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13 of the most important things that happened on the IFTAs red carpet

Get up to speed on who was wearing what, ahead of the TV broadcast tonight.

THE WINNERS OF the Irish Film and Television Academy awards were announced last night at the Mansion House.

CfoSrP_WcAAfEsh IFTAS IFTAS

The big winners were Room with seven wins, and Liam Neeson, who took home the outstanding achievement award.

You can watch the awards on TV tonight – they’ll be on TV3 at 9pm.

As usual, all the craic was on the red carpet…

1. Liam Neeson turned up and made everyone swoon

Spit on us, Liam.

2016 IFTA Irish Film and Drama awards PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

2. President Michael D Higgins even did the Taken speech

Cfqi5NGXIAAnaKF President of Ireland Twitter President of Ireland Twitter

3. Amy Huberman looked like a vision, as expected

4. Natalie Dormer kept us searching for one single flaw

Anyone? ANY ONE?

5. Chris O’Dowd repped Roscommon

Still rocking the daffodil too, what a guy.

6. Emma O’Donoghue took her kids on the red carpet, AND on stage when she won

7. Sing St’s Ferdia Walsh-Peelo looked cooler than you

He’s only SIXTEEN.

8. Andrew Scott took ALL the selfies

*NEW* Andrew Scott at the IFTA Awards 2016 this evening. Kelly O'Brien Kelly O'Brien

9. Sarah Greene’s jumpsuit slayed us all

She also won for her role in Penny Dreadful, for Best Actress in a drama.

10. Panti Bliss stole the show

Glam.

2016 IFTA Irish Film and Drama awards Niall Carson Niall Carson

11. But Evanna Lynch did a Saoirse Ronan

… and pulled it out of the bag!

Here she is with her fella, aka James Potter.

12. Jack Reynor and Madeline McQueen gave off some serious #RelationshipGoals

They coordinated that little leg stance, didn’t they?

13. And Bob Geldof and wife Jeanne Marine graced us with their presence

Written by Nicola Byrne and posted on DailyEdge.ie

[image alt="" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2016/04/img2-thejournal-375.png" width="600" height="115" credit-url="" credit-source="" credit-via="" credit-via-url="" wp-id="wp-image-2708687" class="alignnone" /end]

READ: Liam Neeson picks up lifetime achievement award as Room wins big at the IFTAs >

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26 Comments
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    Mute Joe McKenna
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:08 AM

    Last summer a guy smashed my front window with my 5 year old sitting under it. I chased him, caught him, got his name, address and phone number. Gave it to the guards and nothing since. If he was throwing water balloons maybe they would have picked him up. Or, perhaps a crime like that isn’t important enough when it happens to regular people.

    973
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    Mute HULK SMASH!
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:25 AM

    Joe a water balloon is a lethal weapon. The 1916 rising commenced with a British battalion coming under intense water balloon bombardment from a splinter group.

    450
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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:38 AM

    Was he a teenager?

    119
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    Mute Kieran Doherty
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:41 AM

    A water balloon turned the turn at Stalingrad

    199
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:59 AM

    From a sinister fring group you mean….

    109
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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:21 AM

    Like moving from soft drugs to hard, water balloons will progress to grenades.

    133
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    Mute Dot Com
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:22 AM

    Not a police state that’s a joke, Its time Amnesty International got involved in this this crack down on citizens with anti Mafia style dawn raids.

    http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/mafia-on-its-knees-after-45-arrested-in-dawn-raids-26380536.html

    190
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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:08 AM

    Joe, you mean to say you let him go? So it comes down to your word against his? Where is the proof that he did what he did?

    15
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    Mute Andrew Flood
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:16 AM

    There is no way senior Garda are signing off on the manufactured media spectacle of these repeated dawn raids on family home without at the very least a nod and a wink from cabinet

    152
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    Mute james boylan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:26 PM

    It’s proper that people are arrested and questioned, mob rule can’t be allowed to take over, just because you shout the loudest doesn’t mean you’re right.

    34
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    Mute AlanHarte
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:33 PM

    Perhaps you are not telling us that it was by accident this person broke your window Joe, and hence no Garda action? I didn’t think thugs engaged in criminal damage were in the habit of handing out their phone number after their victims collar them.

    13
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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:15 PM

    Daragh Brophy!

    Sorry if this goes a bit off thread but it is still relevant.

    On February 6th the Journal published an article with the heading: “Enda Kenny wants to cut taxes, but says it’s not about buying an election”!

    Some time later that article was taken down from the site.

    Now, taking into consideration comments which are defamatory or insulting are taken down and rightly so and also the comments section can be turned off if necessary, but can you r good self or someone else at the Journal answer whether the decision to take tthe full article down was taken by a staff member at the Journal and, if so, why; or was someone at the Journal told to take this story down and, if so, by whom and why?

    The Journal claims to be “a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports the Office of the Press Ombudsman. This scheme in addition to defending the freedom of the press, offers readers a quick, fair and free method of dealing with complaints that they may have in relation to articles that appear on our pages”.

    Surely a charge can also be made to the Press Ombudsman, in the interests of freedom of information and free speech, concerning articles that also dis-appear off your pages?

    56
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    Mute Joe McKenna
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:18 PM

    I could hardly kidnap him. He took off after I dragged him back to my house to show him the damage. I’m not a violent person but it scared the life out of him when he seen me coming after him. I caught him trying to get into a house a few streets away and grabbed him. There were plenty of witnesses. None of whom were questioned. The guard actually said to me ‘I think I know him, he’s not right in the head. He wouldn’t really understand what he’s doing.’ This came across as a total get out. I realised then that I might be wasting my time. I wasn’t wrong. But not 2 months later my car tax was a month out and I found myself up in court for it. Lost a days work over it. Now tell me, does that sound quality policing?

    47
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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:23 PM

    Well yes, they caught a tax evader…

    6
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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:25 PM

    And if someone doesn’t understand what they are doing by not being right in the head, as you put it, the Gardaí can do very little as once the case goes to court the judge will throw it out. So for all we know the Gardaí went and spoke to him, but didn’t charge him, as it would be a waste of time and resources.

    2
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    Mute Joe McKenna
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:36 PM

    Hahaha, are you for real? So this guy should just get to smash my window, almost maiming my child and get away with it? Really? Sounds like you’re not right in the head. The tax was out because I had to fork out 260 euro for a new window. Things are tight with all the other taxes but please, carry on with your ridiculous rationale. It’s incredibly entertaining lol. What a moon unit you must truly be.

