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The controversy over the sanctioning of these two councillors rumbles on Sinn Féin/Facebook

As many as 70 Sinn Féin members in Cork are resigning from the party

But the party insists it has not received notification of these resignations.

Updated 2.38pm 

AS MANY AS 70 members of Sinn Féin in east Cork are understood to have resigned last night, but the party said today it had not been notified of this.

A statement issued by Sinn Féin’s Cobh cumann last night said that 54 members had resigned from the party in the wake of the sanctioning of two councillors in the area earlier this week.

On Monday Sinn Féin expelled Cobh-based county councillor Kieran McCarthy and suspend Mallow-based Melissa Mullane for one year following a review of the party’s organisation in the constituency.

The statement from the 54 members criticised the “unjust, undemocratic and reprehensible manner” in which the two councillors were treated.

Separately TheJournal.ie has learned that as many as 16 members based in Carrigtwohill are also resigning from the party.

Yesterday, 15 members in Fermoy were said to have resigned although Sinn Féin disputed this figure and said five of those were not members and an additional four were not aware of the resignation letter that had been sent to the party.

This website has learned that the Fermoy cumann, the longest standing in the region, plans to appoint a spokesperson and make a further statement in the next 24 hours.

Sinn Féin said in a statement today that it had not received notification of the resignations being reported in the last 24 hours.

A spokesperson said:

The party structures in the area are stood down. Over the coming days, the party will be contacting members in the East Cork constituency to brief them on the situation and to ensure that they have the full information relating to the constituency review.

The party held a meeting with members from Mallow, Fermoy, Carrigtwohill, Youghal, Midleton and Mitchelstown. A spokesperson said that over 20 members attended this meeting, including “two county councillors and key activists”.

They added: “The meeting was extremely positive with all in attendance expressing a desire to get on with the work of the party.”

The controversy began when Sinn Féin confirmed on Monday that it had expelled councillors McCarthy and Mullane.

Both councillors have been told to resign their Cork county council seats although they are not legally obliged to do so.

McCarthy is understood to have been expelled over a dispute involving a loan for thousands of euro taken in the name of the party. He denies any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Mullane was suspended for “uncomradely behaviour” with an internal review saying the county councillor was found to have intentionally undermined and marginalised the sitting Cork East TD McLellan. Mullane has not commented since her suspension.

The decision has led to an acrimonious public spat between McCarthy and the party. The review was carried out by Cork-based TD Jonathan O’Brien in the wake of tensions between membership and McLellan with McCarthy and Mullane both indicating they intended to challenge her at the Cork East selection convention.

In her first public comments since the controversy broke, McLellan said today that the internal review had been “tough for the party” but insisted it had been “thorough” and “fair”. She said:

Nobody likes to lose party members but now is the time to move on from this whole episode and I am looking forward to getting on with the party’s work in the constituency and building for the future.

Sinn Féin has denied suggestions that the sanction of the two councillors had anything to do with the convention.

McLellan said she was looking forward to contesting the selection convention which will be open to any party member to put their name forward for selection.

Previously, Sinn Féin rules stipulated that a sitting female TD could not be challenged by a male candidate, but the convention in Cork East will now be open to any member of the party.

Read: Sinn Féin claims there WASN’T a mass resignation of members in Fermoy last night

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75 Comments
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    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Quick get Mary Lou to say something provocative

    346
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    Mute Shinnér Ó Bót
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:53 PM

    Rod, have you considered joining The Struggle? We would welcome someone with your talents.

    165
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    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:58 PM

    Can I still watch Eastenders and collect my Giro

    143
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    Mute Hermes
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:03 PM

    Are you in Italia Rod ?

    33
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    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:05 PM

    I’m in ITICA if that helps

    39
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    Mute MK76
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:10 PM

    And is if by magic she stands up in the Dail and uses some provocative (but utterly vacuous) headline grabbing barbs against the gov’t.

