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This man got more than he bargained for when he tried to question a Labour TD

Joe Costello was accosted by anti-water charge protesters in his constituency last night.

https://www.facebook.com/cracked.act/videos/1642216929385333/?fref=nf

SOME ANTI-WATER CHARGES protesters have filmed their attempts to question government ministers and TDs on the streets in recent times, but one got more than he bargained for last night.

A man who identified himself as Andy Whelan, from Revolution Republic News, was filmed walking alongside Labour TD Joe Costello as he canvassed on Cathal Brugha Street in his constituency last night.

Screen Shot 2015-12-01 at 12.47.22 p.m.

Whelan’s question was not unreasonable as he asked the former junior minister:

With such hard public opposition to Irish Water why is your Minister for Environment, Alan Kelly, still pushing such a hardline attitude on something that the people of this country so fervently do not want?

Costello, like other government TDs, refused to engage as several cameras focused in on him and the gardaí walked not too far behind.

Whelan pleaded for an answer: “C’mon Joe give me one question, please. C’mon Joe, give me a bit of respect.”

But just as things started to escalate, this happened:

poll wallop

Filmed a short time later Whelan was sporting an impressive bump on his head but was taking it in good spirits.

Screen Shot 2015-12-01 at 12.52.37 p.m.

Jesus, that was one hell of a bang and a half. Well It can’t be said I’m not willing to take a hit for the team. By-jaysus, my head is splitting!

Talk about a wallop at the polls…

State of the Nation: Today, people will march saying ‘Housing is a Human Right’. But will anyone listen?

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86 Comments
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    Mute Tertullian
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    Dec 1st 2015, 12:59 PM

    Headbanger.

    352
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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:33 PM

    When you say ‘water protestors’, do you mean half the country?

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    Mute shane o malley
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:33 PM

    DOHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:28 PM

    This is clearly a case for knocking water charges on the head.

    147
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    Mute Colin Webber
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:54 PM

    Delighted. Good enough for the little Troll.

    247
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    Mute Thomas Mac Donagh
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:20 PM

    i cannot stop laughing at that idiot :D

    187
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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:38 PM

    Good man Thomas :D Stellar contribution as always XD

    57
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    Mute lavbeer
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:33 PM

    Yes you have to laugh. You couldn’t write a comedy sketch any better. I missed the answer to the questions thought – just as well probably would have tipped me over the edge.

    44
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    Mute Gavan Duffy
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    Dec 1st 2015, 6:12 PM

    Who? Joe Costello?

    13
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    Mute Liam O Connor
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    Dec 1st 2015, 6:44 PM

    What arrogance by Costello he won’t answer a question while he is out looking for votes , he has nothing but contempt for the ordinary people.

    71
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    Mute Conor Sweeney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:03 PM

    I stopped reading at ‘Revolution Republic News’

    342
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:02 PM

    Is the pole ok?

    310
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    Mute Gggordon
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:06 PM

    Denis O’Brien must have put the pole there … There are no lengths that this puppet siteserv government won’t do to stop peaceful protesters….

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    Mute Paul
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:00 PM

    Ha what a clown!

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    Mute Rasputin
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:28 PM

    Tis nearly as funny as Endas “flower pot” incident. Although this guy was trying to ask questions instead of trying to run away from them.

    92
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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:03 PM

    Wow, he got lamped !

    202
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:12 PM

    That pole has just earned my vote.

    162
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    Mute ChocSaltyBallz
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:12 PM

    Is it just me or does the author of this article Hugh Ó Connell look like he’s sporting a little Hitler tash?

    159
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:01 PM

    Drag the photo to your desktop and flip it horizontally…

    16
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:10 PM

    There is certainly a lack of on the spot questions from journalists in Ireland. There’s a dozen waiting outside jeremy Corbyn’s home each morning. That said if you are going to question a politician ask the right questions & approach with respect. Even if it is Labour

    112
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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:58 PM

    Something tells me you were absoultely delighted this happened to the guy. You being a pro government lacky. Did you enjoy your laugh. Well we’ll see who has the last laugh after the election. Labour parasites will see exactly what the Irish people think of them.

