do not Peter's parents have rights of redress against the culpable avoidable harm Jonny's parents have done by their actions? John Murdoch, Innellan. A good walk enhanced I cannot let the correspondence about 12-hole golf courses (Letters, July 12) pass without mention of what must be a contender for the title of the most scenic such course in Scotland, the Shiskine at Blackwaterfoot on Arran. Particularly to those like myself of limited golfing ability, its spectacular views across the Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre give the lie to the saying that golf is a good walk spoiled. Also, its claim to have Bruce's cave nearby could be said to provide morale encouragement to those experiencing disappointment on the course. Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop. Amanda Anisimova following her defeat to Iga Swiatek in the Ladies' Singles Final at Wimbledon (Image: PA) An unnecessary public trial I write to complain about the way the BBC and The All England Club treated the defeated ladies finalist Amanda Anisimova on Saturday (July 12). The young woman was clearly hugely distressed at the end of the match. Yet, the BBC, and probably the club, needed that interview on court. She was distraught. Good old Annabelle gave her "a minute" to compose herself. It was brutal and so very sad, not only for Amanda, but also for her team, especially her mum. Amanda should have been allowed to go and see her mum and team rather than be forced to bare her heart and soul to millions. It was no doubt incredibly distressing to watch for her team and family. It was shameful and should never be allowed to happen again. Paul McPherson, Newtonmore.
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Irish Times
Gardaí braced for escalation in ‘very chaotic' gang feud after murder of Joseph McEvoy in Clondalkin
Gardaí are stepping up armed patrols and checkpoints in parts of west Dublin following the murder of Joseph McEvoy on Monday morning after a night of feud-related violence. The fatal assault on the 34-year-old , a father of two, is regarded as a sharp escalation in tensions between two large groups of teenagers and young men that has been ongoing for about two years. Some of the previous attacks in the feud, of which there have been scores, involved serious violence such as petrol bombings, stabbings and an attempted murder. Gardaí fear the killing of Mr McEvoy could further escalate the rivalry and make it more bitter, with one source saying it was already 'very chaotic'. READ MORE Mr McEvoy, from Greenfort Avenue, Clondalkin, was attacked with a machete or similar weapon at a house in Shancastle, Clondalkin. He was not known for involvement in organised crime or regarded as a participant in the feud. Joseph McEvoy (34) was found with stab wounds at a house on Shancastle Close, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, just before 6am on Monday. He later died. Photograph: Quarryvale FC Instagram page Gardaí believe a young associate of his was attacked previously as part of the violence and that Mr McEvoy was seen as a soft target for the other faction. One of the most serious attacks in the feud was on a close associate of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan. However, Gilligan (73) is currently living in Spain and has no involvement in the violence in Dublin. Though the previous attacks have been investigated, with charges arising against several suspects – including a charge of attempted murder – the dispute has continue to unfold across a large area in Ronanstown, Clondalkin and Lucan. As well as petrol bombings, on cars and houses, the feud has also involved machete attacks, on-street beatings and non-fatal gun attacks. In some incidents, young men on motorbikes have chased their rivals on foot, cornering them and subjecting them to severe beatings as bystanders looked on. Footage of the incidents has been captured and shared on social media, further ratcheting up tensions. Though many of those involved in the violence are known for dealing drugs in west Dublin, the feud has now become personalised and gardaí are fearful it will grow even more entrenched following the murder of Mr McEvoy. His killing, just before 6am on Monday, was effectively part of a series of tit-for-tat incidents in the early hours, typical of the nature of the feud over much of the last two years. A car was destroyed in an arson attack on Glenfield Avenue, Clondalkin, followed by the ramming of another vehicle in the Greenfort estate. Another incident also resulted in a petrol bomb attack on a house in Shancastle before Mr McEvoy was attacked in the same estate. Gardaí early on Monday arrested a man for questioning about Mr McEvoy's murder and he was still being questioned early on Tuesday. One line of inquiry is that the fatal attack was revenge for one of the earlier incidents, during which a man with known links to the drugs was targeted. The scene where Mr McEvoy was discovered unresponsive was sealed off and underwent an examination by members of the Garda Technical Bureau on Monday. Though he was still alive when gardaí and paramedics arrived, Mr McEvoy was pronounced dead after being taken to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. The Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist were notified and arrangements put in place for a postmortem. A senior investigating officer was appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room was established at Lucan Garda station. A Garda family liaison officer has also been assigned to support the family of Mr McEvoy. The arrested man is being held at a Dublin Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, and can be questioned for up to 24 hours without charge.
The Herald Scotland
30-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
We must address the problem of over-management if we are to succeed
The same applies to nurses and teachers. We have improved the ability to diagnose illnesses and also the difficulties our children face with ADHD and the like. Whilst this is great news we haven't adapted to handling these new workloads and our nurses, police and teachers are struggling to cope. We are under-resourced at basic level whilst being way over-managed. We have also removed the power of people to make decisions without a fear of being sued, sacked or accused of some 'ism' or other. Private industry has similar challenges but is much more efficient and makes quicker decisions, especially as they are usually accountable to shareholders. The recent fiasco at Dundee University is a good example of something that would be very unlikely to happen in a PLC. All politicians need to address this massive problem of over-management if we are to retain our best workers and get the most for our cash. John Gilligan, Ayr. Read more letters Tree planting fall is shameful Picking up on the news the other day that tree planting in Scotland had predictably fallen away after funding was cut, it is useful to put another year of failure in context. I first became aware of tree planting targets in Scotland in 2006, with an ambition to plant 15,000 hectares of trees a year until 2040, which would have given us 25 per cent woodland cover. The objectives then were to increase our timber supplies, create more woodland habitat, and get people out and about walking in woodland to help the NHS by getting them fitter. The following year, after the film, An Inconvenient Truth, we started hearing about carbon and climate change mitigation as well. Since then, the target has only been achieved in one year, and the accumulated deficit (I know, I keep a spreadsheet of it) is now 152,000 hectares, or 305 million trees if planted at an average of 2,000 per hectare. The accumulated failure is colossal. That is, trees that agreed policy suggested that we should plant, but we did not. The responsibility for this rests completely with the Scottish Government for (1) not making sufficient funding available, and (2) not having processes and mechanisms in place which would allow us to efficiently license this additional woodland area. What this tells us is that the environment in Scotland is not important to our politicians, regardless of what they say about it. I hope people remember that next time we are subjected to their virtue signalling on climate change mitigation. They are not even starting to get the basics right. Victor Clements, Aberfeldy. We need Scottish National Degrees Now that the new Education (Scotland) Bill has passed the final stage of debate, anyone reading it will wonder why they bothered since it seems a charter for maintaining stasis. The new agency, Qualifications Scotland, will doubtless have the sins of the father handed down to it. Strictly speaking, I take the view that the actual delivery of qualifications is provided by schools and colleges with only the accreditation for their courses being conferred by this new body and this should have been embedded in the new title. In this respect I suggest the new agency should in law have taken steps to address the disparity in values we are stuck with due to a series of historical accidents which split courses which are characterised as purely academic from those with the practical application of knowledge and understanding. As we have seen in many other organisations, the claim of ownership can be a toxic demarcation. In order to attempt to address this issue I feel the new agency should design and offer Scottish National Degrees at a national standard both at general and subject level for delivery within all colleges. For too long we have accepted independence within the university system and an assumed supremacy in educational standards. I fear however that in forming this new Qualifications Scotland body we have missed a golden opportunity to press for one game and one set of rules on the educational playing field. Bill Brown, Milngavie. Lecturer posts should be reduced Several universities in Scotland are in a severe financial position and having to consider redundancies. Part of this is due to a reduction in foreign students paying large fees which in the past allowed high salaries to be paid to university staff. Now these staff are demonstrating against the cuts. After a pay deal, financed by the Scottish Government of £4.5 million of additional funding, lecturers will receive starting salaries of nearly £42,000 from September 2025. Senior lecturers will get more than £50,000. Perhaps those striking could hold up placards saying "I am only getting £42,000 but deserve more" and see the public response. It is the Scottish taxpayers who fund part of the university staff salaries. The public sector and universities should not be closeted from reality and job cuts are obviously needed to balance the books. Clark Cross, Linlithgow. Tree planting targets have been missed (Image: PA) Our NHS can be woeful I was interested to see Andy Maciver remove the rose-coloured spectacles about our 'wonderful' NHS ("Time to talk about debunking the NHS as a national cult", The Herald, June 27). In the last eight years I have been in hospital five times and on each occasion mistakes (some more serious than others) were made in my treatment. Doctors (including consultants) and nurses need better supervision so that patients do not require unnecessary additional hospital visits. Marion Carson, Dunblane. Venice Lagoon or Whiting Bay? Forty million pounds. That's how much the billionaire Jeff Bezos spent on his obscenely lavish wedding in Venice. Maybe the Scottish Government could have persuaded him to buy a working ferry and have the wedding on Arran. Ian Smith, Troon.