    A theme anyone? Hmmmmm

    115
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    Mute Protect Democracy!
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:52 PM

    Not a good week for Gerry’s ego, like people don’t normally leave SF without permission! You just can’t “disappear” like that!!! The one man Central committee will not be pleased!

    94
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:21 PM

    I see a Continuity SF in the offing…

    197
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    Mute Jax Maxwel
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:44 PM

    The Real Sinn Fein

    110
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    Mute Egg Head
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:23 PM

    They’ll need an entire barn to host the kangaroo court investigating all of this uncomradely behaviour.

    195
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    Mute Noel Hogan
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:25 PM

    The leadership is good.
    The leadership is great.
    We surrender our will
    As of this date!

    153
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    Mute Stiofán Ó Domhnaigh
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    Jun 25th 2015, 6:49 PM

    This kind of knocks on the head the notion that there is never any dissent in SF. Clearly, if members are not happy about something, they take action, regardless of the leaderships views.

    15
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    Mute Brian Lynch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:49 PM

    Lads listen to the opinion line 96 post on soundcloud. He has this guy McCarthy on the phone. It’s about with holding charitable funds from the parents of a sick child after himself and his wife started rumours they were under investigation for fraud in relation to their sick child. It’s unreal stuff. Apparently Sinn Fein were made aware of it and made him resign from the charity. Also the unapproved loan coincides nicely with the money finally being paid to the sick childs parents.

    141
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    Mute Colm K
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:42 PM

    Had a listen there crazy carry on from McCarthy, the mother of the Child who the charity was for was heartbroken on the radio and it seems it was her that approached the SF leadership about the McCarthy’s. Knew there was more to this when Hugh was running a hatchet job on Sinn Fein that didn’t really add up.

    99
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    Mute Barry Flanagan
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:44 PM

    Didn’t take long for the blackening of the name to begin.

    Ruthless.

    83
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    Mute Colm K
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:47 PM

    https://soundcloud.com/opinionline96/katies-dream-to-walk-and-cllr-kieran-mccarthy

    Never been a supporter of Sinn Fein but have to say I’m 100% behind their actions here

    91
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    Mute Brian Lynch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:47 PM

    It might be worth listening to that interview.

    58
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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:13 PM

    I’ve never been a supporter of sinn fein. this merely confirms the soundness of my decision. thanks for the heads up on the 96fm sound cloud. shinners gonna shinn.

    53
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    Mute Protect Democracy!
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:56 PM

    The dirty tricks begin…..,,

    24
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    Mute An Ciarraioch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 7:43 PM

    Colm K – Having listened to this and McCarthy’s denials / porkies , about his Facebook and his wife’s involvement , there is no doubt that SF have been a 100% correct in their dismissals and disciplinary actions against McCarthy and others.

    Fair dues to Katie’s Mother Antoinette, she has played a blinder in standing up to McCarthy and his wife.

    Hopefully , the action taken correctly by SF , will shortly ensure that McCarthy resigns his Seat immediately , on Cork County Council !

    23
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    Mute Dar Ryl
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    Jun 25th 2015, 7:50 PM

    If all that was said and implied in that interview was true ( and I believe it is), then those ’70′ members are worthless invertebrates and good riddance to them. Antoinette is a great woman and well done to her for standing up to this thuggery, and well done to Sinn Fein too.

    21
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    Mute Morgan Freeman
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    Jun 26th 2015, 12:33 AM

    I made a comment about how Sinn Fein haven’t a good record when it comes to child protection. Why was it deleted. There are a number of instances of this from Gerry Adams brother to the Maíria Cahill situation that backup the point. This particular story is relevant because it is alleged that Mr. McCarthy who got fired withheld charity money from a disabled child.
    The journals policy of deleting comments without notification or without giving a reason is very unfair. How are we to know if money is or isn’t being paid to control the conversation by advertisers/political parties etc.

    5
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    Mute Eamonn coughlan
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:45 PM

    That mcarthy fella sounds like a nasty bit of work to me corks 96fm did a piece on him this morning on there opinion show!

    91
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    Mute Brian Lynch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:51 PM

    Just listened to it on their soundcloud page. He seems like a snake. His wife sounds like a weapon too.

    85
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:56 PM

    So you mean we should all go listen to 96fm soundcloud page… now ye wouldn’t by any coincidence have a link there guys would you?

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    Mute Brian Lynch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:01 PM

    Posting links = spamming. You could just go to soundcloud and search for 96fm opinion line
    and it’s the latest upload.

    41
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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:08 PM

    it’s not actually Brian. I’ve just checked. link away lad.

    15
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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:12 PM

    my apologies. it’s on opinionline96 not cork 96fm sound cloud as was originally stated

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:16 PM
    25
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    Mute Brian Lynch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:27 PM

    Proven wrong :)

    24
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    Mute An Ciarraioch
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    Jun 25th 2015, 5:36 PM

    Gabbi – Any apology from you, on SF’s handling of McCarthy & Co. now ?

    Transparency is what it’s all about Gabbi ???

    20
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:40 PM

    Well this is totally uncomradely. What kind of comrades are these people… i tell you what not the kind of comrades SF wants. SF comrades never show dissent… that is a real act of uncomradleyiness

    68
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    Mute 121green
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    Jun 25th 2015, 4:49 PM

    how many times can a person get the word comrade into a sentence? ask brains

    14
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    Mute Ken Fallon
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:53 PM

    Comedy gold from the Shinners, as always.

    66
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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:42 PM

    Unjust , undemocratic , reprehensible and Sinn Fein in the same sentence ? ?

    62
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    Mute Hermes
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:02 PM

    Rise and follow Enda !

    42
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    Mute D'unredactable
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    Jun 25th 2015, 4:48 PM

    ….only to find him under a table, in a corner, squirming and snivelling as ever!

    10
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    Mute fuve
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:00 PM

    Seems Hugh here is only one who runs with the story he wants to be true about SF rather than the actual fact. I have noticed Hugh you write every story about SF with negativity only. Seems SF has done the right thing after all.

    61
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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:31 PM

    There will just as much councillors wiling to step in.. There are tons of young sinn fein councilors. And there are plenty of young people wanting to represent sinn fein. Probably the most popular party among young people

    59
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    Mute Barry Flanagan
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:43 PM

    That’s the key point you’re taking from this?

    That the sacking of elected public representatives without explanation is hunky dory because other, more compliant acolytes stand ready to fill their shoes, no questions asked?

    If this is the SF vision of the future, it is utterly chilling.

    116
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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:51 PM

    I’m just merely stating that there will probably be more sinn fein councilors fit for the job. What’s wrong with that? It shows the strength of the party. This issue is only big news in the journal haha. And I’m sure and hope that the reasons councilors resigned will come to surface. Is this the sf vision of the future?? It’s not a vision of the future, it’s just something that happened now and could happen to any party. And it’s not that I don’t care or want questions answered I do!

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:54 PM

    I see supernova has taken up the baton for the naive and dumb. Godspeed little doodle.

    65
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    Mute Eamonn coughlan
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:16 PM

    There is a good reason why he was told to go by the SF party it was on corks 96fm this morning maybe you should go and listen to it. He’s not a nice individual or his wife.

    36
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jun 25th 2015, 10:08 PM

    they can boot people out of the party (and I am all for that!) but they cannot usurp the democratic will of the people that put this guy on the council.
    Despite supporting attempts to change the political opinion of the majority with guns and bombs for decades…

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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:00 PM

    Jaysus Hugh you’re getting fair mileage out of this one, at least change the photo for a bit originality

    51
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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:25 PM

    Haha he did it. Great piece Hugh

    31
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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:36 PM

    Damn mutiny!

    41
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:40 PM

    The height of uncomradely behaviour.

    50
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    Mute 121green
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    Jun 25th 2015, 4:42 PM

    someone has a thing for the word comrade lol

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    Mute KarrieT
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:51 PM

    How can the party insist on one hand that they haven’t received any resignations from Fermoy, then say that 5 weren’t even members and 4 weren’t there…I thought they didn’t receive any resignations??