    53
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    Mute Ana Nonymous
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:22 AM

    Has anybody been charged yet? It’d be great if we could plough this much manpower into more serious crimes. My friend was mugged while out jogging at 5:30pm last week. All that was taken was a single door key and the phone from the strap on her arm. It was teenagers she got a clear look at everyone of them. The response from the Gardai was she shouldn’t of been jogging (on the running path) in that area. Her housemate came home from work the next day to find the house completely ransacked. It may be a coincidence (as the Gardai suggested) or she was followed home by somebody else who obtained the key and came back the next day. She’s a school teacher been down the local school and has identified these kids, but nobody has moved on it. My point is all victims of crime should be treated equally… Joan because of her Marie Antoinette status is getting the VIP treatment which at the end of the day is wrong…. She’s also chosen to report a crime, wonder did she report the double charging for water when she was there!

    492
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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:42 AM

    My daughter called the guards ti report a crime in progress – a young girl being viciously attacked in broad daylight on the North strand. The response – thanks for letting us know. The guards were present at the unlawful imprisonment/ kidnap. They allowed it to take place and made no attempt to rescue the victim. I’m sure if the guards present deemed it to be such a serious offence, they would have reacted to the threat to Burton’s life/well being. They didn’t.

    347
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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Well firstly she’s the taniste. She was held in the rally weeks ago and gardai are getting around to arrest them only now. Your friends happened last week. I don’t see your complaint? They’ll get to it in due course I’m sure.

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    Mute Original Cynic
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:06 AM

    No, they won’t.

    227
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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:33 AM

    @Cholly ….. In the meantime the friends place was ransacked ! That’s a serious crime

    137
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    Mute Protect Democracy!
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:39 AM

    Joan Burton is disliked by this particular mob because she has done so much to combat social welfare fraud & saved the taxpayers millions!

    38
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    Mute Ivan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:42 AM

    Just before Christmas, while travelling across the M6 motorway, we came over a hill to suddenly see two women trying to wave down cars for help. It was in a dangerous spot and I had the whole family in the car so wasn’t prepared to stop as cars came over the hill @ 120kmh.

    Herself, got online, found the nearest Garda station and rang them directly.

    Herself: “Hello, Garda, there are 2 women on a dangerous spot on the motorway, waving for help”
    Garda: “What do you want me to do about it?”
    Herself: (shocked) “Perhaps send a car up to see if these ladies are okay”
    Garda: “We’re busy right now”

    I joke you not.

    It is the biggest joke and shame that this amount of Garda resources can be used for this political policing.

    Make no mistake, these actions of the Garda are designed to deflect from the 250 Irish People with SECRET SWISS bank accounts. The UK, France & Argentinian authorities are up in arms about this…. but nothing here.
    We just a week of MEANINGLESS Garda work.

    Sick.

    213
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    Mute Protect Democracy!
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:42 AM

    Right Anne Marie whatever you say, pity you did not show the same concern for a woman trapped in a car by a bunch of thugs led by a self promoting knob-head!

    27
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    Mute AN other
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:42 AM

    A farmer in the west once was witnessing his barn being robbed, he called the cops who couldn’t give him a definitive time of arrival so he said on the phone

    “It’s ok I’ll just shoot him”

    Within seconds the armed response unit was on his doorstep! You want a fast response you gotta look for it

    148
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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:48 AM

    Stop Political Policing- Protest tonight at 6.30 outside the Dept of Justice on Stephen’s Green
    https://www.facebook.com/events/615607808539197/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

    These arrests are a serious attack on the right to protest. Massive Garda resources are being used to criminalise protest and communities in Tallaght. This is clear political policing – the aim is to strike a blow against the anti-water charges movement which threatens not just the government’s water charges, but their whole austerity agenda. We must mobilise in protest now to demand an end to this attack on democratic rights.

    126
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    Mute Carl Thompson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:31 PM

    So because your mate’s mugger hasn’t been punished, we all get one punish-free crime?

    7
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    Mute AlanHarte
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Anne Marie, I’m not sure what your complaint is? The guards said “thanks for letting us know” (sounds reasonable). How do you know they didn’t act on this? Is it because they didn’t rush to tell you or your daughter how the tale ended?

    8
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    Mute AlanHarte
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Anne Marie, I’m not sure what your complaint is? The guards said “thanks for letting us know” (sounds reasonable). How do you know they didn’t act on this? Is it because they didn’t rush to tell you or your daughter how the tale ended?

    5
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    Mute Ginger Jay
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:55 PM

    @coddle mooney, is there a similar protest in cork do you know?

    25
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    Mute Sean De Britúin
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:57 PM

    Jog on Bertie!

    11
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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:59 PM

    No she is disliked because she is a liar and a traitor.Yes your right she has done so much to combat social welfare fraud and saved millions, but what about the billions hidden in banks. She might get a bit of respect if she went after the biggest criminals first. By the way the likes of this particular mob were the ones who voted her in.

    40
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    Mute Pat Mustard
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:52 AM

    This is getting ridiculous at this stage. How much resources have the gardai wasted at this stage, meanwhile junkies openly deal heroin throughout Dubin city centre. No fear of the gardai tackling these criminals and cleaning up our streets!

    419
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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:56 AM

    Clearly you didn’t watch prime time the other night!! They’ve done great work in the city. I be more afraid of the element in jobstown than the junkies

    109
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    Mute Boganity
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:57 AM

    That’s what they’re doing with these arrests

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    Mute Stanley Groves
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Precisely! You never see a Guarda doing their job.

    69
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:01 AM

    Whats a Guarda?

    111
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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:06 AM

    Same as a Garda just with extra ‘u’.

    127
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:07 AM

    @pat – how you mean wasted? – they are acting on a complaint… the Deputy Prime Minister was forcibly held against her will for two hours and you think that’s not worth the Gardai’s time? Can you imagine the furore if FG supporters barricaded Paul Murphy in his Toyota Prius for two hours?

    72
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    Mute Original Cynic
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:08 AM

    Time now to switch resources to the 350 Swiss bank account holders!

    177
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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:09 AM

    Gabbi what were the Garda who were present at the time doing whilst Joan was being held against her will?were they on their lunchbreak?

    174
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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:13 AM

    Gabbi we don’t have prime ministers in Ireland
    If your going to correct another contributor on spelling then I would regard this as total ignorance

    121
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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:15 AM

    Stop Political Policing- Protest tonight at 6.30 outside the Dept of Justice on Stephen’s Green

    https://www.facebook.com/events/615607808539197/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

    These arrests are a serious attack on the right to protest. Massive Garda resources are being used to criminalise protest and communities in Tallaght. This is clear political policing – the aim is to strike a blow against the anti-water charges movement which threatens not just the government’s water charges, but their whole austerity agenda. We must mobilise in protest now to demand an end to this attack on democratic rights.

