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construction via Shutterstock

Almost 1 in 2 men who took their own lives had worked in construction

The cases were recorded over four years from around the start of the down-turn in September 2008.

Updated 22:58

PEOPLE EMPLOYED, OR those previously employed in the construction/production sector accounted for over two fifths of suicide cases recorded over a four-year period, between September 2008 and June 2012. A break-down of the figures shows that of the men who took their own lives, almost half had been working in construction.

Farmers and agricultural workers were second on the list of groups most at risk, at 13.2 per cent. That was followed by those in sales/business development at 8.9 per cent, and students at 8.2 per cent.

In terms of employment status: a third were classified as unemployed; 40.6 per cent were in paid employment; 11.4 per cent were retired; 5 per cent had a long term disability and 3.1 per cent were homemakers.

The figures cover 307 deaths recorded by the Suicide Support and Information System, which published its findings in a report today. Coroner checklists were completed for all cases.

The majority of suicides recorded (over 80 per cent) were men; of those most were single (57 per cent) and 48.6 per cent had been working in the construction sector.

Looking at female cases, most were married or in a long term relationship (46.7 per cent) and a relatively high number had been working in the healthcare sector (26.5 per cent).

‘Cluster’ cases

A number of ‘clusters’ were also identified: the first involved 13 cases that occurred in County Cork over a three month period, from April to June 2011, and covering a 24km radius. As the expected number of cases would have been 1.86, the number represents a 6.9 fold increase in suicide cases.

The second cluster, also in Co Cork, involved seven cases over a two month period within a radius of 28km and represented a 13-fold increase in expected cases.

Recommendations

The report makes a number of recommendations, including that in areas of emerging clusters, “it is recommended to encourage involvement of GPs and other primary care professionals in a response plan and in early identification of people at risk of suicidal behaviour”.

In addition, the report states that given the link between the impact of the recession and the numbers taking their own lives, “suicide prevention programmes should be prioritised during times of economic recession”.

The full report can be viewed at the National Suicide Research Foundation Website >

Originally published 19:10

Read: Suicide rate amongst young people in Ireland fourth highest in EU >

Read: 9,483 people deliberately self-harmed in Ireland in 2012 >

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40 Comments
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    Mute Alan Leahy
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:22 AM

    He said he was ” a bit sloppy with the guidelines”

    Flying in from Europe during a pandemic and then driving around the country when there are guidelines to stay in your own county.

    To go to a GOLF DINNER !!!!!

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:46 AM

    @Alan Leahy: you do realise he’s a Fine Gael politician and that rules of the commoners don’t apply to him don’t you?

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    Mute Philip Holohan
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:53 AM

    @Brian Dunne: when will the plebs learn.

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    Mute Jerriko17
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:16 AM

    @Brian Dunne: The consequences of him breaking the rules were that he lost job and did huge damage to his career… Being in the FG camp didn’t do him much good!!!! Don’t know what your point is!!!!

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:28 AM

    @Jerriko17: my point is the sheer arrogance of breaking their own rules and two years later obviously still not seeing the error of his ways. Typical fine gael. The irish tories

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Dec 21st 2022, 12:50 PM

    @Brian Dunne: His remarks about Varadker & Martin are interesting and damning, also the fact that FG only got 20% of the vote in 2020 which is their lowest share since 1948, did they not understand the message from the electorate?

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 11:28 AM

    @Alan Leahy: Paid the price for thinking twas still the 1980′s,delighted for him.

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Dec 23rd 2022, 6:15 AM

    @Frank Cauldhame: they should be on < 10% – more than doubling our national debt to an eye watering €250bn despite their nasty austerity hitting the most vulnerable most. Nasty party.

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    Mute McGuinness Ciaran
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:55 AM

    Interviewed by someone who was also at the event

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    Mute Fuji Hakayito
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:59 AM

    Who decided that it would be a good idea for O’Rourke to interview Hogan?

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    Mute alan
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    Dec 21st 2022, 11:35 AM

    @Fuji Hakayito: who decided it would be worth anybody interviewing this man?

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    Mute Fuji Hakayito
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    Dec 21st 2022, 12:01 PM

    @alan: oh I don’t know about that. With the right interviewer it would have been nice to see him squirm a little. À la a certain interview with a prince across the water. I have a problem with the custodians of tax payers money pairing him up with O’Rourke.

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    Mute Kerry Evans
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:46 PM

    @Fuji Hakayito:
    The Golden circle remains intact…

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    Mute Mogh Roith
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    Dec 21st 2022, 7:56 AM

    Fundamentally believes he did nothing wrong and can’t understand people’s anger. The man is a disgrace.

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    Mute a politicians promise is as good as a lie
    Favourite a politicians promise is as good as a lie
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:59 AM

    This is the start of the media rehabilitating Big Phil.. He’s the last one of the golfgate party to be forgiven by the golden circle… Expect some cushy government job soon

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    Mute BIG BIRD
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:19 PM

    @a politicians promise is as good as a lie: His biggest regret is missing the gravy train.

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    Mute James Mc Namee
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:44 AM

    The political classes are out of touch with the people do as I say not as I do

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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:06 AM

    This is the same politician that abolished the local councils and stripped our say on how local authorities should be run thus diluting democracy. What replaced it was a centralised management system that most would say is not working.

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    Mute Marc Quinn
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:54 AM

    All while families were denied access to sit beside dying relatives in hospice or hospital…
    This man should have led by example rather than attend this elitest soiree..
    Ireland is the land of zero accountability!

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    Mute Mary Conneely
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:52 AM

    @Marc Quinn: he was made accountable, he lost his job and his career is in ruins. What would you like, hanging?

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    Mute Marc Quinn
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    Dec 21st 2022, 12:25 PM

    @Mary Conneely: if possible… Yeah!

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Dec 21st 2022, 1:33 PM

    @Mary Conneely: He could go back farming? Oh, he failed at that too.

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 6:46 AM

    @Marc Quinn: ffs

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    Mute Marc Quinn
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 10:38 AM

    @Johnny Kelly: Irish morbid wit is a tough one to catch when your asleep…

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    Mute Jim Hartnett
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    Dec 26th 2022, 7:55 PM

    @Mary Conneely: He was forced to accept accountability. Hogan sees himself as FG royalty and like many in the Irish Tory party, therefore unanswerable to the people who vote for them. I am particularly delighted that his boorish attitude meant that he had to resign and I have not a shred of compassion for him. But there are enough Gaelers there to continue enacting their right-wing policies, so Phil can be glad of that at least.

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    Mute Ronan Lawler
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    Dec 21st 2022, 7:57 AM

    Di c k

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    Mute G Row.
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:11 AM

    All his own arrogant fault.
    Must have been terrible for him to see what Leo got away with later.

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    Mute Jason Mcginn
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:57 AM

    The man that was bullying pensioners to only flush the jacks once a day to conserve water . Pah! Derserved EVERYTHING that happened to him.

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    Mute Karma? Puh-lease!
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:21 AM

    While childcare costs are a major concern for people, to say that FG lost people’s vote because of it means ignoring the giant Housing elephant in the room, one of the big reasons people voted for SF. Is Housing-blindness endemic in FG? Even Phil has it, and he’s gone years.

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    Mute Tom Isherwood
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:29 AM

    This guy…..what the actual f

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    Mute Pat Man
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:34 AM

    We’ve had Bill& Ben, Laurel & Hardy so why not Phil & Sean

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    Mute Philip Cooper
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:23 AM

    Large pig objects to loss of space at trough.

    Says other pigs to blame.

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    Mute Ronan Murphy
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    Dec 21st 2022, 12:28 PM

    Slap in the face to all from RTE – having ORourke interview Hogan Next up from RTE – a new podcast where Bertie interviews execs from Anglo Irish

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    Mute Donal Foley
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:14 AM

    A tone deaf donkey!

    464
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    Mute Ernie Gallagher
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    Dec 21st 2022, 1:30 PM

    And a sizable amount of the population still ‘gets annoyed’ when they think about Phil Hogan. That makes us all square.

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    Mute Paul Dolan
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    Dec 21st 2022, 1:03 PM

    That video of him sipping water out of a glass while smirking when they introduced water charges sticks in my memory. What an arrogant man

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    Mute Will Roche
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:24 AM

    What exactly did he think Leo had in 2017 to “broaden” the vote???

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Dec 21st 2022, 11:33 AM

    @Will Roche: I’m surprised that you don’t get it.

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    Mute Kenny Hyslop
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    Dec 21st 2022, 1:21 PM

    @Will Roche: It’s because of his sexuality.

    51
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:18 AM

    What an absolute shame he got caught up in golf Gate. How am I ever going to sleep again.

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    Mute ChronicAnxiety
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    Dec 21st 2022, 3:56 PM

    You know it is nearly exactly 10 years since the infamous trip to Doha? €30k and a relaxing time by the bar.

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    Mute rsdowney
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:36 PM

    Anybody bother to point out to him that he wasn’t qualified for the role in the first place

    143
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    Mute Larry Rawson
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    Dec 21st 2022, 1:26 PM

    Yeh well we are a bit annoyed at how much politicians cost the Taxpayers

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    Mute John Connell
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:16 PM

    When I first heard this story, it was 5am and I was sitting in my car in the car park of the hospice in Harold’s cross because only two family members could be in the room with my dying mother and my two sisters and I were rotating vigils awaiting her passing. Phil Hogan can suck a phat one if he thinks I’ll be giving him any sympathy. He was in Ireland for 5 days and clocked up more miles than a recently retired American who was visiting his ancestral home for the first time ever. I’m only sorry he didn’t get something to bring home with him

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    Mute Damien O' Sullivan
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:32 AM

    Go get a time machine go back to 2020 and tell someone who cares as less then as they do now. Elitist p****

    272
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    Mute Fabian Lee
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:13 AM

    Where’s the moral leadership, lead by example!
    It’s a bit like going to church and behaving like an uneducated gobs – - – e later.
    We need more real leaders in Irish society!

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    Mute Roger Bond
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    Dec 21st 2022, 8:29 AM

    He is correct.Public opinion and the media forced Ireland to resign a senior commissioner role in the middle of the Brexit negotiations..
    A real shoot yourself in the foot moment.

    152
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:57 AM

    @Roger Bond: The hypocrisy of your comment. At a time when the country was in lockdown, Hogan and his cohorts attended a golf outing. After an investigation lasting over a year, a judge dismissed the case in just 5 minutes. When you recall a later breach of the rules involving Leo Varadkar, in which it took the Attorney General to get him off the hook, The old boy network is certainly in place. The fact Sean O’Rourke carried out this interview is akin to Hitler being interviewed by Goebbles.

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    Mute Tom Purcell
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    Dec 21st 2022, 1:18 PM

    @Roger Bond: His arrogant and incompetent governance of IW should have been enough to stop him being appointed to any post. His continued blaming of other for punishing him for breaking the rules everybody had to abide by, just shows how out of touch he is with reality

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    Mute Jason Walsh
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    Dec 21st 2022, 7:58 PM

    In lay man’s language “we broke the rules, colluded to say we didn’t and looked for compensation” he’s an absolute lying sneaky character with no morals

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    Mute Sandra Molloy
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    Dec 21st 2022, 11:09 PM

    “paid a high price politically”….cheers Leo for the latest insight into politicians lack of ability to see the world beyond the political sphere….because the rest of the population were dealing with the real price paid in terms if pandemic lives lost, health lost, income lost, mental health, isolation….not “annoyed” because they didnt get away with playing golf. They cant even fake not being out of touch with the real world.

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    Mute Shelley Keary
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    Dec 21st 2022, 11:31 PM

    But it wasn’t just golfgate was it? It was the different stories every week about what he was doing touring around the country and having dinner in the K Club when Kildare was in total lockdown. As well as visiting numerous other counties when everyone else was unable to visit loved ones in hospital or parents in nursing homes or attend a funeral. Eventually even Ursula von der Leyen got fed up with him as he couldn’t tell the truth. Fundamentally he was a loss as he was a tough negotiator in the EU. But he made a complete balls of rolling out the new Irish Water and he wouldn’t have been re-electable afterwards. No one will shed tears for him, except himself.

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    Mute Barry Cooke
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:06 AM

    King Ass

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    Mute pat seery
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    Dec 21st 2022, 9:07 PM

    He will be remembered as the 5 Euro Septic Tank man

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:33 PM

    That he is “still annoyed” at being caught just shows the reason he was unsuited to have held the position he did; but he is far too arrogant to understand this.

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    Mute Aidan Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:01 PM

    Always a very arrogant man, full of his own self importance. I

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Dec 21st 2022, 7:00 PM

    Phil who?

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    Mute Paul Brierley
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    Dec 21st 2022, 7:25 PM

    @Paul Whitehead: Phil the Fluter!

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    Mute Stephen Mullins
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    Dec 21st 2022, 11:48 PM

    The arrogance and self entitled claptrap of this guy would make you sick.

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    Mute Nollaig Kelly
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 12:22 AM

    Ah Poor aul Phil, he wasn’t sure of the rules and he was punished unfairly for breaking those rules
    Surely it’s time for us to move on, he’s been treated unfairly
    He only broke the rules everyone else had to follow

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    Mute Daftbit Jelly
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:52 PM

    Anything to do with golf raises my hackles. They are all guilty in one way or another. I mean the clothes, the self satisfied back slapping and the clothes.

    48
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    Mute Paul Malone
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 4:54 AM

    Here they are. Not a word from hogan for months. And now. Here we are. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Hogan will be back. Wait and see.

    44
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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 12:30 AM

    Is Varadka beginning to feel sorry for Big Phil???, Or is he just trying his usual trick or trying to fool him and the general public ??. If he is genuine in his statement, then he must be eyeing up some upcoming position for big Phil .
    Now don’t confuse Big Phil with Dr. Phil ., — two different Clowns .

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    Mute James Mc Namee
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 7:34 AM

    Nothing changes in this country we just go around in circles and if your in the circle long enough you see the same bilge over and over again
    Problem is the voters have no real choice

    33
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    Mute M.J. O' Neill
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 8:47 AM

    Not a high enough price!!!!!

    27
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    Mute Míchael Búrké
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 8:47 AM

    Hogan the revisionist. If he felt so strongly at the time he would have stood his ground, no one has more gall and front than him.

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    Mute Kerry Evans
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    Dec 21st 2022, 10:40 PM

    Who?

    23
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    Mute Herby Donnelly
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 9:35 AM

    Phil Hogan = Pee Flynn.

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    Mute Bala mc blaha
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 9:06 AM

    his smug arrogance didnt help him any.

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    Mute Gary Heslin
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 11:46 AM

    Philo will be fine in the future, good buddies in high places,no fear of him.

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 6:49 AM

    Vitriol central here today

    8
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    Mute Connie O Reilly
    Favourite Connie O Reilly
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 2:50 PM

    He is some clown

    11
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    Mute Eugene Farrell
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 11:48 PM

    He lied!!!

    4
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    Mute Thomas Linehan
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    Dec 22nd 2022, 6:30 PM

    All the others got their jobs back

    3
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