    39
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    Mute Denito
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:28 PM

    I wish that the media would stop reporting this story – it’s an internal party matter after all.

    37
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    Mute Egg Head
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:32 PM

    If only there was some sort of broadcasting ban on SF members this would be a lot easier to hush up. Gone be the days eh?

    109
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:33 PM

    You should probably stay away from the news for the next few days so.

    56
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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:10 PM

    So its completely acceptable to fire an elected representative who is paid by the tax payer because it’s internal. This all from the party that wants transparency !!!

    55
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    Mute Patrick Murphy
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:34 PM

    I bet you do Denito.

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    Mute Gareth Whelan
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:51 PM

    This story keeps staying at the top of The Journal newsfeed. Even as other stories are published?

    31
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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:03 PM

    This site, and some authors are extremely anti sinn fein and biased towards the current shower of ****

    50
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    Mute fuve
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:10 PM

    I am sure they will release a statement of why in entirety when the investigation is done. This guy is doing himself no favours by having a his sy fit on media. If he is guilty then he should remove himself. If innocent they would have never divulged the information. Own fault he is the one telling it to media. I doubt people who elected him if guilty would want him to stay. So sorry sf haters the party Barr asking him to resign his seat did nothing wrong. They don’t have to divuldge information within party till the investigation is over and proven or disproven.

    30
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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:18 PM

    Your a man with sense fuve

    21
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    Mute John
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:20 PM

    Jaysus that could be Enda Kenny speaking about any one of the ‘investigations’ he launched to prevent Media talking about issues in the here and now.
    Different hair cuts same shower of sh(ts underneath

    29
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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Jun 25th 2015, 3:21 PM

    I see the censors are at work on the Journal

    22
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    Mute Northern Craic
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    Jun 25th 2015, 5:53 PM

    I’m definitely no SF voter (or apologist either) but the fact that this story keeps getting updated by the author so it stays near the top of the stories list yet the CorkFM audio from this morning that adds genuine context to the story isn’t being mentioned at all is annoying.

    It has to raise questions around the impartiality of the author and the Journal and whether either can be trusted I.e. what other stories are important elements being omitted?

    21
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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Jun 25th 2015, 5:57 PM

    You might be right Northern , two of my posts have been deleted , both were critical of Sinn Fein and on the public record , it would seem Hugh is not the objective Journalist we expect , what’s new on that front ?

    8
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    Mute Tiffany Mary O'Brien
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    Jun 25th 2015, 2:17 PM

    This carry on by SF will have the “reasonable” people on the journal reaching for their handkerchiefs and their eyes will be squinting .Whilst the rest of us will just ignore it .

    10
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    Mute James Dunne
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    Jun 25th 2015, 5:49 PM

    Great article by Miriam Lord in the IT today on this… Says it better than anyone else could, well worth a read http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/miriam-lord-sf-lose-plot-in-pursuit-of-nama-outrage-1.2261981

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    Mute von
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    Jun 25th 2015, 6:29 PM

    70 wow some people will be very happy tonight.

    6
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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Jun 25th 2015, 5:37 PM

    Hugh O Connell , what’s the story ? , did I post something that wasn’t true ?

    6
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    Mute Doug Asker
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    Jun 25th 2015, 4:44 PM

    How is this news? oh yeah!

    4
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Jun 25th 2015, 11:34 PM

    There is a convoy of unlit vehicles proceeding South from their Northern nest.

    If your doorbell rings after midnight; remain still, calm and hidden in your hiding place.

    3
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    Mute Bill Dukelow
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    Jun 25th 2015, 6:52 PM

    “McCarthy was not only expelled, he was abolished, an unperson.”

    3
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jun 25th 2015, 9:56 PM

    You say “70″ Hugh, but SF more accurately refer to it as a “Company”..

    2
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    Mute dave murphy
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    Jun 25th 2015, 1:36 PM

    priceless

    1
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