Latest news with #McDonagh
Sunday World
19-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man who threatened to shoot garda and spat blood in patrol car has jail term overturned
Thomas McDonagh (23) had pleaded not guilty in the District Court to four charges A man who threatened to shoot a garda, acted 'extremely aggressively' and spat blood in a patrol car has had his six-month prison sentence replaced with a suspended term on appeal. Thomas McDonagh (23) with a last address at St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin made threats to a garda member's life and repeatedly squirted Lucozade at him. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty in the District Court to four charges including failure to comply with a garda member under section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, obstruction of a peace officer under section 19 of the act and threatening and abusive behaviour under section 6 of the same act. He also faced a charge for the criminal damage of a garda car under section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991. He was convicted of all four charges and given a sentence of six months in custody, a term against which he later appealed. Dublin District Court Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 19th Garda Pierce O'Dwyer told the District Court Appeals Court on Monday that he responded to a call at St Margaret's Park in Ballymun on May 12, 2023. He said that gardaí were surrounded by ten to 12 men who were demanding that they leave and were acting aggressively. Garda O'Dwyer said that McDonagh was 'extremely aggressive from the start' and shouted a number of threats at him, including that he knew where he lived and that he would shoot him. He said that McDonagh sprayed him twice with a bottle of Lucozade and continued to be aggressive with him. Garda O'Dwyer said that McDonagh was arrested, handcuffed and conveyed to a garda station, where his aggressive behaviour continued and he spat blood in a garda car, resulting in a cleaning fee of 52 euro. Defence counsel for McDonagh, Paul Larkin Coyle BL, said his client now accepts that his behaviour was totally unacceptable and was appealing the case on the severity of his sentence only. Mr Coyle said McDonagh was 'begging for a chance' so that he can be present for his children and that his client made an apology to the garda and the court for his behaviour. Mr Larkin said that McDonagh's pregnant wife was in hospital at the time of the incident, and McDonagh 'got lost in the emotion of it' and 'totally lost the head'. He said that his client is now the father of twins, understands the error of his ways and has removed himself from a situation where he was getting in trouble. The court heard that McDonagh has 22 previous convictions, including incidents of theft, criminal damage and the possession of a knife. Judge Christopher Callan said that McDonagh's actions were serious and it was 'difficult to see how the court can have much sympathy for him' after he threatened to shoot a garda and behaved aggressively. Judge Callan said that the job of a garda in this day and age is very difficult and what McDonagh did 'does not make it easy'. He said that what McDonagh did to the garda was 'completely unacceptable' but it does appear that he is turning a corner in his life since the incident. Judge Callan decided to suspend McDonagh's six month sentence for a period of two years on the condition that he keeps the peace, engages with the probation services and provides a donation of 500 euro to the Capuchin Day Centre. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Man who threatened to shoot garda and spat blood in patrol car has jail term overturned on appeal
Thomas McDonagh (23) with a last address at St Margaret's Park, Ballymun, Dublin made threats to a garda member's life and repeatedly squirted Lucozade at him. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty in the District Court to four charges including failure to comply with a garda member under section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, obstruction of a peace officer under section 19 of the act and threatening and abusive behaviour under section 6 of the same act. He also faced a charge for the criminal damage of a garda car under section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991. He was convicted of all four charges and given a sentence of six months in custody, a term against which he later appealed. Garda Pierce O'Dwyer told the District Court Appeals Court on Monday that he responded to a call at St Margaret's Park in Ballymun on May 12, 2023. He said that gardaí were surrounded by ten to 12 men who were demanding that they leave and were acting aggressively. Garda O'Dwyer said that McDonagh was 'extremely aggressive from the start' and shouted a number of threats at him, including that he knew where he lived and that he would shoot him. He said that McDonagh sprayed him twice with a bottle of Lucozade and continued to be aggressive with him. Garda O'Dwyer said that McDonagh was arrested, handcuffed and conveyed to a garda station, where his aggressive behaviour continued and he spat blood in a garda car, resulting in a cleaning fee of 52 euro. Defence counsel for McDonagh, Paul Larkin Coyle BL, said his client now accepts that his behaviour was totally unacceptable and was appealing the case on the severity of his sentence only. Mr Coyle said McDonagh was 'begging for a chance' so that he can be present for his children and that his client made an apology to the garda and the court for his behaviour. Mr Larkin said that McDonagh's pregnant wife was in hospital at the time of the