Warning of more storms across UK as flash floods hit village in Cornwall

Thunderstorms are continuing to affect parts of Britain, with lightning and heavy downpours expected to hit both the morning and evening rush hours.

Torrential rain could cause some localised flooding, and people are being warned of the risk of disruption to power networks from lightning strikes.

A yellow weather warning is in place right through the day for large swathes of England and Wales, with the Met Office predicting a month's worth of rain could fall in some places in a matter of hours.

The intense conditions caused flash flooding in a coastal village in Cornwall on Tuesday, with some 50 properties affected and several people having to be rescued from their homes.

A council spokesman confirmed some properties in Coverack and one of the roads suffered structural damage and are due to be inspected by structural engineers.

Two people were rescued by a coastguard helicopter, and one witness described the flooding as "quite horrendous".

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Graeme Demianyk 

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Awesome coastguard rescue of elderly couple trapped in #Coverack flash floods in Cornwall http://huffp.st/nTNVRUA 

12:58 AM - 19 Jul 2017

 
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A meeting for residents, attended by council officers, will be held at a local hotel later.

Commuters in the Midlands and east of England could be caught up in downpours this morning, while those in north-east Wales and the North West will bear the brunt this afternoon, Steven Keates from the Met Office said.

"This morning it's probably going to be parts of the Midlands and eastern England that see potential for some heavy rain, some thunderstorms, and then a bit of a lull," he said.

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The Yorkshire Post 

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Flash flooding has hit Cornwall tonight - and forecasters say the storms are coming our way: http://trib.al/jK0g9cF 

11:29 PM - 18 Jul 2017

 
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"Then just in time for the evening rush hour, a different location, this time across parts of northern England, north-west England in particular by the looks of it, will see the worst of the weather in places."

He said the nature of the thunderstorms would be "hit and miss" and that the showers should move through the country "relatively quickly".

After a warm night, temperatures are expected to remain high on Wednesday for parts of eastern England where the mercury could rise to the low 30s, Mr Keates added.

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Cornwall LIVE @CornwallLive

Coverack flash flooding disaster compared to Boscastle as casualties winched to safety #Coverack #flooding #cornwallhttp://www.cornwalllive.com/coverack-flash-flood-sees-casualties-winched-to-safety-as-shops-washed-away-and-homes-flood-live/story-30446797-detail/story.html …

11:22 PM - 18 Jul 2017 · Truro, England

 
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Cambridgeshire police said the adverse weather conditions have caused problems with its non-emergency 101 service.

The force tweeted: "We are experiencing problems with the 101 lines due to the weather, 999 lines are ok you can also contact us via the website if you need us."

Flash flooding in the coastal village of Coverack in Cornwall, England yesterday. Pic via Adam Powers @adamvtpowers.

Water had to be pumped out of a number of properties in Tunbridge Wells, the fire service said, after it received more than 60 calls to the 999 line within one hour.

Crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended but, despite two of the calls stating that people were trapped inside properties, no rescues were needed.

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Some of the main contenders for the Open Championship

Henrik Stenson will defend his Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale in England as the year's third major championship takes place from Thursday.

Here, we look at five possible contenders for one of golf's biggest prizes.

DUSTIN JOHNSON

Johnson's form has suffered a dip since he won three tournaments in succession earlier this season, including back-to-back World Golf Championship events, before a back injury forced him to withdraw from the Masters. Since returning to action, Johnson has finished second, 12th and 13th before missing the cut in the Memorial Tournament and the US Open.

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However, the world number one has a decent record in the Open with three top-10 finishes in his last six appearances, while he also led at halfway at St Andrews in 2015 before fading over the weekend.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

Matsuyama's Open record is nothing to write home about, with his sole top-10 finish in four appearances coming on his debut at Muirfield in 2013. However, since missing the cut at Troon last year the world number two has gone from strength to strength, finishing fourth in the US PGA, 11th in the Masters and second in the US Open after a superb closing 66 at Erin Hills.

Away from the majors, Matsuyama has also collected five wins around the world and was 14th in the Irish Open at Portstewart.

SERGIO GARCIA

Five years after claiming he was not good enough to win a major, Garcia proved himself wrong in dramatic fashion by beating Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose in a play-off for the Masters at Augusta National.

