‘I went to my dad Paudie’s grave on my wedding day’
■ PLAN TO REFURBISH DERELICT BUILDINGS TO GET REFUGEES OFF STREETS
A MAN has been jailed for six years over the death of hugely popular GAA commentator Paudie Palmer.
Bohdan Bezverkhyi (35) was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Palmer at Dunkereen Cross, Innishannon, Cork, on December 29, 2022.
Mr Palmer (65), a native of Kenmare in Co Kerry, was an uncle of Claudine Keane, who is the wife of Ireland legend Robbie Keane.
The accident occurred just 500m from the home of the commentator who was employed by 96FM and 103FM. The much-loved father-oftwo was hospitalised in the aftermath but died at Cork University Hospital on January 8, 2023.
Mr Palmer was killed when Bezverkhyi went through a stop sign, crashing into his car before fleeing the scene. He was later arrested.
At Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Judge Jonathan Dunphy described a video made by Bezverkhyi on the day before the crash — where he recorded himself driving at speeds of 200kph — as an “aggravating factor”.
In a victim impact statement Mr Palmer’s daughter Claire Palmer-Panagiodis said that she was heartbroken that the life of her father was prematurely cut short, speaking of her upset that he didn’t live long enough to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
Cornerstone
Instead, Claire placed a buttonhole of flowers on the grave of her father on her wedding day. She said that her father was the “cornerstone” of their close-knit family.
Claire continued: “[He was] our mentor, supporter and guiding star. His wisdom shaped who we are as adults. His death has left a void in our identities and lives. As a result of Dad’s sudden and horrific departure, our family dynamics have shifted significantly.
“Not having your father walk you down the aisle, which is every girl’s dream, was simply heartbreaking.” Claire said her son Lucas, only three months old when Paudie was killed, was in an instant “deprived of not just a grandfather but one of the greatest role models he could ever have had.” Bezverkhyi, of Ballinhassig, Co Cork, was jailed for seven and a half years with 18 months suspended, and disqualified from driving for 10 years.
THE Government is set to focus on refurbishing derelict and disused buildings in a bid to take asylum seekers off the streets, we can reveal.
It comes as nearly 100 asylum seekers who queued outside the International Protection Office were told there was no accommodation for them yesterday — just hours after a tent encampment was dismantled.
Some 290 people who had been sleeping in tents on Mount Street were brought to accommodation in Crooksling and Citywest in the early hours of Wednesday morning as part of a joint operation including several Government bodies.
The Government sub-committee on migration met yesterday afternoon to discuss the ongoing situation with Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers.
The Star understands that ministers at the meeting discussed the refurbishment of derelict and disused buildings as a way to ease accommodation shortages for refugees.
Interest
It is understood that there is growing interest from the private sector in the refurbishment programme that was set up to ease accommodation shortages for Ukrainian refugees.
It is also understood a “pipeline of 350 places” per month has been established. Refurbished accommodation could be used to move people from hotels or unsuitable or substandard accommodation.
While there are initial costs to refurbishment, the meeting discussed how they could be an “optimum solution” for future refugee and asylum seeker accommodation.
It was also heard that publicly owned buildings currently in disrepair should be prioritised for investment and this would allow for longer-term arrangements.
It was suggested that the potential for expanding refurbishment programmes, like the one put in place for Ukrainian refugee accommodation, should be examined in the future for international protection and homelessness accommodation.
It was reported yesterday that the meeting would examine cutting the rates of social welfare rates for Ukrainian refugees. The rates for new arrivals were cut from €232 a month to €38.80 a month in March. Their entitlement to State-provided accommodation was also limited to 90 days.
Impact
Finance Minister Michael McGrath said yesterday that there is “no immediate plan” to cut social welfare rates for other Ukrainian refugees. He said: “We have only just recently made some changes that are having some impact. We need to allow these changes to bed in.”
Elsewhere, up to 100 people queuing outside the International Protection Office
(IPO) on Mount Street yesterday were told they could not be given accommodation.
Applicants were given letters stating that “due to the accommodation shortage” in the International Protection Accommodation System (IPAS), “no further offers of accommodation can be made at this time”.
They were told their details were recorded and they would be contacted when accommodation became available.
Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dáil on Tuesday that once the Mount Street tent encampment was taken down, it was not envisaged that it would be reerected.
Barriers were put up on the roads outside the IPO yesterday to stop tents being erected.