Noel McCullagh

Noel McCullagh (born 1975)^[1] is a journalist and historian living in the Netherlands.^[2][3][4]

McCullagh began his career in 2000 as a newsreader with OOG (Omroep organisatie Groningen in the Netherlands.^[5] In 2006, he was appointed coordinator of the English-language newsdesk at Zoom.in in Amsterdam, having worked as a reporter and newscaster. He is a member of the Nederlandse Vereniging van Journalisten (NVJ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).^[1]

In August 2006 McCullagh was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Physicians treating the symptoms of the neurological, chronic condition prescribe Bediol and Bedrocan. Despite the success of his medical treatment, however, he has been informed by Irish government-ministry officials that he will be arrested if he makes any attempt to enter the Republic of Ireland carrying the medicines prescribed in the treatment of his condition.^[1][6][7]

He and attorneys acting on his behalf submitted a complaint to the European Commission on 12 June 2008,^[8] stating that the threat to arrest McCullagh in Ireland if he is carrying these prescribed medicines is not compatible with the law of the European Union.

In May 2009 McCullagh was nominated to stand as an independent candidate in the European Parliament elections by statutory declaration of registered electors^[9] in the North–West constituency. He did not leave the Netherlands during the European Parliament election campaigns held that month.

On 2 October 2009, despite threats of arrest from ministry officials in Dublin, he visited Galway to vote in Ireland's (second) referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, held during the annual Ballinasloe October Horse Fair.^[10]

In December of 2009 he was invited to address the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions^[11] on the day that a members' discussion on the petition of 16 April 2008^[12] was scheduled on the committee's agenda.^[13] A fortnight following the debate at the European Parliament Committee on Petitions' meeting, the UK Home Office wrote to the petitioner a letter on 14 December 2009^[14] clarifying the application of EU Police and Security co-operative measures in the UK jurisdiction.^[15][16][17]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Whelan, John (16 August 2009). "'Exiled' MS patient risks arrest". The Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/exiled-ms-patient-risks-arrest-1861406.html. Retrieved 11 February 2011. 
2. ^ "Koninklijk Huisarchief". Google Docs. July 27, 2006. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx6ZXJvbWNjdWxsYWdofGd4OjFkMWZhYjA4MGJlZjQ4YzU. Retrieved October 3, 2011. 
3. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Noel McCullagh. "Correspondence of Godard Adriaan van Reede, baron van Amerongen, extraordinary envoy to the Danish court in the service of the States' General of the Dutch Republic, to his son, Godard van Reede, general lieutenant of their majesties of England combined forces at land and at sea in Ireland, 1690-1691". NUIM Library. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/4017171410_4135f6a82c_o.png. 
5. ^ Buitenlandse studenten happy op Eye-radio, Door Merijn Henfling, Foto Elmer Spaaregaren UK Krant Groningen 30 March 2000, Jaargang 29.
6. ^ MS patient 'forced into exile' by strict Irish cannabis laws Sunday Tribune, May 25, 2008
7. ^ Amsterdamse Ier naar Commissie om cannabismedicijn TROUW newspaper
8. ^ 13 June 2008, Complaint to European Commission regarding application of Community law in the Republic of Ireland
9. ^ European Parliament, How Ireland’s MEP’s are elected
10. ^ http://contaxx.blogspot.com/2009_09_27_archive.html
11. ^ http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=49&language=en
12. ^ Petition to the European Parliament of 16 April 2008 entitled 'Justice, Home Affairs and Civil Protection' PETi Committee reference 0590-2008 on carrying prescription medicines in the European Union
13. ^ http://www.vimeo.com/8217543
14. ^ 14 Dec. 2009, Home Office to Petitioner confirming EU Police and Security Co-operation in the UK in accordance with European Union law
15. ^ 2004/926/EC: Council Decision of 22 December 2004 on the putting into effect of parts of the Schengen acquis by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
16. ^ The Guardian 29 Oct 2010, Home Office gave wrong guidance on import of medicinal cannabis by Mary O'Hara
17. ^ Irish Star on Sunday 30 Nov 2010, MS-patient takes pot shot at Harney (Irish health & children minister) by Keith Falkiner

Bibliography

Radio/Multimedia

• European elections: Candidate list for North West (3 seats), Tuesday, May 12, 2009, Irish Times by Steven Carrol.
• Claim State in breach over MS cannabis use Saturday, May 31, 2008, Irish Times by Steven Carrol.
• Europa: Advocaat beweert dat Ierland handelt in strijd met de Schengenakkoorden over cannabisgebruik door een MS patiënt Internationale Associatie voor Cannabis als Medicijn (IACM) - Berichten van 12 Juni 2008
• Europa: Ein Rechtsanwalt behauptet, dass Irland das Schengen-Abkommen im Fall eines MS-Patienten verletzt Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft Cannabis als Medizin IACM - Informationen vom 7. Juni 2008
• Europe: Lawyer claims Ireland is in breach of the Schengen Agreement over cannabis use by MS patient International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) - Bulletin of 08 JUNE 2008.
• Europa: Un abogado acusa al gobierno de Irlanda de estar violando el Acuerdo de Schengen respecto al consumo de cannabis por un paciente con esclerosis múltiple Boletín de la Asociación Internacional por el Cannabis como Medicamento IACM del 10 de JUNIO de 2008.
• Europe: un avocat soutient que la position de l’Irlande quant à l’usage du cannabis dans un cas de sclérose en plaques contrevient aux Accords de Schengen Association Internationale pour le Cannabis Médical (IACM) - Bulletin du 16 Juin 2008.
• Irishman prescribed cannabis for MS can’t visit family 26 MAY 2008, Irish Medical Times, by Gary Culliton.
• Prescribed medicines 'outlawed' 5 JUN 2008, Ireland Irish Medical Times, by Gary Culliton.
• MS sufferer, stopped from entering country, slams local TDs Wednesday, 28 MAY 2008, Galway Independent by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy.
• MS Sufferer can't come home Friday September 12, 2008, Ballinasloe Echo by Sinead Loughnane.
• Ballinasloe man to run from Amsterdam 20 May 2009. Written by Deirdre O' Shaughnessy, Galway Independent Newspaper.
• Noel McCullagh breaks exile Noel McCullagh visits Ballinasloe, Ireland breaking his exile.
• Parliament of Ireland, Adjournment debate, May 1, 2008; in the matter of patients receiving the best medical treatment that is available, arising out of research, on controlled drugs and drugs that are not subject to regulation. PDF official report pp.617–618. Debate tabled by Deputy Joe Costello (Lab.) to the Republic of Ireland minister for health and children, Ms. Mary Harney.

Persondata
Name	Maccullagh, Noel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1975
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death