    135
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:16 AM

    Taoiseach is the Irish for Prime Minister. .. oh and it’s ‘you’re’ .

    24
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    Mute Sinister Lucinda
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:17 AM

    If you ever wanted to strengthen a movement this if the way to go, fair play to the cops. I haven’t gone to one of the marches yet but after seeing all this I will definitely be bringing my family to the next one, you wouldn’t have seen a load of farmers getting arrested after them protesting.

    152
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    Mute Wholeduck
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:18 AM

    This is good. The protests were being hijacked by organised bad elements who steer the mob into confrontation. This sends the right message that you cannot hide in the crowd if you follow their lead. Protests WILL be peaceful from here on. Well done Gardai.

    23
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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:28 AM

    No way Einstein
    Call him by the correct term then
    It’s very simple

    51
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    Mute Colm Moran
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:29 AM

    Spelling police are out in force today or should I say garda as we live in ireland

    61
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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:35 AM

    Grammar Nazi is also acceptable.

    49
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    Mute Joan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:00 AM

    The arrests are not an attack on the right to protest at all , if they acted peacefully then there would have been no need for all this .

    8
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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:12 AM

    Joan, still happy to think children are s**m?

    40
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    Mute whynotme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:15 AM

    Was this protest held in Dalkey ?

    8
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    Mute Joan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:44 AM

    Norman , again I never called anyone s*um ! Do not accuse me of something I did not say .

    1
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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:10 AM

    Did I say you said it?,you agreed with Irish Sceptic when he used the term on an article yesterday.

    21
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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:34 PM

    “Time now to switch resources to the 350 Swiss bank account holders!”
    No ******* fear of that mate.!
    HSBC bank gives employment in the IFSC managing the accounts of the tax dodgers.
    All the brass plates would disappear overnight if any one of them was investigated.!

    18
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    Mute Charles Williams
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:58 AM

    In the context of the ” alleged crime” this whole reaction appears over the top, and one would have to come to the conclusion that if a Joan Murphy rather than Minister Joan Burton was involved the whole incident would be forgotten about long ago.

    383
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    Mute Boganity
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:01 AM

    Please explain ?

    34
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    Mute Shakka1244
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:24 AM

    I think he’s saying that in our wonderful Republic where all citizens are equal, some are more equal than others.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:28 AM

    Gotta love George Orwell.

    166
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    Mute Ciaran Dixon
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:12 AM

    Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the story on The Journal about the (300 million pumped into IW from the Government) has gone missing from the page?
    Id be careful of what you say on here, or you might be in Handcuffs before bed time!! No not the fluffy ones

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    Mute Watcher-on-the-Wall
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:28 AM

    It’s still there – just bumped down the queue – http://www.thejournal.ie/strategic-investment-fund-1932486-Feb2015/

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    Mute Exit Stage Left
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:31 AM

    Sorry ciaran, no conspiracy, move on.

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    Mute Ciaran Dixon
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:36 AM

    Must be just my phone got back as far as Tuesdays stories without managing to find it. Cheers for that

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    Mute Ciaran Dixon
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:40 AM

    Something to Hide? We can sort this backstage if you like?

    70
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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:35 AM

    They don’t have enough Gardai to arrest all of us , considering they are using 8-10 per child. How many will they need for a woman

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    Mute Etheric Projection
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:52 AM

    This will not stop political peaceful protests

    367
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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:54 AM

    It wasn’t peaceful. Imagine that was your mother trapped in a car surrounded by that crowd

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    Mute Al Beebak
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:57 AM

    Nobody has a problem with peaceful protests. The problem starts when trouble makers start breaking the law and shouting “peaceful protest” at the top of their voice doesn’t make it peaceful. They have ruined it for everyone else but they are too dumb or too uneducated to admit it. Now they have Paul Murphy and the likes jumping on the bandwagon to further his own career at the expense of all the genuine protesters.

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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:04 AM

    Well said EP. The primary role of the police is to enforce the will of the state on civil society. Therefore they are often used as a tool to oppress and control the working class whose interests are diametrically opposed to those of the government’s who largely serves the interest of capital.

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    Mute Michelle Ní Dhubhlaíocht
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:07 AM

    If it was any of our mothers cholly, we’d be told there’s nothing they can do! God forbid they actually had to catch real criminals.

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    Mute Al Beebak
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:08 AM

    I would have thought the primary role of the police was to enforce the laws?

    69
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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:14 AM

    @coddle The police force were acting on a complaint… they have to act. Sin é – its up to the DPP to prosecute not the police – and if any of the people have a complaint about their treatment they have an ombudsman to go to…. you obviously prefer no police service and people can go around imprisoning people against their will when they disagree with their politics… thankfully the vast majority of people outside the area which the AAA stalk feel the same… ‘police force enforce the will of the state’ – in case you don’t know the police force are also working class… just ordinary working people who chose to become police officers… like soldiers, doctors, nurses etc etc – you just like to put people in convenient boxes to suit your warped ideology.

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    Mute Protect Democracy!
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:20 AM

    Hope this puts a stop to the ambushing of elected representatives at schools full of young children , the abuse of our president etc etc etc. The AAA is just a front for a sinister organisation who’s goal is to push ireland into an undemocratic Marxist state similar to ones in Central America & Eastern Europe that forced their people to live in sheer poverty & destitute. The water campaign has been hijacked by these despots.

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    Mute Chris
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:22 AM

    Only when it suits them

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:22 AM

    I’m sorry you feel that way and have such distaste for a woman you don’t even know. No one deserves to be put in fear like that by a bunch of hooligans, no matter who they are. I don’t care that she’s the taniste and don’t have much love for this government but that protest made me sick to the core. And the worst part of it is that your hate for iw or the gardai is clouding your vision to how horrific it must of been for her. I’m sorry but no one deserves that. Eirigi and other republican movements are wrecking the whole anti iw movement. And on a side note. Paul murphy is a moron

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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:25 AM

    Gabbi,
    This is transparently politcal policing. If you wish to delude yourself that that the Gardai are neutral agents separate from government, then of course I can’t stop you.
    But most people accept that the police are in fact political actors. The examples are countless:

    The R.U.C beating the civil rights movements off the streets in the North while their counterparts in the U.S. murdered and batoned black people senseless as they struggled to gain equality. From the brutality of Thatcher’s police deployed against the striking miners in Britain to the French police murdering 600 Algerians in Paris.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/charlie-hebdo-paris-attack-brothers-campaign-of-terror-can-be-traced-back-to-algeria-in-1954-9969184.html

    At home we have the example of the heroic Dunnes Stores strikers from the 1980s who refused to handle goods from South Africa. They were met with continuous threats and harassment from the Gardai including the special branch and were regularly abused for daring to show solidarity with those “n*****s”.

