Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by John D. Cooke
Johnston family 'let down' by Govt over inquiry call
The family of Aoife Johnston, who died at University Hospital Limerick in 2022, have said they feel badly let down by the Government's handling of their calls for a statutory inquiry and a memorial for Aoife. The 16-year-old from Shannon in Co Clare died after waiting over 12 hours to be treated for sepsis in the hospital’s overcrowded emergency department in December 2022. Her father James Johnston died of cancer in April this year.
No plans to increase charges to use RIP.ie, say operators
The operators of the RIP.ie website have said they have no plans to increase controversial charges for death notices introduced 12 months ago as they report "a strong year" with 5% growth in user numbers. The platform for funeral notices and online condolences is marking 20 years of service this year and was bought by the Irish Times Group for an undisclosed sum in May of 2024.
'Hugely distressing' to face homelessness in retirement
Strictly necessary cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the site, use its features and/or services. Any cookies used in this way are first party only in nature and the data that is collected is fully aggregated. Without these cookies, the Site will not perform as smoothly for you as we would like it to and we may not be able to provide the Site or certain services or features.
'Hugely distressing' to face homelessness in retirement
It is described as the ticking time bomb of the housing crisis. Many people wonder if they will ever afford to buy a home and how they will pay for rising rents in retirement. A recent meeting of the National Homeless Action Committee heard that housing charities and advocacy groups are sounding alarm bells over an increasing trend of people in their 60s needing to access emergency accommodation for the first time, with specific reference to Galway.
Two arrested after Limerick drive-by shooting last month
Gardaí investigating a drive-by shooting in Limerick city last month have made a number of arrests. Gardaí said they arrested two men as part of the ongoing investigation into an incident in which a firearm was discharged in the Hyde Avenue area of Ballinacurra Weston on 8 May 2025. During the course of the operation at a domestic residence, gardaí from the Limerick Crime Functional Area also seized suspected controlled drugs at a domestic residence with an estimated value of more than €28,000.
gardaí respond to Limerick clashes
Gardaí in Co Limerick have warned that "nobody is untouchable" as they respond to ongoing feud-related violence in the city, including drive-by shootings and petrol bomb attacks. Recent violent incidents, many of which have been shared on social media, have prompted fears that innocent people could get hurt or that Limerick city could see the return of gangland killings, but gardaí have insisted they will not allow that to happen.
Dundrum locals to continue protest outside IPAS hotel
Locals in a Co Tipperary village are vowing to continue their protest outside a former hotel now housing applicants seeking international protection a year after their demonstration first began. It has been one year since round-the-clock protests began outside Dundrum House Hotel, with local TDs now calling on the Minister for Justice and the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee to review a new contract signed with its operators.
Dundrum locals to continue protest outside IPAs hotel
Locals in a Co Tipperary village are vowing to continue their protest outside a former hotel now housing international protection applicants a year after their demonstration first began. The 29 May marks one year since round-the-clock protests began outside Dundrum House Hotel, with local TDs now calling on the Justice Minister and even the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee to review a new contract signed with its operators.
Campaigners await report on whether midwest needs 2nd ED
Health campaigners in three counties are eagerly awaiting news on whether the midwest region requires a second hospital emergency department (ED) as the deadline approaches for a year-long review. Over 1,100 public submissions have been made to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) as part of the process which was announced by the last government in light of population growth in the region - as well as ongoing pressures and controversy at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
Controversial Ennis 2040 plans paused
Strictly necessary cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the site, use its features and/or services. Any cookies used in this way are first party only in nature and the data that is collected is fully aggregated. Without these cookies, the Site will not perform as smoothly for you as we would like it to and we may not be able to provide the Site or certain services or features.
New UL initiative to support student carers launched
A new initiative to help students balancing college life with looking after a loved one has been launched at University of Limerick (UL). The project launch coincides with events marking international Young Carers Action Day, which is focusing this year on the importance of rest and respite for young family carers.
Friends who fought addiction plan first sober social hike
Members of a social club in Co Tipperary are preparing to lead a walk with a difference this weekend in what is being called a "sober social hike" in the Slieve Bloom mountains. It is the first of many public events planned by two lifelong friends from Roscrea who set up a local branch of narcotics anonymous last May. The pair, from the Roscrea Ramblers Club, have been speaking out about their own experiences of addiction to help others.
Limerick city traffic wardens begin wearing bodycams
Traffic wardens in Limerick city have begun using body-worn cameras in response to violence and aggression encountered in the course of their duties. Limerick City and County Council has said the initiative aims to enhance the safety and security of traffic wardens while they perform their duties. It follows an average of 15 "extreme incidents" a year including verbal threats, physical assaults, and even having "vehicles driven at them", according to Senior Executive Engineer Liam Browne.
Johnston family calling for statutory inquiry into death
The family of Aoife Johnston who died in the overcrowded Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick are calling on the Government to order a full statutory inquiry into her death. The 16-year-old schoolgirl, from Shannon, Co Clare, waited over 12 hours to be seen by a doctor after she was sent to the hospital with suspected sepsis in December 2022.
