D Tuesday, February 9, 2010 News Devastation: The scene at Russborough House in Co Wicklow, after it was badly damaged by a fire Abuse survivors write to the Pope CLERICAL abuse survivors have issued an open letter to the Pope asking him to write to the people of Ireland accepting the harm caused by the acts of omission and commission of the Catholic Church and its priests and bishops in Ireland. The letter castigates the church for hiding behind diplomatic protocols to avoid co-operating with the Murphy Commission and urges the pontiff to remove Bishop Martin Drennan, who they say refuses to accept responsibil- ity for his part in cover-ups in Dublin. Pope Benedict is to meet Irish bishops over the scandal next week. 22,000 to teach Irish to Chinese A CHINESE university is to receive almost 22,000 in Government funding to teach students... Irish. Beijings Foreign Studies University is the first third- level college in China to request funding for the language, as its policy is to teach all tongues spoken in the EU. The money is to be spread over three years and college chiefs will hold talks with NUI Maynooth over the curriculum and course content. amon Cuv, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister, said the course showed the opportunities for Irish speakers across the globe. The demand for funding... is a clear indicator not only of the interest within the academic community in Irish as one of the worlds oldest vernacular languages, but also as proof of the opportunities for Irish speakers globally, adding: The Irish language is a valuable export. amon Cuv: Irish is a valuable export Valuable art safe as blaze rips through Russborough A VALUABLE art collection escaped damage after a blaze broke out in one of the countrys finest stately homes, it was confirmed last night. Several fire crews went to the 18th century Russborough House near Blessington in Co Wicklow and fought for three hours to bring the fire under control. Although the west wing was exten- sively damaged, and part of the roof collapsed, all valuables, including much of the original Beit Collection of paintings, had previously been re- moved from the site as renovation work was under way. The whole west wing is being re- stored so everything had been taken out, said a spokesman. The work on the wing is about a third of the way through, so the inside had been stripped down. By Ed Carty All valuables had already been removed Initial examinations suggest an elec- trical fault in wiring in the roof may have sparked the blaze. A Hollywood film crew led by Oscar-winning film director Steven Soderbergh had finished shooting scenes at the stately home about 48 hours before the fire broke out. Knockout, which stars Ewan McGregor and Michael Douglas, is filming in Ireland for three weeks. The mansion, built in 1741 and housing valuable fine art, antiques and silverware, has been targeted in several notorious robberies. In 1974, an IRA gang, including Jacko doctor charged with manslaughter AMID cries of murderer from fans of Michael Jackson, the late singers doctor arrived at court to answer a charge of involuntary manslaughter last night. It came just before a leaked report linked Dr Conrad Murray strongly to the superstars death. Prosecutors announced the charge against Dr Murray in a courthouse beside Los Angeles airport. Members of Jacksons family were there to see the process begin. The charge states he did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson. It says he acted without the caution and circumspection required when he administered a powerful sedative [Propofol] to Jackson to help him sleep. Dr Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted. Meanwhile, a leaked coroners report states Propofol was administered without any appropriate medical indication. Murray denies wrongdoing. British heiress Rose Dugdale, stole paintings valued at 8million and in the mid-1980s Dublin criminal Mar- tin The General Cahill stole 30mil- lion of paintings from the house. Owners Sir Alfred and Lady Clem- entine Beit gifted the building to the State in 1978, but lived in it until they died in 1994 and 2006. Russborough House attracts 1mil- lion visitors a year, but staff said the fire damage would not affect the summer opening times from May onwards. The refurbishment of the west wing was expected to be complete by East- er this year, with management hoping to offer it for short-term holiday lets. Charged: Murray index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html