Pre-deceased by her beloved husband Eamon, sisters Nancy, Sheila, Elsie and brother Michael; Mrs Heaney, sadly, passed away while in the care of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving daughters Mary, Catriona and Michelle, sons Denis and Eamon, grandchildren Crystal, Adam, Róisín, Shane, James, Grace, Ellen, Donnacha and Jacob, sons-in-law Merle, Kevin and Tom, daughters-in-law Kate and Debbie, sister-in-law Breda, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours, wonderful carers and many friends.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Heaney, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Heaney family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has reported an almost 11% increase in cases of radiation overexposure from medical imaging and radiotherapy services in 2024. A total of 145 incidents were notified; the highest number since HIQA became the regulator for medical exposure to ionising radiation some six years ago.
Human error accounted for 68% of cases. The number of incidents has more than doubled since 2019, when 68 cases were reported.
Notifications linked to diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound, rose by 19% to 129 last year, while incidents in radiotherapy fell from 23 to 16. Sixty-eight per cent of all cases involved CT scans.
HIQA said more hospitals and healthcare providers are reporting incidents, increasing from 47 to 59. The authority noted that most diagnostic imaging incidents occurred at the point of imaging, often due to incorrect protocol selection, and that many could have been prevented through better verification checks.
HIQA warned that common corrective actions such as staff reminders and education sessions are low-level strategies with limited long-term impact. It urged healthcare providers to address underlying factors such as workload, resources and skill mix.
The full report is available on the HIQA website at www.hiqa.ie.
Irish Taxpayers have carried the cost of more than €15 million in incorrect welfare payments over the past two years.
In the year 2024 alone, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) wrote off €7.97 million, up from €7.64million in 2023. These write-offs occur when overpayments are deemed irrecoverable; for example, where the recipient has died or the cost of pursuing same outweighs likely recovery.
Approximately 75% of the write-off’s relate to individuals who are deceased; smaller amounts (typically under €100) are also cancelled when recovery is judged uneconomical. The DSP operates a structured debt-management policy, issuing annual statements to claimants and reserving the right to reopen a case, if a recipient’s financial circumstances improve.
Of the 2024 total, nearly €3.1 million was attributed to non-contributory state pensions, while some €1.44 million related to the contributory state pension, and around €841,000 to illness benefits. Other six-figure losses include invalidity pensions, jobseeker’s benefit, widows/widowers’ pensions and one-parent-family payments.
Over the same 2023-24 period, welfare overpayments in total amounted to €273 million, with a marked rise from €115.8 million in 2023 to €157.5 million in 2024. These overpayments stem from instances of false or misleading information by claimants, as well as errors by either applicants or the department itself.
The DSP states that overpayments in any year account for less than 0.5 per cent of total welfare expenditure. In 2023 the department recovered more than €87 million, and in 2024 the figure rose to just over €100 million.
Where overpayments occur, the DSP seeks full recovery, while balancing collection efforts with fair treatment of claimants with limited means. Deductions of up to 15 per cent of ongoing welfare payments may be made. If a debtor is in full-time employment and refuses to repay, an “attachment of earnings” order may be considered. The department emphasises it will strive to avoid causing “undue financial hardship” in any repayment plan.
Pre-deceased by her parents Nora and Patrick, brothers Nicholas, Matthew and P.J., sisters Bridie and Nora; Ms Butler passed away peacefully while in the care of staff of St Theresa’s Nursing Home, Dublin Road, Thurles.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving sister Sr. Mary Raphael L.C.M. (Little Company of Mary Mission), nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Ms Butler will repose tomorrow afternoon, Monday November 3rd, at McCormack’s Funeral Home, Kilcommon Cross, Thurles, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, before being received into the Church of the Little Flower, Curreeney Commons, Co. Tipperary, arriving at 8:00pm, same evening. Requiem Mass will be offered for Ms Butler on Tuesday afternoon, November 4th, at 1:00pm, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in the adjoining graveyard.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Ms Butler, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Butler family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Tipperary-Born Writer-Director Jo Southwell Embarks On Feature Film, “The Catch.”
Press Correspondent Tom Ryan Reports.
Tipperary-born writer/director Jo Southwell(née Kelly) has confirmed her transition into feature filmmaking with “The Catch“, a bold new project which she has written and is directing.
Tipperary-Born Writer/Director Ms Jo Southwell.
Ms Southwell brings to the film a rich background in screen acting, television directing and immersive formats. A second-generation Irish woman now based in Henley-on-Thames, UK, she began her professional life teaching in Ireland; including at Teach an Leinn in Nenagh and St Mary’s in Newport, before moving into acting and subsequently into filmmaking. Her mother, Hanora Kelly, formerly resided in Templederry, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Her acting career has included roles in Irish film and television dramas, before she relocated to the UK to further her screen work. She has directed short films that screened at BAFTA, BIFA and Oscar-recognised festivals, and has worked on episodic television (including shadow director placements on ‘Killing Eve and ‘Trigger Point‘).
“The Catch” emerges from this evolving trajectory. The film is described by Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures, as “a razor-sharp blend of myth and obsession, a story that reminds us that the real monsters are often human.” The project attaches high-profile actors (including Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ben Miles) and is being steered collaboratively by Southwell and producer Sara Gibbings.
Ms Southwell said: “I’ve always been drawn to stories that combine emotional truth and mythic resonance. In The Catch I explore how obsession distorts reality, and how the real monsters walk among us in human form.”
Production is scheduled to begin in 2026, with locations and final casting to be announced. The production is developed by Mermaid Pictures in association with Epic Pictures.
About Jo Southwell Jo Southwell is an award-winning writer-director whose career spans screen acting, voice-over, radio presenting and directing. Born and educated in Ireland, she has directed television, feature and immersive formats, delivering emotionally driven and visually distinct storytelling with discipline and precision. She has served as a BAFTA juror (Best Supporting Actress 2023; Best Short Form TV 2025) and is completing an MA in Screenwriting at Falmouth University.
About Mermaid Pictures Established in 2024 by Jo Southwell and Sara Gibbings, Mermaid Pictures is a UK-based production company focused on bold, female-led, genre-independent film and television. With “The Catch” as its first feature slate, the company seeks to bring imaginative and emotionally authentic stories to the screen.
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