    More recently, the students were beaten off the streets in 2011 for daring to protest. In a moment of supreme irony that day, the Gardai mounted a cavalry charge right in front of Anglo Irish Bank HQ against unarmed students protesting against the mounting cutbacks to their education in order to pay for the greed, stupidity and corruption of that bank. These are just a couple of examples. There are many, many more if people care to look.

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    Mute Tim
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:25 AM

    We the people elected the government to govern the country. Your triple A minority may not like their policy’s but luckily we live in a democracy and the majority makes the decision.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:26 AM

    Protect..hijacked by despots?do you even know what ‘despot’ means.Look up ‘hyperbole’ while you’re at it.

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    Mute Martin Nolan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:30 AM

    If you look at the film she is texting on her phone and reading the Irish Times. Must have been delayed reaction until Monday when it hit her. TERIFIED me arse!

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:31 AM

    @Coddle – the RUC were a sectarian police force – its dishonest to compare an Garda Siochana with them no matter how much you want them to be. So what happens if your ideology wins the day and a left coalition takes power – do the police force suddenly become good then? – tell us how the police force in countries that share your ideology work out? – lets see – East Germany, USSR, Poland… how were those police forces do you think? – or is that a dishonest comparison? – They were bad socialist regimes were they not? – just as the examples you cite are bad state regimes. Again with the people portioned in little boxes…

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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:44 AM

    Gabbiless they are not they are the stooges the bagmen of the gestapo
    The same gestapo that run them to ten ground
    What does that say about them

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:52 AM

    Go Back to bed @howzatme – or better still go back and avail of an education that the hard worked tax payers give you the entitlement to get.

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:55 AM

    Gabbi and colli enough with the amateur dramatics. Joan Burton was in no real danger. One water balloon and some protesters shouting slogans while she was surrounded by garda some of which were special branch and you can be dam sure they were armed.

    What we are talking about now is political policing. 4 arrested each day questioned and released without charge. Then 5 arrested today. Kenny asked a question on this by reporters answers “no comment.” A question gets asked in the dail the TD gets his mic cut off. It dose not matter which TD asked. Its totally unacceptable that elected officials gets there mic cut off because they are asking the wrong question.

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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:57 AM

    I pay and have paid more tax than you earn
    Your just another empty vessel that contribute on a daily basis because you can hide behind your keyboard in your mammys bedroom

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:02 AM

    @Thomas that very well may be true. The Gardai recieved a complaint and they acted on the complaint – that’s the plain fact of it.. can you imagine in the US if Joe Biden was blocked into his car? – The amateur dramatics can be levelled at both sides of the argument.. the fact remains that a citizen was prevented from going about their legal business and that is against the law… it is up to the DPP whether or not people go to prison.

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:03 AM

    I assume Burton will be arrested next for incitement.

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:06 AM

    If it was Joe biden . the kidnappers would be arrested on the spot not allowed go on their merry way.

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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:06 AM

    The law gives the right to protest and as such you may be put out and inconvenienced
    Stop talking shit

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:13 AM

    The law gives the right to peaceful protest. Sorry if it’s confusing for you.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:15 AM

    “We the people elected the government to govern the country. Your triple A minority may not like their policy’s but luckily we live in a democracy and the majority makes the decision.”

    You mean the majority elect a minority who act with impunity for 4 years? The opinion polls show that nowhere near the majority supports this government any more so we can safely argue that their actions and decisions do not represent the will of the majority.

    I know you’d like to delude yourself into thinking that the majority are rallying behind the national hero Enda but the reality is this country does not support him.

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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:43 AM

    It’s not the law doesn’t say that
    Wake up

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:54 AM

    With the exception of wages. Comparing Joe Biden and Joan Burton. Is apples and oranges. For starters Joe Biden is vice president of a country of almost 300 million.

    They also have the same initials. :-)

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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:13 AM

    No Gabbi. The USSR and the nations behind the iron curtain were not socialist regimes. They were a subversion of the principles of socialism which by its very nature must be democratic (i.e. government in the interests of the majority).

    The police force is a tool of the state and always reflects the priorities & objectives of government. In a socialist state, where democracy operates as it should in the interests of the majority rather than in the interests of capital, then the police will also act in the interests of the majority.

    You can see this in action now where Syriza are beginning to fundamentally reform the Greek police.
    http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=669693

    Syriza will also need to urgently root out the strong neo fascist elements in the police with links to Golden dawn which are a hangover from the previous right wing regime.

    http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/impunity-excessive-force-and-links-extremist-golden-dawn-blight-greek-police-2014-04-03

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:17 PM

    @coddle you missed the point… let me rehash… comparing an Garda Siochana to the RUC or the police force in Birmingham Alabama is as ludicrous as me comparing Socialism to the USSR… and the Gardai do act in the interest of the majority..and in the interest of the state.

    The great Leninist – Joseph Stalin created what the USSR became… communism is the natural conclusion to socialism.

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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:30 PM

    So you accept now Gabbi that police forces are not neutral agents but implement and enforce the objectives of the state?

    The R.U.C beat the civil rights marchers off the streets as instructed by the Unionist ruling eite in Northern Ireland.

    The ruling white establishment had the police in the southern U.S states beat black people into bloody pulp as they sought to gain equality.

    Thatcher’s police beat the striking miner’s off the streets with impunity to further her agenda of unrestrained free market capitalism.

    And under De Gaulle , the French police murdered 600 Algerians in Paris with no sanction.

    But we are expected to believe that only in Ireland, our blessed land of saints and scholars, the Gardai are entirely free from political interference?

    Get a grip man.

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:02 PM

    @Coddle – the vast vast majority of people in this state support an garda siochana. You making strawmen to knock down won’t change that… you’re into the politics of hysterics and absolutes,,, you want to believe that there is a giant conspiracy, that there are high level meetings in government and the Gardai to ‘take out’ those that oppose them. The reality – where the vast vast majority of people reside – is that the Gardai are independent of the government and the arrests made this week were on foot of a complaint – and then the DPP will decide whether or not to proceed – this is how policing works in a democracy… if the best the AAA have to offer is the kind of hysterics shown by your representative in Dáil Eireann today well then there is little hope for ye…was it ms coppinger that suggested the privatisation of Dell? “We’ve seen Dell leaving Limerick. I would have advocated that they should be taken into public ownership, that the workers who work in those industries could run them, could run those industries. We have the skills and capabilities to do that” – pie in the sky stuff.