incident, and McDonagh 'got lost in the emotion of it' and 'totally lost the head'. He said that his client is now the father of twins, understands the error of his ways and has removed himself from a situation where he was getting in trouble. The court heard that McDonagh has 22 previous convictions, including incidents of theft, criminal damage and the possession of a knife. Judge Christopher Callan said that McDonagh's actions were serious and it was 'difficult to see how the court can have much sympathy for him' after he threatened to shoot a garda and behaved aggressively. Judge Callan said that the job of a garda in this day and age is very difficult and what McDonagh did 'does not make it easy'. He said that what McDonagh did to the garda was 'completely unacceptable' but it does appear that he is turning a corner in his life since the incident. Judge Callan decided to suspend McDonagh's six month sentence for a period of two years on the condition that he keeps the peace, engages with the probation services and provides a donation of 500 euro to the Capuchin Day Centre. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
10 Phrases 'Poor Communicators' Often Use in Everyday Conversation, According to Psychologists
10 Phrases 'Poor Communicators' Often Use in Everyday Conversation, According to Psychologists originally appeared on Parade. You've likely heard that communication is a pillar of healthy relationships. Well, psychologists aren't here to disagree."Communication is an inescapable part of our lives, and effective communication is paramount to being successful in professional and personal settings," reports Dr. Jan Miller, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist with once in a while, it's beneficial to check in with ourselves—are we communicating effectively these days?"Having poor communication skills can erode trust, weaken relationships, cause mistakes and increase conflict," she warns. "Basically, good communication is the foundation for relationships that are filled with respect, trust and success."Phrases that poorly express our needs, intent and opinions can easily seep into everyday conversation. Awareness is key to communicating effectively, so psychologists share 10 statements that "" commonly use in everyday conversations, along with tips for getting your point across like a pro. Related: 10 Phrases 'Poor Communicators' Use Often, According to Psychologists 1. "If you say so." This phrase is just... not the vibe."This can come off as sarcastic or dismissive," reveals Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D., a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind. "It often means the person disagrees but doesn't want to explain why, which leads to unresolved tension." 2. "You always/never..." These qualifiers are becoming more common in an increasingly polarized world. One psychologist wishes they were not."The all-or-nothing wording exaggerates reality and pushes the other person into self-defense mode instead of reflection," warns ., a clinical psychologist. "People use this all-or-nothing style when they feel unheard and want emphasis, but it's unhelpful because the other person will likely start thinking of a counterexample, instead of hearing the concern."Related: 3. "Calm down." This phrase often has the opposite effect, making the person on the receiving end even more upset."It implies their feeling is illegitimate," Dr. McDonagh points out. "Speakers often use it when they feel uncomfortable with strong affect and want quick relief. Unfortunately, it sends the message, 'Your reaction is the problem,' rather than, 'Let me try to hear you.'"Related: 4. "Forget it." This is also often said with a massive, unforgettable sigh (which doesn't help the message you're sending)."This usually comes after frustration and signals that the person is giving up on the conversation," Dr. Hafeez says. "It leaves things unresolved and can make others feel dismissed or unimportant." 5. "No offense, but..." People are often offended not only by what comes after these three words, but also by the phrase itself."This typically signals that something offensive is coming and the speaker is unwilling to own it," Dr. McDonagh reports. "The phrase is meant to sound polite, but often has the opposite effect. The harm is a subtle erosion of psychological safety."Related: 6. "You're being too sensitive." As with "No offense, but...," people often use this phrase in an attempt to skirt responsibility for what they say."Poor communicators may use this phrase as a defense mechanism, as well as for avoidance reasons," Dr. Miller says. "While some people may use this phrase with the intention of providing helpful feedback, it typically leaves the recipient feeling like their emotions are wrong and problematic."Related: 7. "I was just kidding." Again, it's often best to own your words and actions and offer an apology when needed."Humor is healthy, but in some circumstances, this phrase can become a shield for hurtful or poorly timed remarks," Dr. McDonagh notes. "It invalidates the impact by claiming benign intent. People lean on it to dodge accountability, but the listener registers minimization and may withdraw trust." 8. "I don't know what you're talking about." Nuance is needed for this phrase."Depending on the context of this phrase, it can mean that the person truly lacks understanding, but poor communicators may use this phrase to dismiss the other person or to avoid a specific topic or situation," Dr. Miller explains. "For those who are trying to communicate that they don't understand, it would be helpful to provide more context about what parts are not being understood." 