Saving
irishmirror.ie
hearingCourt in Gorey
Two in court
after €400k
cash seizure
By edel hughes
TWO men have been held
on money laundering
charges after gardai seized
€400,000 in cash.
An Irish national, 50,
and a 35-year-old Polish
citizen appeared at Gorey
District Court yesterday
after being arrested in
Wexford on Tuesday.
The cash was seized
after gardai approached
the occupants of a cattle
transporter and a car in a
lay-by on the N25 road
near Rosslare.
A Garda spokesperson
said: “This interaction led
to the discovery and
seizure of an estimated
€400,000 in cash and the
arrest of two males.”
Gardai also carried out a
number of related searches
in Swords, Co Dublin, and
Trim, Co Meath, as part of
the operation.
furyAodhan O Riordain
Senator raps
UCD students
12% rent rise
By ian mangan
LABOUR has slammed
UCD over proposed 12%
rent increases for student
accommodation.
Senator Aodhan O
Riordain labelled the hikes
as “unacceptable”.
The politician, who is a
candidate for Dublin Bay
North, said: “Third-level
institutions are using the
housing crisis as a way to
make a quick buck.
“The housing crisis is
becoming a prevalent
feature in Irish society and
student accommodation
companies are exploiting
this to charge extortionate
accommodation fees.
“ We know through
media reports UCD are
raising prices of college-
owned student accommo-
dation by 12% over the
next three years. It is
completely unacceptable.”
ordealMollie Gardner
feeling
plucky
Sophie
Breen
by LIZ FARSACI
A BRAVE girl living in constant
pain is hoping to go to the US for
life-changing spinal surgery.
Sophie Breen, seven, from Co
Tipperary, was diagnosed with cerebral
palsy aged three and her
condition has been slowly
deteriorating over the years.
The first class pupil, who
loves singing to Katy Perry
songs, has to wear a splint to
school and use a wheelchair
for longer distances.
But now there is hope for
her as she has been accepted
for life-changing selective
dorsal rhizotomy surgery in
the US.
The surgery at St Louis
Children’s Hospital in
Missouri would save Sophie
from further pain.
Her mother Edel, from
Borrisokane, said it would also
plightSophie uses wheelchair
Woman in €600 compo fight over Ryanair flight diversion
By Emma Elgee
A woman has hit out at Ryanair for
refusing to compensate her after
her Dublin-bound plane landed in
Shannon – 235km away.
Mollie Gardner, 24, from Bath in
England, also claimed she had a
DMEEIR
FRIDAY 07.02.2020  IRISH DAILY MIRROR 25
Sophie
»»Girl, 7, needs »»Funds drive
spinal surgery for €100k US op
puppy love
She is always
very happy
Three
allow her to play sports with her young spasticity, which is what time, she’ll even make
friends and dance to songs on causes her pain.” her bed.”
the radio. Edel said her daughter is very But the life-changing
The operation would
also prevent the child’s
brave, and never complains, even
though she has to wear her Sophie’s age when she
surgery for Sophie
can only go ahead
condition, which causes
her pain and tightness,
splint every day to school and do was diagnosed with
physiotherapy at home in the form of cerebral palsy
next year if Edel and
her partner Garrett
particularly in her legs,
from getting worse.
Edel told the Irish
evenings.
She added: “Sophie is one of a
kind. She’s so good and doesn’t complain
O’Meara are able to
raise €100,000 to pay for it.
To help generate the cash, Edel has
Mirror yesterday : or give out. set up a GoFundMe page so her
“This surgery will “She’s very happy all the time. She daughter can get the operation.
change Sophie’s life. loves singing and dancing to Katy Perry She said: “I’m so terrified that we
“It will stop songs and she gives it her all, even if she won’t be able to raise the funds and the
further deteriora- struggles with the dancing. pressure is massive.
tion and reduce “She’s so helpful and if she has the “The amount of surgeries and
treatments that aren’t available in
Ireland is frightening.
“But I’ve been talking about it for a
Sophie is one of a kind. She’s while, so I’ve decided to go for it.
“I asked Sophie what she thought and
so good and doesn’t complain she told me I’d been going on about it for
or give out. She’s so helpful so long, we should do it.”
■■To donate, visit www.gofundme.
edel breen co tipperary yesterday com/f/vusku-sophies-wish.
news@irishmirror.ie
“near-death experience” after two disgusted by the way I have been not liable for compensation as the
failed attempts to land. treated and it is outrageous that I diversion was caused by weather.
She reckons she is owed €600 have had to take it this far.” But she is claiming the original
compensation over her diverted After disembarking at Shannon 40-minute delay due to a minor
Bristol flight on January 11. Airport, passengers faced a three- technical fault led to the flight
In an official complaint, Ms hour coach journey to Dublin. hitting deteriorating conditions and
Gardner said: “I am absolutely Ryanair told Ms Gardner she is therefore should qualify.