    The AAA and the socialists are like parasites that feed off misery for their own political ends…no real solutions just rhetoric, a failed ideology and protests – perpetual opposition. But as i’ve said to you before the country needs that – and as a democracy its good to see.

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    Mute Coddle Mooney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 5:11 PM

    Gabbi,
    You must have missed the high level meeting between the Minister for Justice and the Garda commissioner which resulted in Shatter breaking the law in order to “take out” Mick Wallace, by reputation at least.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/alan-shatter-loses-appeal-against-mick-wallace-data-ruling-1.2073793

    As you are well aware, Coppinger was proposing nationalizing the physical Dell plant in Limerick, not Dell the corporation. She’s well aware that the Irish state can’t take control of a multinational.
    Dell were no longer using the facility (building at least) and had received €100+ million in state subsidies over the years as well as the favorable tax regime etc. It can’t be all one way traffic. A deal could have been reached to retain some of the manufacturing equipment, IT infrastructure etc to help a start up operation. Dell still have an operation in Bray so it would be in their interest to retain the goodwill of the state.

    A lot of the ingredients (engineering skills etc) were present to develop an alternative business model. For example there are many smaller IT providers in the channel operating in niche markets e.g Viglen and Xyratex (now Seagate) in the U.K. This type of business model could be copied or adapted. It was certainly worth a try anyway to protect the jobs in an area devastated by unemployment.

    France temporarily nationalized IT/Server manufacturing firm Bull S.A.S in the 1980s and as a result it still retains that industry and employment in the country.

    The U.S. also spent $80 billion partially nationalizing its automobile industry in 2009 to prevent its collapse and the loss of millions of jobs.

    It’s only when socialists propose similar measures that it’s deemed to be economic heresy.

    You might also recall that the Socialist Party have staunchly opposed the blanket bank guarantee since it was first proposed in 2008. We’ve seen FF, FG and Labour all support this socialization of the €100+ billion of private banking debt which has crippled the nation.

    It was “the most destructive own goal in history” to quote banking expert Professor Bill Black from the banking enquiry last week

    Now can you tell me which of our elected representatives have proven themselves to be the economic illiterates?

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 7:57 PM

    @Gabshite..
    What qualifies you to speak on behalf of “the vast majority of people in this state”? A quick scan down through the comments on this article, and others covering similar topics, would indicate that you are completely incorrect in your assertion.
    Your arguments don’t hold up to rational examination. Of course the Gardai are agents of the government. Of course this week’s succession of heavy-handed dawn raids are politically motivated. Of course Joan Burton has wielded the power afforded her by her position to influence the prioritisation of the investigation and the disproportionate manpower assigned to pursue it.

    I’m sure there were many loyalists in the north during the oppression of the civil rights movement who denied that the RUC were a sectarian police force.

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:03 PM

    Oh, I’m sorry, have I denigrated your opinion again?

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:08 PM

    @Gabbi..
    I noticed the way you chose to denigrate howzatme’s education earlier in this thread.
    *irony*

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:00 AM

    No arrests on the day. No arrests next day or week. She was in such grave danger kidnapped in her car that gardai left her in this dangerous situation for hours and then let all the kidnappers go home . Hmmmm what if people could not have been recognised in video .

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:07 AM

    What usually happens when someone can’t be identified….

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    Mute The Throwaway
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:11 AM

    Imagine that. Taking time to gather all the evidence. What an out of this world fückïng ground breaking concept.

    I actually fear the sarcasm will be wasted on you.

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:23 AM

    They get away. Bit risky was it not letting kidnappers go. Must be the only situation I can think of where someone is being kidnapped against their will surrounded by gardai and the kidnappers are allowed home.

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:29 AM

    Gather what evidence. Surely the situation as claimed is she was kidnapped held against her will. The kidnappers are right there . why not arrest straight away. Give me another situation where someone is held against their will in front of police force and they let The kidnappers go on their merry way and not arrest them on the spot.

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    Mute The Throwaway
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:13 AM

    Nobody but you, is saying kidnapped. The allegation made is that Joan Burton was detained against her will, had her constitutional right to freedom of movement taken away from her, and there there were physical and verbal threats. These apply to her and her staff that were there. The evidence (of which we publicly know) been gathered is hours and hours and hours of video footage. All law is equal, people on this site seem to think that some people’s complaints are more worthless than others. Or that the law doesn’t apply to them. The law is the law, it applies in principle an equal weight to everyone.
    This isn’t political policing, it’s proper policing.
    The reality is that there is only likely two to three Gardaí actually investigating this. There will of course, as a matter of proper procedure, been a lot more Gardai that turn up to an address for an arrest. It is safer for all those involved (you can imagine there is no point in looking for an extra 4 Gardai at a time when all the houser occupants are beating you or attempting to get rid of evidence or go out the front and slash the tires of the car while you’re inside the house etc etc etc). And even the Gardai that are investigating this are going to have a good deal many more cases and files been investigated at the same time.

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:26 PM

    So the tanaiste was detained against her will. Yet the gardai did nothing on the day for this. Are you saying the gardai that day did not see this and so let the people go. It can’t be both. This is the tanaiste of the state but yet gardai did not arrest any one for making verbal and physical threats to the tanaiste. But let them go home. Come on.

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    Mute Watcher-on-the-Wall
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:04 PM
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    Mute AlanHarte
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:30 PM

    Littleone, stupid argument. Gardaí were outnumbered and the situation was clearly difficult enough for them as it was. An all out riot would have ensued if attempts were made to arrest every person who committed an offence there that day. Don’t let common sense get in the way of your point though.

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:33 PM

    OK if you say so Alan because yours make such sense talking of something that hypothetical might or might not have happened. But we know what was supposed to have happened.

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    Mute Martin Nolan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:27 AM

    Anybody remember our glorious leader EDNA marching in Paris for the “Charlie” demonstration for
    FREEDOM OF SPEECH?
    Funny how just weeks later he’s sending in squads of Garda to arrest TD ‘s, children and others who were exercising that same democratic right.
    OR maybe he just went to get some tips off the other dictators who were there.
    JE SUIS HYPOCRITE

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    Mute The Galloping Major
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:47 AM

    Freedom of Speech does bot equate to breaking the law.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:09 AM

    There were Guards at the rally, if they saw something unlawful I’m sure they would have reacted accordingly. As they didn’t and no charges have thus far materialised from these delayed reaction arrests we can assume that nothing unlawful took place.