9. "You wouldn't understand." Maybe... but also, maybe not. Either way, Dr. Hafeez does not recommend using this phrase."Saying this creates a wall between people," she warns. "It can make the listener feel excluded or unintelligent, even if that wasn't the intent." 10. "I guess." Can you guess the pitfalls of this one?"Saying this shows uncertainty or lack of interest in making a decision," Dr. Hafeez states. "It can make others feel like they have to do all the thinking or that their input doesn't matter."Related: 3 Tips for Improving Your Communication Skills 1. Practice active listening Dr. Miller notes that active listening is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate good communication skills."Active listening involves paying attention to what the other person is saying, both through their words and their non-verbal behaviors, with the only goal of better understanding what they are saying," she explains. "Oftentimes, we listen with the goal of being able to respond, which means that we don't actually hear what the other person is saying."She says listening to respond instead of to understand can cause miscommunication and conflict, weakening relationships. 2. Try a two-second pause before replying There's power in a pause."Rapid, reactive speech will likely increase misunderstandings," Dr. McDonagh says. "Pausing lets your prefrontal cortex catch up, so you can choose language that fits your intention. Try to exhale fully before you speak. The breath itself gives you pause and calms physiological arousal." 3. Pay attention to tone and body language It's not just about what you say, but how you say it (with your voice and your body)."A sharp tone or crossed arms can send the wrong message, even if your words are polite," Dr. Hafeez Next:Sources: Dr. Jan Miller, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D., a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind Dr. Tom McDonagh, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist 10 Phrases 'Poor Communicators' Often Use in Everyday Conversation, According to Psychologists first appeared on Parade on Jul 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
As his play opens at the Gate, how summers in the west of Ireland inspired the enigmatic Martin McDonagh
Despite his global profile, the playwright and filmmaker remains full of ambiguity Sometimes, it seems as if the entire world is obsessed with Martin McDonagh's identity. There are the usual questions. Is McDonagh an Irishman or an Englishman? Is he a playwright or a filmmaker? Where do McDonagh's stories come from, and are they really worth making a fuss over? It depends on who you ask. Born in Elephant and Castle and raised in Camberwell, South London, McDonagh (55) grew up with two Irish parents. His father was a construction worker from Galway and his mother was a cleaner from Sligo. They moved to the UK in the 1960s, looking for work, and the family – mam, dad, and their two boys, John and Martin – would holiday every summer in the west of Ireland.
Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
The Pillowman review: Martin McDonagh's dark tale gives plenty to ponder
The Pillowman, Gate Theatre, Dublin, ★★★☆☆ It's been a sunny time in Dublin, but things have taken a dark turn at the Gate Theatre in the shape of this Martin McDonagh revival. Audiences used to McDonagh's usual mix of stage-Irish sendup and black comedy will recognise the outrageous irreverence, certainly, but here, the world is more Kafkasque than sub-Synge. Not a Gothic west of Ireland, then, but a totalitarian, vaguely Eastern European police state, even if the accents remain mostly Northern Irish. And if you want thigh-slappers about infanticide, this is the place to be this summer. It all unspools from an interrogation room, in which we find Katurian Katurian (Fra Fee, who brings charisma to a role that can feel like the author's mouthpiece). He's a writer of tales of child murder and maiming, and some of those bearing a striking similarity to some recent real-life child killings. His damaged, intellectually challenged brother, Michael, (called 'retarded' here, of course, in McDonagh's usual non-PC way) can be occasionally heard screaming in another room as he's being tortured. Or is he? A couple of twists and turns reunite Katurian with Michael, played with a blithe innocence by Ryan Dylan, who, it seems may indeed have taken the stories a tad too literally. Julian Moore-Cook, Fra Fee and Aidan McArdle in The Pillowman. Picture: Ros Kavanagh The play is always engrossing, due in large part to the compendium of grimmer-than-Grimm fairy tales throughout. Some of these are mimed out stylishly in Sinead McKenna's design, thanks to a raised stage-within-stage. Lit up, it fills with silent adults and the child victims of their ghastly intent. Director Lyndsey Turner keeps the multiple narratives under tight control, but is not too interested in emphasising the plot's main McGuffin: a race against time to save a child who may or may not be alive. Adam McArdle and Julian Moore-Cook do well as the two cops, Tupolski and Ariel. Ultimately, The Pillowman is a little too self-aggrandising about the writer and his art, and its totalitarian world feels too piecemeal and derivative to truly startle and terrify. But there's a lot more to the play than just that. It gives much to mull about stories, narratives, who controls them, who gets to write them, and why they come to be written in the first place. Plenty to ponder, too, about reactionary politics, censorship and the policing of art: things which hardly need a bright, flashing arrow to point towards the contemporary resonances. Until September 7
