The BRICS countries have some of the most sustainable debt on the planet. They will financially own the planet by the end of the century. They have economies more robust and productive than any service led debt trap economy like our own.

They must have pulled a stroke

London 2012 was a shambles- really?

Some people will go to any ‘lengths’.

An Beal bocht south Africas poor are still feeling the effects of the world cup and so will Rio s poor feel the effects of building multi million dollar facilities for years to come. Why because our currupt sporting governing bodies want to milk and we don’t care as long as we get a fairytail medal story.

I don’t get why they lied. Makes no sense. I’m not doubting the police but I just don’t understand their motivation.

Why? Over privileged, over indulged, golden boys misbehaved on a session and rather be shown up for the brats they are, they made up a story to make them look like the victims.

I can’t fathom their motive either. Why slander the hosting country? Did they break some curfew? Is their story that they were on their way back when delayed by muggers? Would it be that they lost money and were annoyed about that? (Assuming here that they were told to pay for the damage on the spot).

Daisy; good call

My heart goes out to Brazil, diverse society, and as so much potential. Why does everyone want to trample them. Yes they have corruption but what country does not?

Why is anyone surprised? Whilst we’ve become accustomed and almost numb to Christians flattening other continents with advanced military technology as part of the 4th Crusade,these young white men failed to check their privilege,and the Brazilian cops weren’t having any of it. The Olympic organisers in Rio should have had stricter checks on Christians entering the country to avert such lawlessness.

The word Omni-Shambles came from The Thick of It not from the series 2012.

Tariq you’re being a bit silly now.

Maybe the standard of discourse is beyond you Jamie.

No Tariq, you are being nonsensical.

Ever think of talking about the invasion of Europe by muslims hordes in the 2nd, 3rd ,5th, 6th and 8th centuries considering your waffling about Crusades. But your sort never deal with facts do they. Muslims countries are sh%tholes due to Muslims no one else.

No Muslims in the 2nd or 3rd centuries Angry.

The Journal has policies regarding comments, you sign up to these when you subscribe.

North Korea has similar views on free speech – it’s a joke that those in the fiannas feel they should mute the opinions of the nation and will ultimately fail, it’s a shame as the journal was a champion of free speech at one point

the fiannas have neutered this website, pity as it was good despite hugh and his love for fg.
if the journal was serious it would have at least 4/5 pending cases from our much overlooked foreign billionaire!!! dob’s jim’ ill fix it medal.

@Jimmy- but this is a judicial/criminal matter in Brazil and we can comment on it, wheras Hickey’scase is a judicial/criminal matter in Brazil and we can’t? (There are no Irish criminal charges pending so some explanation as to the inconsistency would be nice)

basically del if you have connections and are likely to sue the comments section is closed

Remember how rich Liam Lawlors interpreter became when the media wrongly reported that she was a prostitute?

she died, RIP, as did lawlor, who was a leech like burke and bertie. no comparison.

No she didn’t, that’s why she could sue.

@donal, your right apologies.

@Dara Wyer

I don’t think that trial by jury exists in Brazil. Furthermore, Portuguese is the main language in Brazil. Therefore, it’s unlikely that people involved in the judicial process in Brazil would be swayed by an English-language article on an Irish website.

Besides, nobody has yet been charged in this case. Therefore, it’s not “sub judice” yet.

This is not about fear of being sued this is political intervention in how people communicate.

My recollection is that she couldn’t sue because she had no existing reputation in Ireland which could be damaged??

Aren’t comments only closed, when they are closed, if charges are brought?

No, the sub judice rule applies when proceedings are reasonably expected

@Ciarán- exactly, but an explanation by the Journal would be welcome…

Horse sh#t this is an international incident of the like never seen by this country and we are not allowed talk about it. This is about the entire nations sporting reputation and someone in the fiannas has chosen to shut down parts of our media.

why do we have media blackouts ?

To prevent prejudice

Two reasons for not being able to comment, I’d guess: someone accused can argue “pre-judged by media” makes it impossible that they could have a fair trial and they get let off. Or a pending investigation here, because there’s talk of that happening “after the summer recess”.

Del, let’s not start quaking at the possibility of ‘impeding due process’ nothing gets done here. Let rip!!

“team-mates were held up by muggers posing as police” – who said there weren’t REAL police in the first place. Maybe that’s why they are taking this so far.

The world has always been corrupt, our eyes are only getting opened its scale.

The Brazilian police are scary.

I thought he was fencing (tickets)

No medal for him in the over 70 Hide And Seek final.

The Daily Mail are gonna get sued! Hickey is gonna get rich.! “Hiding”? “Left the country” ? wide open for big money for Hickey. Lucky Hickey has struck the mother lode.