There has been a call for people to speak up if they have concerns for their loved ones in nursing homes.

It has come from Age Action a day after a report from HIQA raised grave concerns for the welfare and safety of residents at a County Galway facility.

The HSE took over the operation of the Owen Riff centre on Camp Street in Oughterard last month after the inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in April.

Head of Advocacy with Age Action Eamon Timmins believes people need to be more forthright in voicing any concerns they have about the care their loved ones are receiving.

“Families play a huge role in this; members of the public visiting a nursing home play a huge role” he said.

“Other professionals – doctors, nurses – people going in and out of that nursing home”.

“We would urge people to say…if you see your loved one and you’re not happy with the standard of care – that they do look dishevelled, that you say there’s a smell – (ask) when was the last time my loved one was bathed”.

“And also looking out for other people in the home – people who don’t have family” he continued.

“Because the presumption should be that if someone else in the home is being mistreated or (in) sub-standard care there’s no reason to believe your loved one won’t receive the same sub-standard care if that’s the standards in the home”.

“So I think people do need to be alert; and they need to contact the matron, management at the home first”.

“If they’re getting no satisfaction (they) then need to go to HIQA, make that complaint to HIQA”.

“I think people do need to be more forthright, more campaigning for their loved ones in nursing homes” he added.

Several dozen people are taking part in a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin in support of Pussy Riot.

3 members of the punk rock band were jailed for 2 years last week in Moscow after being found guilty of hooliganism.

The group had staged a protest in a cathedral against the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Noeleen Hartigan is from Amnesty International – the organisers of today’s event.

She says the world must demand their release.

“Some people found their actions offensive, but I think they were designed to shock” she said.

“No matter how offensive thier actions, it doesn’t warrant a 2-year jail sentence”.

“From Amnesty International’s point of view, these women are prisoners of conscience – and therefore we are saying they they should be unconditionally and immediately released” she added.

A suspect device has been declared a hoax at the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.

Gardaí evacuated the building on Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge earlier but the embassy is now being re-opened.

The Army Bomb Disposal Team was also called to the scene.

It is understood gardaí were notified about a suspect package found at the Embassy just before 11am this morning.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and a major Garda manhunt is continuing after a botched Tiger raid in Co. Limerick.

The boy was arrested in Donoghmore, Co. Limerick yesterday following the abduction of 2 teenagers from a home in Castletroy on Sunday by a two-man armed gang.

One of the men was released shortly afterwards.

The other – a 19-year-old – was driven around in a 4×4 for a number of hours with a hood placed over his head.

He managed to escape and notify the gardai when he was brought to a field.

He had refused orders from the gang to contact family members who run a post office to organise a ransom.

The 16-year-old is being questioned at Henry Street Garda station where he can be held for up to 72 hours.

Reporter David Raleigh says Gardai are also searching for a number of other suspects.

“The highest level of gardai are working on this” he said.

“They believe there’s very serious, very dangerous criminals involved who would undertake such an alleged crime”.

“Footage from CCTV is being examined as well around the city to see if they can spot this Toyota van after the abduction” he added.

It seems more of us are buying clothes with a multitude of pockets because of airline charges.

Debenhams Ireland says fees to check-in suitcases have seen a boom in sales of coats and jackets.

Newstalk’s Jack Quann has more.