    96
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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:04 PM

    It could simply be it’s funny a guy walked into a pole

    34
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    Mute Liam John Bradshaw
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:01 PM

    For all the waffling these TD’s do & all the minders who patrol the streets with them, sure you’d imagine they’d stop for a minute or 2 to answer a few questions. I think people would have a bit of respect for them! In fairness Andy did get a right ould bang on the head & took it well, very funny! Stone faced Joe Costello missed the lot, as usual!

    94
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    Mute Harry Trafford
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:25 PM

    The garda must have pushed him….

    94
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    Mute Tom
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:17 PM

    A man who identified himself as Andy When, from Revolution Republic News…

    ….
    Where to start?

    93
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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:12 PM

    How much does that stupid person pay in PAYE etc to help the elderly and infirm? If he does not contribute he should be treated differently to those who do the right thing. If taxpayers are contributing to him and his family by means of social housing, medical cards, free transport, xmas bonus etc etc then his energy should go towards getting a job or voluntary work and not costing taxpayers more money by Gardai marshalling protests etc.

    88
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:31 PM

    @Mindfulirish. I presume you are talking about that champagne socialist Costello.

    106
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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:53 PM

    What a load of absolute sh!te. I’m a lot happier about the amount of my pay going to unemployed people (even though some people abuse the system) than i am about the amount going into the big black hole of government “expenses”. Get a grip, “mindful”

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:56 PM

    Gardai are marshalling protests because our “representatives” are brazenly pushing ahead with blatantly illegal activity. I’m so sick of the kn0b ends that keep giving out about the people who are sticking up for what’s right.

    89
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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:04 PM

    @Mindgibberish. Your comment is fascist to say the least. Why we just throw everyone on social welfare in prison shall we.

    60
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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:28 PM

    @Joe Phillips. Couldn’t agree more Joe, these gobdaws miss the point, ALWAYS. A great feature of this short film is the fear on Joe’s face – “Oh my God, people are asking me questions – make it stop!”. English and American politicians can’t just brush people off, they must answer, or face comment in the press. I’m tired of the knob ends you mention, and even more tired of our precious little Bubble Dwellers, whom we are all forced to maintain in a style we can only dream of.

    37
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    Mute Thomas Mac Donagh
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:20 PM

    i hope he didnt damage the pole

    9
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    Mute Alex Sheridan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:13 PM

    This isn’t news. What is news is that Joe Costello refused to engage a member of the public in answering some very simple questions.

    Breaking News: Man bops his head on a pole.

    commentators: “How did that happen? What was he doing that caused it?”

    NOT IMPORTANT, HE’S A SILLY GOOSE! MORE ON THE 6-1 NEWS!

    84
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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:04 PM

    The journal isn’t a news site, it’s a bloggers site so they can put up what they wish…

    35
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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:32 PM

    I am so happy that this happened to the annoying git. Would it be too much to ask if it knocked a bit of sense into him? LOL!

    62
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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:10 PM

    #Karma

    61
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    Mute Sean O'Riordan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:09 PM

    Fair play he took it in his stride….lol

    60
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    Mute Séamus Ó Súileabháin
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:45 PM

    Thejournal.ie loves a good report on a non-story. A chap banged his head against a pole, so what?

    58
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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:39 PM

    If it can be used to make “the protestors” (aka citizens) look in any way bad, it’s news. He’ll probably get a summons for criminal damage to the pole now.
    On his way into the four courts, he’ll pass several scrotes with 100+ convictions as they stroll out with their suspended sentences for violent crimes.
    Great little country.

    76
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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:06 PM

    The journal is a bloggers site not a news site … They don’t post news they post stories and blogs and all in-between

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    Mute Séamus Ó Súileabháin
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:51 PM

    Fair point Joe. And I’m not overly on the side of the protestors. I just really find the journal is slowly transforming into a tabloid type rag. I find Hugh’s bias and standard of journalism is just awful. I hate leaving negative comments and I genuinely no way mean this as an attack on Hugh, however it’s becoming just awful.

    All the same it’s a bit of a case of: if i don’t like it why am I viewing it? It’s like a car crash i can’t help but watch.