A Pathway from Crime with the Help of 'Palls'
Calls have been made for more alternatives to prison as a pathway out of crime as a Limerick-based project run by the probation service continues to offer a "second chance" to former offenders. The Palls (Probation and Linkage Limerick) education and training centre caters for men and women over the age of 23 and supported over 400 clients last year.
Racket Hall: One year on from Roscrea protests
Printed pages stuck to the signs for Racket Hall simply say "closed", while steel fencing surrounds the former country house hotel outside Roscrea, once renowned for its hospitality for those travelling the old Limerick to Dublin Road but now home to 160 International Protection Applicants. One year after heated protests that lasted ten weeks and included violent clashes between demonstrators and gardaí, Racket Hall is quiet, apart from the noise of passing traffic.
Call for State-run death notice site after RIP.ie charges
Strictly necessary cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the site, use its features and/or services. Any cookies used in this way are first party only in nature and the data that is collected is fully aggregated. Without these cookies, the Site will not perform as smoothly for you as we would like it to and we may not be able to provide the Site or certain services or features.
How multiple websites plan to compete with RIP.ie
Multiple new websites are being launched as potential alternatives to RIP.ie since the popular online death notices platform introduced a new €100 charge last week. Eight months after the Irish Times Group announced the acquisition of the site, which had 3.3 million users in November alone, the €100 euro per funeral notices charge took effect from 1 January.
Clare: How it started, how it finished
How it started... Voters in the constituency of Clare have elected four TDs in the General Election 2024, among them two first-time Dáil deputies. The final lineup of TDs includes two Fianna Fáil, one Sinn Féin and one Fine Gael - in what will be seen as a successful election for both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin while questions will linger about the Fine Gael candidate strategy.
Family of girl, 4, appeal for State to fund epilepsy drug
The family of a four-year-old girl with epilepsy has appealed for help from the State as they struggle to pay €1,000 per week for the medicine that has stopped her life-threatening seizures. Clodagh Walsh lives with her parents Sinead and Colin in Dromod, Co Leitrim. The family moved there from Co Westmeath in recent years but now they say they are "emotionally and financially" drained as they await news on whether a potentially life-saving drug can be publicly funded.
Safety improvement works under way at Cliffs of Moher
Safety improvement works are under way at the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walking trail in Co Clare this week, while sections of the route may be closed in the coming days in response to health and safety fears raised in the wake of recent tragic deaths there. Specific concerns have been expressed around the 14-kilometre Cliff Edge walking route linking the villages of Doolin and Liscannor to Clare's world famous tourist attraction.
Edna O'Brien funeral to take place in Clare on Saturday
The funeral of acclaimed Irish writer Edna O'Brien is to take place in her native Co Clare on Saturday. The author of The Country Girls trilogy and more than 30 other works spent most of her life in London, where she died peacefully on 27 July. However she had expressed her wish to return to her home parish of Tuamgraney in east Clare and the church where she was baptised for her funeral service, according to her family.
Edna O'Brien to be buried on Holy Island in Co Clare
Irish writer Edna O'Brien's dying wish was to go home one last time, according to her family, and it is expected her funeral will take place in her native county Clare in the coming weeks. Described as one of Ireland's finest writers and a fearless teller of truths, Ms O'Brien famed for the Country Girls and dozens of other well known publications, died in London at the weekend at the age of 93.
IPAs moved out of Clare hotel, 14 months after blockade
A group of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) have been moved out of a Co Clare hotel with just two days' notice, more than a year after members of the local community blocked roads in the area to protest their arrival. Magowna House in Inch became one of the most controversial locations for new direct provision centres in May 2023 due to a heated stand-off and road blockades that prompted Government intervention ahead of many similar demonstrations that followed around the country.
Opposition to plans for shop at Creeslough explosion site
Plans to rebuild a shop and petrol station on the site of the Creeslough explosion in Co Donegal are being met with opposition by some of the bereaved families, who have launched a petition calling for a memorial garden to be developed there instead.
Man dead for hour at UHL before being found, inquest told
An inquest has heard how a patient who died at University Hospital Limerick had fallen from a trolley in the busy emergency department and may have been dead for over an hour before staff found him on the floor. A verdict of death by medical misadventure was recorded today into the death of Martin Abbott from Shannon, Co Clare who died in December of 2019.
John Cooke in Inch
Protecting your privacy RTÉ.ie uses cookies to allow us to better understand our users. The stored information will not normally identify you directly. You can choose not to allow some types of cookies below but please be aware that this may impact your experience of the site and the services that we can offer. For more information read our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy.
John Cooke: Who wants to roll the dice on school shootings?
I look at the faces of the 14 children killed at Parkland High School. They look like kids at Galena High School, or River Ridge, or Stockton, Warren, Scales Mound, East Dubuque or Dubuque.The three adults killed that day are like any other teacher or administrator in Jo Daviess County, Ill., schools.How did it happen there and not here? What are the odds it could not happen here?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with John D.
Contact John D., search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack