‘Luas lunch box strike will be a disaster’
Neale Richmond A SENATOR has called on the proposed Luas strike over lunch boxes to be derailed.
Fine Gael’s Neale Richmond claimed it could be “disastrous” for 109,000 commuters who use it daily.
He added: “Luas drivers rejected a recommendation by the Labour Court that they should carry their lunch in cooler bags so they can take their breaks in the Broombridge or Sandyford depots.
“A ballot for industrial action has not been ruled out as a response.
“It is vital Transdev and Siptu continue to engage on this issue to reach a compromise suitable for both parties and that does not bring serious disruption to people of Dublin.” Lucy Birley and Bryan Ferry divorced in 2003
ENNIS CORONERS COURT YESTERDAY
ROCK star Brian Ferry’s ex-wife killed herself with a single gunshot, her inquest heard yesterday.
The hearing was told Lucy Birley, who married the Roxy Music star in 1982, left notes and shotgun cartridges at her brother Mark Helmore’s B&B at New Quay, Co Clare.
Coroner Isobel O’dea returned a suicide verdict after hearing evidence the 58-year-old mother of four died of a self-inflicted wound in July.
The former model and society heiress and the Love Is The Drug singer divorced in 2003.
They had four sons together, Otis, Isaac, Tara and Merlin. She remarried in 2006.
Mrs O’dea told Ennis Coroners Court: “I am satisfied Lucy took her own life.”
Gda Cathy Burke testified when she went to Ms Birley’s bedroom she found a shotgun, cartridges and several notes.
DUVET
Caroline Mcnamara told the court she found the body wrapped in a duvet on the bedroom floor at around 10.50pm on July 23.
She called Ms Birley, who lived in Shropshire, England, but there was no reply.
Ms Mcnamara said she called Mr Helmore who was on holiday at the time, who then phoned long-time friend Douglas Culligan to ask him to go to the house.
Mr Culligan said: “Mark told me he thought Lucy had committed suicide”.
On entering Ms Birley’s bedroom, Mr Culligan said he saw feet from under a duvet.
He added: “I put the back of my hand to the sole of her foot and it was stone cold. I lifted the top of the duvet and I saw blood on the pillow and the barrel of a shotgun.”
Mr Culligan was on the phone to an operator at the time and he said: “I dropped the duvet and the operator asked me if she was cold and I replied, ‘Stone cold’.”
Mr Culligan then phoned Mr Helmore and told him: “I’m sorry to tell you but you were right. Mark said, ‘I thought so’.”
He identified Ms Birley’s body to a local garda at 12.05am on July 24.
Mr Helmore was present at the inquest and before reading the graphic medical evidence of the injuries to Ms Birley’s head from the postmortem report, Ms O’dea told him: “I don’t really want to read all of it.”
Mr Helmore said: “I don’t want you to either but I have to listen.”
Ms O’dea said the medical evidence showed Ms Birley had very little alcohol in her system and a therapeutic level of anti-depressant medication.
I put my hand to the back of the sole of her foot. It was cold. I saw blood on the pillow DOUGLAS CULLIGAN