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Morning top 5: Law Reform Commission calls for consent update; Gay Byrne to be laid to rest; Man due in court over child death

The Law Reform Commission has called for a change in the way consent is considered in rape trials...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

06.45 8 Nov 2019


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Morning top 5: Law Reform Comm...

Morning top 5: Law Reform Commission calls for consent update; Gay Byrne to be laid to rest; Man due in court over child death

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

06.45 8 Nov 2019


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The Law Reform Commission has called for a change in the way consent is considered in rape trials.

Those accused of rape can currently be acquitted if they can prove they “honestly believed” they had secured consent.

The law society is calling for a more objective test – which would see juries asked to consider whether ‘any reasonable person’ would believe they had secured consent in the circumstances.

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It also wants juries to consider the accused decision-making capacity and the steps that were taken to find out whether consent had been given.

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A man arrested in connection with the death of a young boy in Limerick city is due in court this morning.

11-year-old Brooklyn Colbert died at a house on the Shanabooly Road in the Ballynanty area of the city on Sunday.

A man in his 20s was arrested and taken to Henry Street Garda station after the body was found.

He is due to appear before Limerick District Court at 10am this morning.

Brooklyn’s funeral is due to take place at St Saviours Church on Glentworth Street in Limerick at 11am tomorrow.

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Broadcaster Gay Byrne will be laid to rest today.

The 85-year-old's funeral mass will take place at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin.

Members of the public who are planning to attend are being advised that access to the Pro-Cathedral is reserved for Mr Byrne's family and friends.

They have asked that instead of flowers, anyone who wishes to should make a donation to the Irish Cancer Society and St Francis Hospice in his name.

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The Environmental Protection Agency will to carry out an audit of the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant this morning.

It comes as 615,000 in Dublin, Kildare and Meath remain under a boil water notice.

Irish Water says a decision on lifting the notice will be taken by the HSE with the support of the EPA.

It says its “main priority” is “the protection of human health.”

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Psychiatric nurses are to strike today to highlight the ongoing overcrowding at a unit in University Hospital Waterford.

It comes after it emerged mental health patients have been forced to sleep on floors and in chairs when no beds are available.

Nurses say the situation is placing staff and patients under "intolerable pressure."

Meanwhile, doctors have warned that there are similar issues in mental health service aright around the country.


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