Gearóid Walsh, dead at 23 following an alleged Coogee bashing

A 28-year-old man from Clovelly was tonight charged with one count each of manslaughter, reckless wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Parramatta Bail Court by video link tomorrow (Saturday).

The accused man man has walked into Maroubra Police station this afternoon in relation to the assault and subsequent death of Mr Walsh.

The 28-year-old man from Clovelly, accompanied by a solicitor, attended Maroubra Police Station at 4.30pm and is currently talking to detectives. At this stage, no charges have been laid.
The man presented himself to the police this afternoon following an emotional public appeal this morning from Gearoid’s mother, Tressa, who flew in from Dublin on Wednesday night to be by her son’s side.
Gearoid was staying with his brother Ciaran, 27, and sister Aoife, 22, who both live in Australia. The 23-year-old was from Dublin, Ireland, and had only been in Australia for five weeks.
Gearóid suffered serious head injuries following an incident on Arden Street, Coogee, about 11pm Sunday October 25. He was unconscious, stopped breathing and was eventually placed on life support. He died in Prince of Wales Hospital last night.
While this is a devastating time for the family a number of Australians will benefit from Mr Walsh’s organ donation.

The convicted man was involved in the hustle where Irish backpackers, looking for a second year Australian Working Holiday Visa (WHV), were being duped by people promising to help them for a fee of $400.

It works like this: the visa applicant lodges $400 into a bank account and is then given an Australian Business Number (ABN) said to belong to a farmer who hires backpackers. In order to get a second WHV you must work for three months in agricultural or regional work.

The ABN is used in the WHV application as “proof” of having worked on a farm. But the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has been aware of the scam for some time and decided to act.

A DIAC spokesperson told the Irish Echo that: “The Department has successfully prosecuted an Irish national for second working holiday visa fraud. Another case has recently been accepted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and others are under consideration,” the spokesperson said.

Though there have been instances in other states, so far this is predominantly a New South Wales issue.

“The department has recently cancelled 32 second working holiday visas in NSW on the basis of fraudulent documentation, and refused many (other) applications,” the spokesperson said.

A simple internet search revealed several cases of people discussing the scam and/or admitting they had used it.

The department does not release specific information about cases under investigation, but the spokesperson confirmed they are “closely scrutinising online advertisements offering fraudulent documentation for the purpose of applying for a second WHVs.

“Visa applicants found to have committed fraud have their visa refused or cancelled, and may be excluded from entering Australia for up to three years. Any future visa application will be closely scrutinised,” the spokesperson said.

One Irish backpacker told the Irish Echo that he was contacted by email after he placed an ad on the online classified site Gumtree looking for farm work which would help him get a second WHV.

“The email said if I gave them $400 they would give me details on how I could get the visa without having to do any farm work,” he told the Irish Echo.

 He turned down the offer, but many others did not and may now be under investigation.

People convicted of fraud under the Migration Act may be liable for imprisonment for up to 10 years, and/or a fine of up to $110,000.

by Pádraig Collins

The news is a further blow to the father-of-two who disclosed his cancer diagnosis back in July after a growth on his back was identified as cancerous. The cancer had also spread to other organs, he told a press conference at the time.

Since then he has undergone a number of operations. The 43-year-old has been keeping his many friends and supporters updated via the social networking site, Twitter.

On September 30, he revealed his latest challenge on the road to recovery with characteristic positivity.

“Small bump on recover,little tumour on brain,will know soon.Good news PETscan all clean on rest body.great support everyone xox.”

A day later, he revealed more: “Pushed it too far on cycle.In hospital.Feeling better.3 tumours in brain.Fight cont.Treatm.,looks pos+.Specialist 2morrow.Big24hrs!Thx2all”.

Then, on Sunday, October 3 he said that he would be undergoing radiation treatment.

“Nex step begins tues, 2weeks radiation,hair will have to go.”

In typical style, Stynes has sought to use his plight to help others and he has the support of his friend, comedian Jimeoin.

“Jimeoin is happy 2shave 2,get on board lets help some kids,brighten a few smiles,” he tweeted.

Despite the seriousness of his illness, Stynes remains very positive and has encouraged the media to do the same.

In a separate tweet, he wrote: “Reminder 4 media, much rather happy photos when media using shots.”

The Dubliner did not allow his illness to keep him away from the Brownlow Medal presentation. He won the game’s highest individual honour back in 1991.

 becoming the first foreign-born player to do so.

He still holds the record for the most consecutive AFL games and a room is named after him at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

By Billy Cantwell

The Sydney parade is the largest in Australia and third largest in the world, after Dublin and New York. It attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the city centre on the day, 35,000 to the family day in Hyde Park after the parade, and this year’s national media coverage reached an audience of over four million people.

Sydney’s parade and family day is run as a not-for-profit event with sponsorships, memberships, grants and donations funding the festival.

“The event goes from strength to strength each year and increased numbers in attendance mean additional expenses such as more security and infrastructure at the parade and family day,” said Gerard Ryan, president of the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Organisation.

“This also means additional opportunities for organisations wishing to sponsor various segments of the event from the title sponsorship of the parade through to presence at the Hyde Park event such as sponsorship of the main stage.

“We are targeting sponsorship from Ireland as well as Australia for the first time this year. The economic downturn is likely to have an effect though,” he said.

Waterford-man Ryan is not underestimating the task of fundraising but said that the parade’s very survival depends on securing sponsorship.

“There will not be a parade if we don’t get the funds, it’s that simple,” he said. 

“But we are being positive in our outlook. The Irish community as a whole will have to get behind this. The same people can’t keep doing it all the time,” he said.

The 2010 event will be the 200th anniversary of the parade being recognised as an Irish day of celebration by the government of NSW.

“It was back in 1810 that Governor Macquarie recognised the celebration by providing entertainment on the day for convicts who were employed by the government at the time,” Mr Ryan told the Irish Echo.

Ryan said  that he is pleased to have the support of the Sydney City Council and would like to see all Sydneysiders get involved in the day.

“The city is really respectful and behind the parade because of the professionalism we have always shown in organising it. As I said many times it is not just the Irish celebrating being Irish but Sydney celebrating its Irish history and heritage,” said Mr Ryan.

There are a number of sponsorship packages available, from major sponsorship of the parade itself to smaller fundraising events such as the ever-popular Irish Bachelor of the Year Awards held each February.

“We would like to hear from organisations wishing to register their interest in sponsorship opportunities. We work with all sponsors to tailor packages that ensure the partnership is mutually beneficial,” said Mr Ryan.

The 2010 Sydney parade will be held on Sunday, March 21.

Potential sponsors can get in touch with Gerard Ryan by email at president@stpatricksday.org.au or through the St Patrick’s Day Parade website www.stpatricksday.org.au

by Pádraig Collins

A new initiative, it laudably sets out to harness the power and creativity of the diaspora.

“I believe that the Global Irish Economic Forum has the potential to be … a platform for the development of a long term strategy which will channel the enormous potential of this global community,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin said last week about the conference.

So, this is Ireland reaching out across the globe to its emigrants, right?

Well no, not exactly.

This is Ireland reaching out to the US and UK with token representation from other regions. Over 80 per cent of delegates will be drawn from these countries and, of course, Ireland itself. At least 20 delegates will not have the inconvenience of getting on an aircraft to get to Dublin as they are already in the country.

This in itself would not look so ridiculous if there were not just four representatives from Australia. The ‘most Irish country in the world outside of Ireland’ will occupy about two per cent of the seats at this Global Irish Conference.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Australian quartet attending the conference are fine ambassadors for this country and will make a valuable contribution, it is difficult for Irish Australia to see this as anything other than a snub by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

Forget the fact that Australia has, for the past 10 years, been the number one destination for young Irish people and that the Irish are the highest earning Europeans in Australia.

Forget the fact that cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth represent the future of the diaspora as much as cities like Boston and Liverpool represent its past.

Forget all those things.

Consider Australia’s strategic economic position as a springboard into the key Asian markets and the fact that it is the only western economy to avoid recession during the current financial crisis. Ireland has plenty of friends in America. It needs friends in Asia.

All of these considerations point to the fact that Australia is drastically under-represented at this event.

More broadly, it clearly demonstrates that Irish Australia is very much the poor relation in the eyes of the decision makers in Dublin.

Consider emigrant funding.

In 2008, Irish community groups in Australia received just over one per cent of Ireland’s total emigrant funding. Groups in Britain and the United States received over 90 per cent. Even groups based within Ireland itself were given over €1m from the emigrant funding budget while Australia received a sixth of that.