Shedding the tag of 'best player not to have won a major' should do wonders for the talented Spaniard, who has 10 top-10 finishes in the Open since 2001, including the last three years in succession.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

From 188th in the world as recently as September 2016, Fleetwood has climbed to within reach of the top 10 thanks to some brilliant performances, including victories in the Abu Dhabi Championship and HNA Open de France and fourth place in the US Open.

The 26-year-old from Southport is thrilled to have the Open Championship on his doorstep, although he does not have as much local knowledge as might be expected after revealing he had to sneak on to Royal Birkdale for a few illicit holes as a kid.

RORY McILROY

Missing the cut in defence of his Irish Open title was a huge disappointment for McIlroy, especially as the tournament benefits his own foundation. However, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise if the world number four follows through on his promise to sharpen his short game.

''It's the simple things I haven't been doing well," McIlroy said. "I can hit a five iron from 220 yards into the middle of the green, but I can't get it up and down from 30 feet." The 2014 Open champion's decision to enter the Scottish Open could also turn out to be important in an injury-hit campaign.

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Fractured vertebrae for Ana O'Brien but brain scan clear after Killarney fall

Ana O'Brien, the daughter of trainer Aidan, suffered a fractured C1 vertebra in her neck and T6 in her back after a fall at Killarney on Tuesday evening that saw her taken to hospital by air ambulance.

O'Brien, 21, was quickly attended to after her mount Druids Cross, trained by her brother, Joseph, slipped up over two furlongs out in the Celtic Steps The Show At Killarney Racecourse Rated Race, the second contest on the card which was run at 6.20pm.

The three-year-old Druids Cross was fatally injured, while O'Brien was taken off the track in an ambulance before being transferred to Cork University Hospital, the Irish Coast Guard air ambulance arriving at 7.45pm and landing on the golf course in the middle of the circuit.

The third race was delayed for well over an hour as a result, although the meeting was completed, with the last race run at around 9.20pm.

Turf club chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick was among those who attended O'Brien, and he said: "Ana's brain scan is clear.

Ana O'Brien takes a fall from her mount Druids Cross at Killarney Races on Tuesday evening. Pic: Don MacMonagle

"She has a fractured C1 vertebra in her neck and T6 in her back. Both will have an MRI scan tomorrow to assess further. She has fractured cheek bones bilaterally. Aidan and AnneMarie (O'Brien) would like to thank the superb work provided to Ana by the Order Of Malta, racecourse doctors, veterinary team and ground staff led by Val O'Connell (clerk of the course). Also the Air Medical Crew and the amazing staff at CUH."

McGoldrick added he expected O'Brien, who rode in both the English and Irish Derbys for her father this season and partnered her first winner as a 16-year-old at Dundalk in February, 2013, to have a recovery period of between three to four months.

Champion jockey Ruby Walsh, who claimed the final event on 7-4 favourite Conrad Hastings, earlier told At The Races after supervising the win of the Willie Mullins-trained Grainne's Dream in the delayed 6.50: "I think the news was a bit better when she was leaving, so hopefully that is right.

"She'll be well looked after, fingers crossed for her."

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Mercedes recall three million cars across Europe over toxic emissions

Three million Mercedes cars across Europe are being recalled over concerns about toxic emissions.

The German car maker Daimler says petrol and diesel vehicles will have a software update to adjust and reduce the amount of pollutants they admit.

Customers will not be charged and will be asked to return their cars in the coming weeks.

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Small Firms Association criticises minimum wage rise

The Small Firms Association has said most of its members plan to give pay rises this year based on their ability to do so, after the Government raised the minimum wage by the 30c.

The Government yesterday increased the minimum wage by up to €12 a week in January in a move employers claim is not affordable and could threaten jobs.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the decision to increase the minimum wage by 30c an hour would benefit up to 150,000 workers. Only those on full hours will earn up to an extra €12 a week.

This will bring the minimum wage to €9.55 an hour.

Mr Varadkar, flanked by his Independent Alliance colleague, Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath, said the increase would benefit those who get up early, work nights as well as weekends.

However, small firms took issue with the increase. Linda Barry, acting director of the Small Firms Association, said: "Two-thirds of SFA members plan to give pay rises this year, but increases will be based on the performance of the individual worker and the ability of the business to pay.

"An increase in the minimum wage imposed by Government, on the other hand, would ignore the realities facing many small businesses, especially those operating on low margins, including in rural areas and in sectors exposed to Brexit.