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    Mute Caoimhghín Ó Tuama
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:20 AM

    If the guards had acted at the time and arrested people it would have caused a riot. It’s pretty common for them to simply manage those situations at the time and make their investigations and arrests afterwards.

    But don’t let that get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:24 AM

    @Jason – yeah and can you imagine the reaction if they had arrested and intervened? seriously – they can’t win.

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    Mute Joan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:25 AM

    Finally someone talking sense !

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    Mute Neil Peckham
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:05 AM

    You’re right freedom of speech only applies when you say what the mob want to hear.

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    Mute CreditTiger
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:22 PM

    Beansí Burton should really have complained to GSOC about being holed up in her luxury veyhhicle whilst the IW Stormtroopers stood idly by……and the peasents ate gurr cake and exorcised their last rights to free speech!!

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:25 AM

    What a joke.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:59 AM

    Looking forward to delivering the punchline alongside the rest of the protesters on 21/03/15, the next R2W march.

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    Mute Scottie Delaney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:52 AM

    not one person arrested for the outrageous and horrendous carry on under the watchful eye of the HSE at Aras Atrachta and then you have 17 people arrested for trapping a woman in her for two hours….priorities of our pitiful Government

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    Mute Carl Thompson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:28 PM

    You can only argue ‘they didn’t do anything to this lot’ so much, it’s like saying you can’t be sad because some people have it much worse than you which is the same as ‘you can’t be happy because other people have it better’… At the end of the day, those protestors broke the law. Yes, others have done so before hand and went unpunished but that doesn’t mean we all get one punish-free crime, does it?

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    Mute Paddy O'Ruadháin
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:32 PM

    She wasn’t even trapped, she eventually decided to get out of the car and wasn’t stopped.It was her pride and hubris that trapped her in her car.

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    Mute Seamus Brady
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:43 PM

    Which laws did they break. They’ve not been charged or cautioned. When will the real law breaker’s be brought to justice ie the banker’s that brought our country into financial meltdown?The people responsible for leaving hospital patients on trolleys ? If something is criminal and is costing people their lives then there’s questions to be answered as to why a legal protester is hauled away by the state Gardai and an entire government can turn it’s back on the plight of it’s vulnerable citizens. Get down off your high horse and smell life at ground level before you start to judge people practicing their constitunal right

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    Mute Andy Mc
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:36 AM

    I was in a car park the other day and a car was blocking me when I wanted to leave. Can I have this person arrested for false imprisonment?

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    Mute Ivan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:47 AM

    I was parking in Dunnes last week and this little old lady took FOREVER to get out of her spot…. I was kidnapped for at least 5 minutes :-)

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:55 AM

    “I was in a car park the other day and a car was blocking me when I wanted to leave. Can I have this person arrested for false imprisonment?”

    That’s not the definition of “false imprisonment”. It’s also pretty glib to compare a mob entrapping someone within their car to a clumsily parked car.

    The double standards and excuses on this thread are truly depressing.

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    Mute Andy Mc
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:26 PM

    Your comment falsely imprisoned my brain for a few seconds there, the Gardai are on their way. Sorry several Gardai are on their way!

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    Mute Niall H
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:57 AM

    This country is a joke. Anyone who pays this water charge (a third time) actually has no backbone. Our grandparents and great grandparents must be turning in their graves because of the pushovers we have become.

    How are so many people brainwashed into thinking this is a fair thing to do? It’s scary.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Why would I pay Irish water three times, once is enough ?

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    Mute Niall H
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:14 AM

    Exactly

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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:19 AM

    Our recent ancestors bowed to the rcc. I wouldn’t go invoking their wrath, we irish have till recently been well able to do as we’re told.

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:51 AM

    “How are so many people brainwashed into thinking this is a fair thing to do? It’s scary.”

    What’s a more “fair” way of paying for water? I bet it’ll be the thoroughly original idea of crippling the people paying 51% of their incomes over €35k with all the burden, yet again. In the name of “fairness”.

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    Mute Niall H
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:11 PM

    No just paying for a service once would be my definition of fairness Mr eagle

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    Mute Derek mc keever
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:55 AM

    Well done Garda,them bold protesters I hope you had your Taser at the ready and best of luck when it is your turn to go on strike see how much sympathy you all get then,the whole things a complete joke

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    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:00 AM

    The Gardai don’t want to be doing this crap. I was talking to a Gard at the water protest in October, they feel the same way that we do but they have to do as they’re told. Do you honestly think they’re choosing to supervise the installation of water meters etc? They would much rather be doing actual police work instead of this nonsense.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:19 AM

    Andrea I think a defense like that was offered by others in the past.

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    Mute AlanHarte
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:25 PM

    Norman, you’re an idiot.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:44 PM

    Andrea, you were speaking to a Garda about these arrests in October…

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:00 PM

    Alan you’re an idiot,snap.

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    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
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    Feb 12th 2015, 5:26 PM

    I didn’t say that John as I’m sure you well know. I said that the Gardai don’t want to supervise water meter installations etc and that I was talking to one at the protest in October. Believe it or not, they are as frustrated with everything that’s going on here as we are but they have to do as instructed unfortunately.

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:53 AM

    Joans storm troupers out wasting citizens money again in an effort to stymie democracy regarding Irish Water. Which in reality is acting as a tool to highlight government corruption and harden peoples approach towards them and Irish Water…Keep it up fools

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    Mute Boganity
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:03 AM

    Thuggery is not democracy hence the arrests.

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:10 AM

    Boganity but the question is then who exactly are the tugs. The provoker of provoked. And weather you like it or not there ordinary people have been provoked into action they would never normally take.

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:32 PM

    Lying and cronyism is not democracy hence people protesting.

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    Mute Stanley Groves
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:58 AM

    This is a clear case of a week Government using any force at their disposal to force their will on the people. More like something a Communist Government would act out.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:25 AM

    Or fascist, given FGs roots and the consolidation of power that we are witnessing in government.

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    Mute Brian O'Regan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:39 AM

    That’s original….. Funny how the Blueshirts were only fascist in name, very little about the majority of their ranks were truly fascist at heart, the merely wanted to protect family and friends from attacks by Devs crews. Only an extreme minority went to Spain and lest you forget, O’duffy was quickly ousted from the fledgling fine gael party.

    Therfore to suggest fascism was the heart and soul of fine gael is highly misleading and totally incorrect..

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:54 AM

    Brian rewriting history is fun isn’t it?