Among those who benefited from emigrant funding last year were the GAA (€400,000) and the Football Association of Ireland (€50,000).

While funding is confined almost exclusively to welfare in Australia, the Irish government funds a broader range of activities in other parts of the diaspora including support for Irish clubs and festivals, St Patrick’s Day parades, GAA competitions and political lobby groups.

In the current circumstances, such funding is under review in any case but in our view, Australia has been short-changed by the Irish government in favour of other (nearer) parts of the diaspora.

Irish community groups should remind Irish politicians of the apparent inequity when they next come to visit.

Australia will contribute just four of the 180 delegates at a Global Economic Forum this weekend in Ireland aimed at harnessing the collective power of the diaspora.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, will be one of only four delegates from Australia at this weekend's Global Irish Economic Forum

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Optus CEO Paul O’Sullivan,  both Dubliners, will be there along with Australia Ireland Fund chairman Charles Curran and Skilled Group founder Frank Hargrave.

Irish Ambassador to Australia – Mairtín O Fáinín – who put forward a list of potential invitees to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin would not reveal the full list but the the Irish Echo understands that at least two others were invited – author Thomas Keneally and former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating – but neither could attend.

Despite the high profile of the Australian representatives, there is a sense of disappointment in the Irish business community that the Embassy did not seek to have a larger representation.

Peter Brennan, Chairman of the successful Sydney-based Lansdowne Club business network said he thought it was an opportunity missed.

“From an economic perspective, Australia is the only country that did not have a recession and a larger representation would have added a lot of value to discussions,” he told the Echo. “With so few from Australia, any outcome could lack relevance to Irish Australians.”

While the Global Economic Forum is designed to be a gathering from around the diaspora, at least one fifth of delegates are based in Ireland.

The guest list includes Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond, Riverdance creators John McColgan and Moya Doherty, Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington and Bob Geldof.

Other Ireland-based attendees include film-maker Neil Jordan, GAA President Christy Cooney and Cathal Goan, Director General of RTE.

The vast majority of the overseas delegates come from the United States and the UK. Other  regions represented include China, Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, South Korea, Canada, Indonesia and the Phillipines.

The idea of the forum is to come up with fresh ideas to aid economic recovery.

Members of the Cabinet and opposition politicians are also expected to attend.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said the event was about tapping into and harnessing the talents and ideas of the Irish diaspora for the long-term recovery of the country.

“Travelling at their own expense, and giving freely of their time and expertise, these invitees reflect the enduring willingness of the Irish abroad to engage with and support Ireland,” said Mr Martin.

“I am interested in people identifying for us the new areas we should go down.

“In the 1980s it was financial services.

“Are there new sectors waiting to be grabbed by Ireland?” he asked.

The forum was the brainchild of economist and broadcaster David McWilliams, who warned the economy would crash as the country relied too heavily on the building boom.

He said the Government now has the power to bring it to fruition.

“I think what we have in Ireland is that we are all on the same side more or less, and that’s no a party political thing to say,” said Mr Williams.

“People realise that we are now in the crisis and that we don’t have all the talent here to figure it out.

“This can only enhance the county, it can’t detract from it at all.”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen sent a personal letter to 200 guests in April, with RSVP’s from as far as US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina, Europe and the Middle East.

The economy, Ireland’s image abroad, promoting brand Ireland, and positioning the country for the upturn will be top of the agenda during five sessions and 11 small breakout working groups over September 18th and 19th.

The programme also features a number of hospitality events, including a reception hosted by President McAleese at Aras an Uachtarain, a dinner at Dublin Castle hosted by the Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, and a flavour of home at the All-Ireland Football Final.

Mr Martin revealed the aim was for business leaders to analyse current policies and come up to new ideas that will benefit the country, attract new investment, and aid job creation.

“I believe that the Global Irish Economic Forum has the potential to be an extremely significant event, both as a step towards addressing our current economic challenges and as a platform for the development of a long term strategy which will channel the enormous potential of this global community,” he added.

“The positive reaction with which invitees have greeted the initiative augurs well for its success.”

For full details visit www.globalirishforum.ie

RTE is also carrying a live stream of proceedings. More details from http://www.rte.ie/news/features/economicforum/

Mr O’Halloran, 24, from Ballineen in west Cork, drowned after falling from a cruise ship on the Brisbane River on September 5, and his remains have been repatriated back to Ireland ahead of his burial on Sunday.