    25
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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:07 PM

    I fully agree, Séamus. As I said somewhere before, I only use this site because of the comments. Journal.ie has nothing whatsoever to do with journalism.

    23
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    Mute Rory
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:03 PM

    You could not make it up….a bit like Irish Water

    52
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    Mute leartius
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:44 PM

    We’ll at least he is trying to hold those running this curropt banana shaped police state to account. Not much chance of Hugh asking anyone in government to account for their decisions. Instead he seems happy to Place his head between endas cheeks and keep pushing his head forward into the intoxicating gasses that 40 years of incompetence and failure have generated.

    42
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:03 PM

    PMSL

    41
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    Mute Omar Batistuta
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:34 PM

    Ha ha the bleedin thick pity it didn’t knock him out

    36
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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:14 PM

    That’s funny, pity there’s no sound.

    31
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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:16 PM

    Ah deadly, just noticed the video there.

    20
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    Mute JayK
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:01 PM

    That was a roller-coaster of emotions.

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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 1st 2015, 7:22 PM

    Haha, it really was.

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    Mute Richard Cheney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:25 PM

    I was hoping for a gif,and lo and behold!

    27
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    Mute willr
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:39 PM

    Hugh, how about some REAL news on this Labour public meeting? 15 people turned up, 12 Labour party members. BEYOND TRAINWRECK considering most of Dublin 7 is plastered with the posters for it for weeks… 3 non Labour party people interested, out of Dublin 7 population of 100,000.

    27
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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:39 PM

    Stupid lefty loonies, you cant trust them, trust FG instead!

    26
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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:06 PM

    Please please with your cliche’d lefty loonies comment. Get a life.

    55
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    Mute Tim Hurley
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:47 PM

    that just made my day…

    24
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    Mute Justin Kearney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:06 PM

    He has some neck.

    22
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    Mute Adrian
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:38 PM

    Always the way, the innocent get clobbered while the slimeball politician gets away scot free!

    19
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    Mute Peter Mc Hugh
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:55 PM

    Oh dear…my comment asking how this was anything other then harassment appears to have been deleted!

    I guess I annoyed too many peaceful protesters…

    16
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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:36 PM

    @Peter McHugh. No, it’s more likely that it was just too boring and off the point.

    16
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:24 PM

    As was my reply asking when exactly you wanted the Gulags to open for these causing ‘ harassment’???

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    Mute paul compton
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:16 PM

    Pole tax.

    14
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    Mute P Quinn
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:46 PM

    Almost as bad as the polls that are hitting Labour each month

    13
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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:29 PM

    Bored them to death, more like.

    13
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    Mute SEAN LYNCH
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    Dec 1st 2015, 6:59 PM

    Bloody poles, they come over here taking our jobs…..

    12
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    Mute burner
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:25 PM

    Dick head

    11
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    Mute James Lyons
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    Dec 1st 2015, 3:24 PM

    The dirty streets of Dublin take care of their own….

    10
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    Mute Sen James Heffernan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:47 PM

    Poleaxed

    8
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    Mute Liam John Bradshaw
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:55 PM

    Pole-axed!

    7
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    Mute Scrap Croke Park1
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:19 PM

    He should put some ice on that

    Boom boom

    7
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    Mute Jim Painters
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:26 PM

    I’m sure Joe Costello was hoping someone would shut this guy up & then along came this pole where Joe Costello usually hangs his posters & wham! The poor guy was zapped! Joe You’d better do 5 masses for that little miracle happening!

    6
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    Mute Ciaran
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    Dec 1st 2015, 4:46 PM

    Beautiful

    6
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    Mute NiallD
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    Dec 1st 2015, 8:43 PM

    Pathetic protestors looking for a reaction. He’s the next TD.

    3
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    Mute Joe Keogh
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    Dec 1st 2015, 7:32 PM

    Water on the brain!!!
    That’s a 40k claim maybe more that pole should not be on the path.
    Go for it.

    3
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    Mute Sandra Byrne
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    Jan 19th 2016, 12:19 PM

    Why wont costello answer people’s questions does he think he is above those people on the streets.

    1
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