"Constant increases in the National Minimum Wage, however, create uncertainty and represent a barrier to job creation. This could pose a particular challenge for young people looking to enter the labour market, as 15-24 year olds make up almost 40% of those on the minimum wage."

Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the retail sector, expressed concern at the Low Pay Commission recommendation to increase the wage, which led to the Cabinet’s decision.

Retail Ireland director Thomas Burke said: “With little to no inflation in consumer goods and growing concern over the impact Brexit is already having on the retail sector, there is absolutely no economic basis for a further increase to minimum wages.”

Rising costs are threatening the viability of retail businesses in Ireland and in turn jeopardising thousands of jobs in the sector, said Mr Burke.

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Searches continue for Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116

Renewed searches will get underway from 7am this morning around the crash site of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116.

The bodies of winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith have never been recovered.

Local photo journalist Fergus Sweeney says Garda dive teams are joining a Donegal-based fishing trawler which has been fitted with specially designed nets to trawl the sea-floor off the Mayo coast where the helicopter went down.

Mr Sweeney said: "The plan is to return out to the search zone and pick up when where they dropped off yesterday evening.

"This search is ongoing with a trawler and while they are trawling, they are also being backed up by the Garda sub-aqua unit, who are on stand-by, Gardaí from Belmullet garda station.

"Also the local coast guard units are providing shore search teams throughout the day to just throw eyes on the beach."

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Croke Park to host football qualifiers double-header

The round 4B football qualifiers will be played as a double-header at Croke Park.

First up will be Down's clash with Monaghan, which has a 5pm throw-in on Saturday week, July 29.

Then at 7pm, Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney will see his side come up against Kildare, the team he managed for six years until 2013.

Tyrone and Dublin await the winners of those respective ties in the quarter-finals.

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Gardaí seize weapons and €4m of drugs in Dublin raid

Gardaí have seized around €4m worth of cannabis and heroin in Dublin.

In the raid yesterday targeting organised crime in Dublin, officers also found drug paraphernalia, a vacuum packing machine, a cash counting machine, stun guns, a sawn off shotgun and a semi automatic pistol.

It was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by the Special Crime Task Force in the Ballyfermot Parade area of Dublin 10.

Follow-up searches in the South Inner City lead to the arrest of three men aged 46, 44 and 39.

They are in custody at Clondalkin and Ballyfermot Garda Stations under Section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

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Report uncovers number of failures in Tusla's handling of child abuse allegations

A number of failures have been identified following an investigation into the Child and Family Agency, Tusla.

The Ombudsman launched an examination after receiving a number of complaints about the way the agency investigates allegations of child abuse against adults.

It found that the agency took a long time to deal with some child abuse allegations and that confidential communications were sent to the wrong address.

The investigation also found some Tusla social workers lacked empathy, breached the rights of accused adults, and failed to follow its own procedures for keeping social work records.

Peter Tyndall says they have looked at how Tusla can improve the delivery of its services and made their recommendations in a report called 'Taking Stock'.

He said: "We've quite a lengthy series of recommendations to do with the way that Tusla puts procedures in place, to do with recruiting sufficient staff to be able to do the job, to training and managing those staff well.

"And also recommendations about how they deal with complaints."

Tusla have said that they have been working to improve their work for the past 12 to 18 months.

Brian Lee, Director of Quality Assurance at Tusla, said: "I welcome the acknowledgement by the Ombudsman of the difficult environment in which social workers work, and of the difficultly in dealing with disclosures of retrospective abuse.

"'Taking Stock', which was based on a small sample of individual complaints, provides valuable learnings for us and we are working proactively with the Ombudsman in relation to implementing the recommendations in the report. Many of these have already progressed significantly."

Tusla undertook the following activities to enhance the complaints function in 2016:
• Guidance for members of the public and staff and a complaints leaflet for young people were developed and published on the Tusla website;
• Briefing sessions on Tell Us for Tusla staff commenced;
• Quarterly service experience reports produced to support learning and development of practice improvements;
• The development of the National Children’s Charter advanced.

Last year, the agency launched its own complaints and feedback policy and procedure, called 'Tell Us'.

They outlined how people can make complaints or pay compliments:
• Verbally, in person or by phone, to a Tusla staff member or Tusla office;
• By filling out the form attached to this leaflet or online at www.tusla.ie/about/feedback-and-complaints;
• By emailing tellus@tusla.ie;
• In writing.

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