Claudy IRA attack anniversary: Catholic Church, PSNI and NIO silence over ‘new’ files – Going to church regularly decreases likelihood of depression in older people, new study finds – Organisers criticised for including Dublin’s Church of Scientology building in Heritage Week listings – New use for C of I Hilltown Parish Church
Claudy IRA attack anniversary: Catholic Church, PSNI and NIO silence over ‘new’ files
One of the Claudy bombing families says it is “disappointing but not unexpected” that the Catholic Church, PSNI and Northern Ireland Office have declined to say why they are withholding some 20 boxes of evidence in relation to the atrocity.
The IRA murdered nine civilians with three car bombs in the village just outside Londonderry on July 31, 1972. In 2010 the Police Ombudsman made explosive headlines when it revealed correspondence showing that the RUC, Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Catholic Church covered-up the suspected role of South Derry IRA commander and Catholic priest, Fr James Chesney, in the atrocity. More at –
https://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/crime/claudy-ira-attack-anniversary-catholic-church-psni-and-nio-silence-over-new-files-1-9018043
Going to church regularly decreases likelihood of depression in older people, new study finds
Older people who regularly attend church are less likely to suffer from depression while having a wider social network, a new study on ageing has found.
The study, published in the journal Research on Aging, by the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College, not only found that the majority of Irish adults aged 50 and over regularly attend religious services but are more likely to have better mental health than those who do not attend on a regular basis.
The study was based on observations over a six-year period involving 6,000 adults over the age of 50. More at –
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/going-to-church-regularly-decreases-likelihood-of-depression-in-older-people-new-study-finds-38366202.html
Organisers criticised for including Dublin’s Church of Scientology building in Heritage Week listings
Heritage Week organisers have come under fire by including tours of the headquarters of the Church of Scientology in Dublin to its events listing.
The Journal reports the Heritage council has defended the decision, saying the Merrion Square townhouse is a historic building.
However, critics say the tours are a ploy to recruit new members to the controversial group.
Local Labour councillor Kevin Donohue said he is concerned about how Scientologists have been involving themselves in events aimed at families. More at –
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/organisers-criticised-for-including-dublins-church-of-scientology-building-in-heritage-week-listings-940961.html
Security tightened at city mosque as fear grows after racist attack
Security is to be tightened at the Masjid Maryam mosque on the Old Monivea Road, following an attack on the building which was widely considered to be racist and Islamophobic in motivation.
The mosque is the chief centre of worship for the city’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community, and enjoyed a reputation as a welcoming environment for non-Muslims and a point of interfaith outreach and bridge building between Muslims and the wider community. The ability to provide such services is now in jeopardy as there are fears that repeat attacks on the building, or on worshippers, could follow. More at –
https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/109280/security-tightened-at-city-mosque-as-fear-grows-after-racist-attack
New use for C of I Hilltown Parish Church
A new three-year pilot scheme launched by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Communities aims to restore four buildings while putting them into community control.
Helping them is the Northern Ireland Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), which aims to find sustainable uses for buildings at risk in areas of deprivation.
The four buildings are:
Gracehill Old Post Office, County Antrim;
Pat Murphy House, Ederney, County Fermanagh;
Church of Ireland, Hilltown, County Down;
Woolstore, Caledon, County Tyrone.
Gracehill is being restored in partnership with the Now Group, a social enterprise working with young adults with learning difficulties and autism.
The Pat Murphy House will become a wellbeing hub and co-working space, the Church of Ireland in Hilltown will become a flexible working space, while the Woolstore in Caledon will become a childcare facility.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49211032