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    Mute Kirk Loco
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:56 AM

    @Brian,

    The parties (FG) founding father, Eoin O Duffy was a fascist. The group was based on his ideologies, I’d suggest that makes WJ Statement of FG having Fascist “roots” accurate.

    From Wiki:
    “O’Duffy and many other conservative elements within the Irish Free State began to embrace fascist ideology, which was in vogue at that time. He immediately changed the name of this new movement to the National Guard. O’Duffy was an admirer of the Italian leader Benito Mussolini and his organisation adopted outward symbols of European fascism such as the straight-arm Roman salute and a distinctive blue uniform. It was not long before they became known as the Blueshirts.”

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    Mute Brian O'Regan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:40 PM

    Congratulations on quoting a leaving cert history book.

    Here’s one for you, did you know anybody who ever was a Blueshirt?? Because I did, they weren’t fascist or anything of the sort, nor did they even remotely believe in the fascist ideals that o’duffy was more food of. They joined to help their local friends and families who were under attack from sinn fein slash fianna fail at the time.

    O’duffy represented a significant minority within a minority group itself. The vast majority of Blueshirts were all about providing protection for supporters of cumman na gadhael.

    And finally all of this is 80 odd years in our past, both fine gael and fianna fail have moved on leaps and bounds since then.

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:56 AM

    The higher you build your barriers the stronger I become. We have IW going around with their faces covered up and the Garda doing political policing two groups of thugs.

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    Mute Business Cat
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:59 AM

    Except the country aren’t seeing it that way.

    As the anti-IW movement falls ever more into the clutches of the likes of Eirigi (see Fingal Mayor yesterday) regular folk switch off.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:16 AM

    Business regular folk just won’t hit the streets, but non payment is the best and most effective protest.

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    Mute hard yaka
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:51 AM

    Rightly so. Everyone wants this country to treat people the way other jurisdictions do. If this incident had happened to the vice president or deputy prime minister they would be locked up.

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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:53 AM

    What?

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:58 AM

    Hard so you’ve become spokesperson for everyone?when were you appointed?

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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:03 AM

    If it happened to Joe Biden the protesters would just have been shot.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:05 AM

    Aren’t we fortunate so this is neither America and the average Garda is not armed.

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    Mute Ana Nonymous
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:13 AM

    Joe Biden wouldn’t be stupid enough to do what she did. Also his team would of advised him against going and he’d of had security. Would you get real, try comparing her to a politician of a country of similar wealth and not a super power!

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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:29 AM

    Ah so it’s her fault that people held her in the car. Makes sense. And you’re telling me to get real?

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:32 AM

    JJ of course it’s not her fault,bit silly of the Guards who were present to allow her be detained though almost like someone wanted this outcome just saying.. Jobstown is not exactly rural that back up Guards were unavailable for hours.

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    Mute Cian Doherty
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:58 AM

    So what Norman the Gardai should have forcibly removed the “protesters”? Could you imagine the reaction! Sure you only have to look at how the sinister fringe reacted when a Garda had the nerve to push a woman out of the way of a moving car.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:10 AM

    Cian first of all the Guards are trained in public order secondly if you are referring to that woman who narrowly missed a bollard as being ‘pushed’ by your reasoning a hurricane is only a mild breeze.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:16 AM

    Cian ‘sinister fringe’ a bit of FG spin that never gets old,is that a gem from the Communications Clinic?

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    Mute Donal Buckley
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:18 AM

    For every second of time waiting in her limo Ms Joan Burton, Minister, was enjoying the accumulation of massive pension benefits to her pot.

    This Labour Party of “protection of core benefits” … Minister Burton had cut Old Age Pensions twice in one year ( 2012).

    Every future OAP will get a smaller pension when they retire going forward from 2012.

    Every future worker lost the transition year’s pension payment and must now support themselves for a year before the reduced OAP payments start.

    Deception to get into Ministerial Limos with false election promises is wrong but to become a Minister and make fraudelent claims that the Labour Party protect core social welfare benefits must be investigated by the authorities. OAPs are core welfare benefits?
    Demonstrations which vent anger are legal actions against abuses of power by right wing Irish Govetnments.

    If Irish media challenged power and abuses of power instead of herd instinct following of their political masters Ireland may be a more civilised society.

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    Mute David Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:59 PM

    Child abduction?
    Jeez FG/Labour have stooped to new lows.

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    Mute Rosemarie Slamon
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:05 AM

    What a wast of tax payers money and police time, it’s beyond a joke at this stage . How can this country be taken serious. When it comes to bankers and real crime committed what has been done. The only power people have is to take to the streets and that does not go down well with our so call Government .

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:32 PM

    Rosemarie, who gets to choose what is a real crime?

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:22 PM

    Are you Pats son by any chance?

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:42 PM

    Nope

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    Mute C Mc Gyver
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:54 AM

    More kidnapping again today.

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    Mute Cuppantae
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:52 AM

    That’s the stuff….hopefully the DPP will recommend prosecutions in these cases.

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    Mute C Mc Gyver
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:00 AM

    For wrongful arrest???

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:03 AM

    Cuppan I wonder will the Guards expand the same effort in locating the driver who mounted the footpath and knocked down a pedestrian at last year huge protest in Dublin.
    It happened during daylight CCTV footage available,strange no arrest.

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    Mute My EL531W
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:08 AM

    And what do you reckon the sentence would be if they were convicted? Hardly prison and if they gave them a fine I’m sure they wouldn’t pay. It’s giving them more publicity. The government really are a bunch of idiots. They’re trying to claim the moral high ground and smear all protestors as violent but they’re only painting themselves as intolerant to dissent.

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:10 AM

    How do you know? About 1 per cent if court cases make the paper

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:13 AM

    Cholly I assume you’re responding to me,you don’t think a hit and run driver at one of the largest protests ever in the state would have made the news if they were prosecuted?

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:28 AM

    Probably not, what were the injuries. Life threatening? Would the papers have been privileged to his or her court date? Maybe it was in court and dealt with on first date in the district court which wouldn’t have a journalist punting. Maybe he’s been arrested and it’s with the dpp. Either way there’s not a conspiracy as your insinuating

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:33 AM

    Straws, clutching.

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:41 AM

    Other way around pal.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:52 AM

    Cholly whatever you think.

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:34 PM

    Norman, you couldn’t be more right!

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:41 PM

    Just a point of interest all the gardai who were guarding joan that day what do they usually do when they show up for work?

