| Probes into lecturer's indecent assault bid complete
Two official investigations into a former senior childcare lecturer convicted of attempted indecent assault have been completed, it emerged tonight.The gardaí have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions after its inquiry into Athlone Institute of Technology ex-lecturer Dr Niall McElwee.Separately, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said it is considering whether to publish its own probe into the circumstances surrounding the case.Dr McElwee resigned from the third-level college last year over his prosecution in the Netherlands of attempted indecent assault on two young women in an Amsterdam hotel room.Children's Minister Brendan Smith ordered an independent review of the the case last July while the gardaí were investigating if Dr McElwee broke sex laws in the Republic.Individuals are obliged under the Sexual Offenders Act 2001 to inform authorities here of any prosecution abroad for an offence also deemed criminal in Ireland.A garda spokesman said: "The investigation is complete and the file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions."Separately, lawyers are to decide whether the HSE probe will be published after health chiefs receive the findings in the coming days.Independent management consultant Conal Devine - a former Director of Industrial Relations at the Irish Medical Organisation - was appointed to carry out the HSE inquiry last July.Child protection experts were to be brought in from outside the State to help Mr Devine with his investigation, it was announced at the time.The report is now understood to be concluded and will be handed to the Assistant National Director of Primary Community and Continuing Care (PCCC) services in the HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster Area before the end of the week.A HSE spokesman said its lawyers will study the findings before a decision is taken on whether or not to make them public."The HSE is committed to establishing the full facts of what information was available to the health services in relation to Dr McElwee," he said.A review inquiry team headed up by Mr Devine was charged with looking at concerns about child protection relating to the incident.It was expected to investigate:::Documents from State agencies, including the gardaí, government departments and Athlone IT relating to Dr McElwee and child protection issues.
Are You For Real?: Malkin, Sundin, Backstrom
Just watch his production explode. Keep in mind, without being brash or mouthy about it, Sundin has been one of the best players this game has ever seen. And he's got at least a couple of solid years left before slowing down, regardless of which organization he belongs to. .
On Native Ground
American Reporter Correspondent
Dummerston, Vt. Back to home page Printable version of this story DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to strike down Vermont's 1997 campaign finance law reinforces the court's misguided notion that money equals speech in politics. It does, except that now the race to gather money is more important in campaigns than the race to gather votes and political support. Money doesn't automatically mean success in the political arena. Here in Vermont, millionaire software developer Richard Tarrant, a Republican, has already spent an unprecedented amount of his personal fortune on his U.S. Senate campaign, yet Congressman Bernard Sanders still holds a 30-40 percent lead on Tarrant in opinion polls. The spending record for a Vermont political campaign is just under $2 million.
Biz Roundup
Chris Dragone, a former senior vice president and general manager at MJC, has been appointed as president and general manager. No reason for the move was given by Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC), owner of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park, which operate under the MJC trade name.
"Lou worked very hard during his tenure with MJC to manage the day-to-day operations and improve the future of thoroughbred racing in the state of Maryland," said MJC Chair Frank Stronach in a release. "MEC remains strongly committed to the future success of thoroughbred racing in Maryland. To this end we will put the full support of MEC behind Chris and the MJC management team."
Dragone joined MEC in 2002 and has served as general manager of Great Lakes Downs in Michigan and Portland Meadows in Oregon prior to his appointment with MJC in February 2006.
My Turn: Why I don't 'shop Taos'
We all work hard for our money and try to spend it wisely. I will not make purchases based on a misguided sense of loyalty to "shop Taos." We want the best "bang for our buck" especially in these difficult economic times. It is not wise money management to spend more for something that is sold for less elsewhere. Many merchants in Taos do not seem to understand that with a global economy, consumers have many shopping options. Residents are not averse to driving to Santa Fe, Albuquerque or even Colorado Springs to get what we want in one shopping trip. The Internet has made it easy to order an item and get it within a matter of days (where we can even get our money refunded if the item doesn’t fit or we decide we don’t like it). Having worked retail to put myself through college and law school, I was taught: "The customer is always right." It’s about the customer, not what is more convenient for the merchant. Many of us are more than happy to "shop Taos" when merchants treat us as if they want our business and are willing to go the extra mile for us. When prices are reasonable (no one will argue with a mark up, but a 40-50 percent mark up?), when merchants make returns and exchanges easier, when they are willing to help me find what I want by ordering the size I need if they don’t have it in stock, I’m happy to spend my dollars here.
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