The cost of repatriating remains can reach as high as $10,000, however, and Irish Support Association of Queensland (IASAQ) co-ordinator, Rita Stott, has appealed for assistance from the community in aiding Mr O’Halloran’s family at this difficult time.

The event kicks off at 7.30pm and will feature live music and a raffle, while anyone wishing to donate separately can contact Rita on 0432 087 328 or post a cheque made out to the IASAQ to PO Box 242, Ashgrove  QLD  4060.

Mr O’Halloran, 24, had been missing since Saturday night after falling overboard from a cruise ship, and a body found in the river on Wednesday morning has finally been confirmed as his.

He and a female conpanion, 26-year-old Sinead O’Neill form Limavady in Co Derry, both fell overboard during a friend’s birthday cruise on Saturday night last, and while Ms O’Neill was rescued within a minute of falling in, Mr O’Halloran never resurfaced.

The 24-year-old, from Ballineen in west Cork, had been in Australia on a second Working Holiday Visa and is understood to have been working as a carpenter.

Ryan Gilloway, 23, from Drumsurn near Limavady Co Derry, was hit by a west-bound coal train 80 metres from Springwood station at 12.50am on Sunday, August 30.

According to NSW Police, Mr Gilloway (pictured) had been captured on CCTV cameras at Springwood Station wandering onto the tracks alone.

SERIOUS BUT STABLE: Derryman Ryan Gilloway was hit by a train west of Sydney but continues to fight fro his life in Nepean Hospital.

A spokeswoman said that he “may have been intoxicated” and police are satisfied that this was not a ‘self-harm’ incident.

The train driver raised the alarm and Mr Gilloway was air-lifted to Nepean Hospital.

Police described his injuries as “horrific”.

“There was little expectation that he could survive,” a spokeswoman said.

It is understood the 23-year-old, who lived in Coogee, suffered extensive internal injuries and broken bones.

Originally, Mr Gilloway’s condition was described as “critical” but on Monday a hospital spokeswoman said he was “serious but stable”.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the injured man’s mother Jean and father Paddy flew to Australia to be at their son’s bedside.

Mr Gilloway recently returned to Australia to work after spending several weeks at home with his parents.

A former member of Saint Mathew’s GAC, Drumsurn, Mr Gilloway is a well-known figure in the area.

Friends have been leaving goodwill messages on Mr Gilloway’s Bebo webpage.

Wee LJ O’Kane wrote: “Get better soon Ryan, still thinking on u and praying for ya.”

Stacey McLean wrote: “Can’t believe wots happened mad man, thinking of you..homestead good times.”

Stacey Faulkner added: “Hope ya have a speeedy recovery, prayin for ya big man!!”

Leona O’Connor wrote: “We’re all thinkin of u, get well soon.”

Grace Johnston added: “Hope u get better soon ryan and back to ur old self, thinkin of u and prayin for u.”

by Billy Cantwell

Shane O’Halloran (pictured inset), from Ballineen in west Cork, currently on a second-year Working Holiday Visa, fell overboard during a friend’s birthday party cruise on September 5.

Queensland Police said on Monday that they hold grave fears for the man, but are yet to confirm whether the body found in the river this morning is that of Mr O’Halloran.

MISSING: Shane O'Halloran from west Cork fell from a boat on the Brisbane River on September 5 and has not been seen since.

He and a female companion, Sinead O’Neill from Limavady in Co Derry, are understood to have both fallen into the water from a railing, and although Ms O’Neill was quickly fished out by the boat’s crew, Mr O’Halloran never resurfaced.

Ms O’Neill is 26 years old and was treated for shock after being plucked from the water.

Police and friends of the Corkman, who is understood to have an address in Bulimba in the city, have been combing the river banks in search of him, but until this morning there had been no sign.

Mr O’Halloran, who police believe to be a weak swimmer, fell overboard from the Lady Brisbane cruise ship on the Milton stretch of the river.

Mr O’Halloran’s parents, Noel and Theresa, are being briefed by Irish consular staff about developments in Brisbane. It is understood that they may travel to Australia over the coming days.

Mr O’Halloran has two sisters and two brothers.

Mr O’Halloran moved to Australia two years ago and had been working as a carpenter in the Brisbane area.

More details here later in the day as they come to light.