| 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.
US-UZBEKISTAN RELATIONS: ANOTHER STEP TOWARD RAPPROCHEMENT?
Admiral William Fallon, head of the US Central Command, is expected to stop in Uzbekistan during his Central Asian tour. The visit marks an intensification of US efforts to block Russia from strengthening its energy position in Central Asia. As Central Asias most populous nation, Uzbekistan is a vital player in the regional geopolitical and energy development games being waged by the United States, the European Union, Russia and China. Tashkent controls a relatively small amount of natural resources, mostly natural gas. But many of the export routes out of Central Asia cross Uzbek territory. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Relations between Washington and Brussels, on the one hand, and Tashkent on the other have been in a deep freeze since Uzbek security forces opened fire on unarmed civilians in Andijan in 2005.
Briefs: Boro Business Xchange coming
The next Boro Business Xchange will be from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 20 at Bonefish Grill, 505 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. The event includes lunch and is an opportunity to meet and greet Murfreesboro business folks. Admission is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. .
US: Obama says landslide win in South Carolina marks a turn in ...
Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday that his landslide win in South Carolina's presidential primary marks a turn in party history, showing that a black candidate can appeal to voters of all colors and in all regions. The Illinois senator was responding to comments by former President Clinton that some interpreted as an effort to diminish Obama's win Saturday over Hillary Rodham Clinton. Bill Clinton noted that Jesse Jackson won the South Carolina primary in 1984 and 1988. Jackson never became the party's presidential nominee. "I think that what we saw in this election was a shift in South Carolina that I think speaks extraordinarily well, not just for folks in the South, but all across the country. I think people want change. I think they want to get beyond some of the racial politics that, you know, has been so dominant in the past." .
Regina producer shepherds 2 films through Sundance
But the key part of the festival for a Canadian producer is meeting filmmakers with interesting ideas that could lead to new productions. "What's happened in motion pictures throughout the world is everyone is seeking to attract quality products to be made in their neck of the woods and so we all work hard at distinguishing ourselves," Onda said. "One of the best ways is to create an award-winning product [and] help be the catalyst that allows films like Downloading Nancy and Sleepwalking raise to an international profile." .
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