14sea AI Irish Morning Briefing

Irish Times

Domestic abuse disclosures surge: Women’s Aid says disclosures to its services jumped by one-third in 2023 to more than 62,000 (57,520 involving women and 4,755 involving children), warning this is likely only “the tip of the iceberg.” Reports included abuse during pregnancy/post-partum and threats to kill.
Bigger cars, fewer spaces: A Transport & Environment study warns rising vehicle sizes could erase about 14% of on‑street parking; Dublin alone may lose 1,700–2,700 spaces. Larger cars also heighten pedestrian injury risks.
Ryanair staff housing targeted: Seven company-owned or rented houses in Swords were hit in an early‑morning arson attack; bins were set alight and pushed against front doors. Staff escaped uninjured. Ryanair condemned the “senseless” incident.
Heatwave alerts: Western Europe is enduring 40°C+ temperatures, with France reporting 40 drownings since mid‑last week as people sought to cool off; highs reached 44.3°C on Tuesday. In Ireland, Dublin hit 28.3°C as a status yellow hot weather warning runs until Friday, with daytime highs up to 30°C possible and warm nights forecast; water safety and sleep disruption flagged.
Leaving Cert wraps up: The exams concluded with religious education and applied maths. A mistake on the higher‑level applied maths paper (an impossible ln(0) in Question 9 part A) was flagged by teachers and may have unsettled some students.
Uisce Éireann enforcement: The EPA has prosecuted the utility 35 times over wastewater discharges and six times over drinking water. While compliance has improved, the agency told an Oireachtas committee that further investment and plant‑level operational fixes are needed.
Courts: Two men (18 and 20) were granted bail with strict conditions after allegedly exiting a stolen car before the driver rammed a Garda patrol car, injuring an officer, in Glanmire, Co Cork.
Sentencing due in fatal crash: An 87‑year‑old woman who pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of 72‑year‑old Mary Fehilly in Charleville, Co Cork, will be sentenced in October; another pedestrian was seriously injured.
Child advocacy challenge: A group of guardians ad litem has launched a High Court challenge to the Government’s new regulatory regime for their services, the same day the Department of Children announced a new national guardian ad litem service.