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Developments coming thick and fast in re-opened Kerry Babies case

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THE CASE has been cold for more than 33 years but the re-opened Kerry Babies investigation already appears to be gathering significant momentum.

The disclosure on Tuesday that DNA evidence has conclusively proved that Joanne Hayes was not the mother of Baby John has set in motion a sequence of events that have dominated the news all week.

Gardaí apologised to Ms Hayes for their handling of the case against her in 1984, during which the Abbeydorney woman claims she was coerced into confessing to the gruesome murder of a five-day old infant.

Speaking on behalf of the Gardaí, Superintendent Flor Murphy said it was a “matter of significant regret for An Garda Síochána that it has taken such a long time for it to be confirmed that Ms Hayes is not the mother of Baby John.”

“On behalf of An Garda Síochána, I would like to sincerely apologise to Ms Hayes for that, as well as the awful stress and pain she has been put through as a result of the original investigation into this matter, which fell well short of the required standards.”

The case was officially re-opened with Supt. Murphy reassuring the public that “this will be a thorough and professional investigation.”

On Wednesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar apologised on behalf of the State, saying Ms Hayes was “badly treated by our State and by our society in a way that so many other women have been in the past and that needs to change".

"I can't offer compensation here now,” Varadkar continued, “but it's something that I think we can discuss with her representatives in the period ahead."

Later that day, the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, said that compensation should be dealt with in a manner that was “private… and speedy”.

Progress continued at a steady rate on Thursday as Gardaí announced that they are now seeking DNA samples from people in the Iveragh Peninsula in the hope of finding an elusive missing link.

Detectives have also appealed directly to Baby John’s mother to come forward.

Although Gardaí have confirmed that they are not following a definite line of inquiry, a number of people have already contacted the incident room since the new investigation was launched on Tuesday.

 

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Network Ireland Kerry discuss sustainable success

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Network Ireland Kerry held their third annual collaboration event last Wednesday at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. The theme was: “The Journey to Sustainable Success” which brought three industry experts together to talk about their own journey to sustainable successful.

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders came together for this highly anticipated event to learn about the journey from becoming a start-up, to a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), and a large SME.

The event was opened by AIB Branch Liaison for Network Ireland Kerry and AIB Castleisland Branch Manager, Colleen Shannon. It was MC’d by AIB Tralee Branch Manager, Stephen Stack.

Sarah Farrar of AINMHÌ, Garrett Dillon of Mr. Binman and Dillon Waste Ltd. and Susan Quirke-Crowley of Mounthawk Montessori School Group were among the speakers at the event.

These leaders spoke about their challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs they encountered, from launching an idea to scaling operations nationally.

Tara Elzingre of Tara Elzingre Consultancy, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein of Rustic Boowa and Sharon Hartnett of U Coaching promoted their businesses for ‘Minute on the Mic’

Emily Reen, Network Ireland Kerry President, described the event as a testament to the power of partnership. She said: “The event underscored a powerful message: sustainable business success is not a solo journey. With the right partnerships, teams and financial tools, businesses of all sizes can grow with purpose, resilience, and long-term impact.”

Network Ireland Kerry will host their next monthly event on November 12 in Killarney and in collaboration with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, titled: “Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business”. This event will be MC’d by Karen Ronan, 2025 National Vice President of Network Ireland and CEO of Galway Chamber. This event is open to non-members and members, and everyone is welcome from 6 pm for networking and refreshments, with the event taking place from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

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Minor injury clinic to open by this time next year

The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home. […]

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The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home.

The timeline was confirmed in response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill, who said the project will follow the relocation of the Community Nursing Unit from its current site to the grounds of the old St Finan’s Hospital. Once the transfer is complete, construction of the injury clinic can proceed.
Deputy Cahill described the two new health facilities as “a fantastic addition for Killarney and the wider East, Mid, and South Kerry regions” and noted they will help reduce waiting times at University Hospital Kerry A&E.
“I will continue to push for enhanced health services for our people,” added the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Older People.
The new clinic is expected to provide urgent care services for local residents, easing pressure on hospital emergency departments and improving access to timely treatment in the Killarney area.

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