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    Mute Bill Conlan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:08 AM

    FG/LAB use the words “Sinister Element”, “Hostage” and “Kidnapping” to describe the people who protest against IW. Then back it up with dawn raids and arrests of Children by the Gardaí……..
    Can’t wait for the General Election so we can rid Daíl Eireann of this “Sinister” bunch of idiots!!

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    Mute Bramley Hawthorne
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:29 AM

    The Government-Gardaí are using arrest and interrogation as a form of punishment for their opponents.
    It has nothing to do with the rule of law or justice – just intimidation.

    There is a good scene in ‘Selma’ with Oprah Winfrey that shows how the real pros do this sort of thing but the Gardaí are learning fast under instruction from the Fine-Lab party.

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    Mute Pat Mustard
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:41 PM

    Anyone old enough to remember the government of Cosgrave and the heavy gang in the gardai will know this kind of behaviour is nothing new to Fine Gael!

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    Mute Chris
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:33 AM

    I know an old lady had her purse stolen while she was in her local the barman called the Guards 3 times no one came not then or there after shame on them

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    Mute talkingsense(troll)
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:51 AM

    Guard’s doing great work this week

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:59 AM

    Yeah 8 Guards to arrest a child,impressive.

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    Mute talkingsense(troll)
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:01 AM

    How did I know you’d be the first to respond Norman?

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:03 AM

    You’re physic I guess.

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    Mute RonanM
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:08 AM

    Notmas it was his father and two older brothers I expect that warranted such a high presence.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:11 AM

    Ronan that’s bs and chances are you know it.
    10 to arrest Murphy were his extended familiy in his home at the time?

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:37 PM

    Norman, how would the Gardaí know who is in Murphys house before they arrive?

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    Mute Tim Kearney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Burton is obviously getting back at the protesters.. Looking at the video I can’t understand why the Gardai left her there.. She was sitting in the car at one stage reading the paper and seemed to be laughing at it all.. .. If anybody kept her there it was the Gardai…. Its gone way over the top and this will only bring more protesters out in April… What are the Labour party thinking ?.. They have totally lost the plot…

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:59 AM

    “Burton is obviously getting back at the protesters”

    Is it obvious? Perhaps you’d like to produce evidence that this is politically-motivated policing? Perhaps you would like to stand behind that claim in a court of law.

    “What are the Labour party thinking ?.. They have totally lost the plot…”

    THEN WHY THE HELL WOULD THE LABOUR PARTY BE BEHIND THIS KNOWING FULL WELL THAT IT WOULD ONLY GALVANISE THE PROTESTERS???? For crying out loud can you not see how nonsensical the idea is?

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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:20 PM

    Perhaps its a clever conspiracy.
    Enda wants to eliminate the Labour Party totally and make way for a Fine Gael Fianna Fail coalition.?

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:24 PM

    There is no proof, but the Tin Foil Hat Brigade don’t need proof…

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    Mute Tim Kearney
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:43 PM

    @ search eagle. … Your biting at the bit there my friend.. was it something i said… you tit .

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    Mute Setrakian
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:23 AM

    The vast majority of people protesting against Irish Quango Inc have no affiliation with Eirigi or similar groups. Most are tax paying/ law abiding citizens who unlike the pro water charge crowd can see what’s happening to our people, our money & our country because we choose not to believe the lies of propagandist media outlets or this current regime of privateers & nepotists. The waste of police resources at the expense of all of us is a disgrace. On March 21st we will march again in greater numbers than before – peacefully. We have had enough of this govt; enough of their threats & enough of their private agendas.

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    Mute Cllr Brendan Ferron
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:10 AM

    It’s just getting pathetic at this stage. An area rife with anti social behaviour and the Gardai are concentrating on this nonsense.

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    Mute Gabbi Johnson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:50 AM

    So if Gerry Adams in a years time… as Tánaiste – is barricaded into his car by say Eirigi supporters for 2 hours… would you not expect the Gardai to act Councillor? and would it not be prudent for them to not wade in heavy handed causing a more serious disturbance – but examine the footage to see who the instigators were and then arrest prosecute accordingly?

    The area has a lot of anti-social behaviour and the nature of the aggressive protests on Joan Burton was just that… if you care about the issue so vehemently then use influence to ensure that protests to not denigrate into what happened so then the Gardai will not be forced to act.. blaming the Gardai for the actions of people breaking the law is quite remarkable. If these people who were arrested have cause for complaint they should go to the ombudsman.

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    Mute Cllr Brendan Ferron
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:42 PM

    If we put forward a manifesto before the next election and then proceed to break every promise we made then I would fully expect people to protest.

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    Mute Irish Sceptic
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:59 PM

    Its anti social behaviour the gardai are tackling

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:43 PM

    Hey Gabbi.. do you know what ‘denigrate’ means. You should find out; using words inappropriately makes you sound stupid…
    not to mention your steadfast refusal to recognise the very obvious political motivation behind the Gardai’s activities this week.

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:46 PM

    After your visit to dictionary.com, you might feel that I’ve denigrated your opinion or intelligence but I believe my criticisms are valid.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:38 PM

    Daffy can you provide proof that the arrest are politically motivated?

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 7:07 PM

    Don’t need to.

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:02 PM

    Judging by the comments here and elsewhere, it seems that public perception, both in Ireland and abroad, is very much that these arrests were completely politically motivated. As such, the burden of proof that they weren’t falls to the government spin doctors.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:15 PM

    So your not going to provide proof? Just saying its politically motivated isn’t proof, no matter how many say it.

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:34 PM

    Already pointed out, don’t need proof. When it comes to politics, public opinion is the only thing that matters.
    Furthermore, since I’m pretty certain you can’t provide proof that the campaign of arrests was not politically motivated, I think that on balance, that puts my argument in a stronger position.

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    Mute Ruairi Colton
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:04 AM

    This whole episode will backfire on burton. Why does she get specialist treatment…and dawn raids to arrest kids is the height of stupidity although its probably more sinister than stupid.

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    Mute Joe Sullivan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:13 AM

    Fascisti Pigs.

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:07 AM

    The contempt toward Joan Burton is growing with each ludicrous ‘arrest’
    I am proud of each person who was arrested, and indeed, everyone who protested.
    I am ashamed of this Vichy government, and I am ashamed of myself for voting them in.
    Never again..

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:13 AM

    This is going to backfire on Burton and Co bigtime. People can see that if you are a banker accused of flushing the country down the pan the Gardai make an appointment to arrest you but if you are a noisy protester with a water baloon then early morning raid by half a dozen of our finest Guards is the way to go, sends a message to the unwashed masses. like it or not this is how people will see this. A huge waste of police time and if they had the common sense to do a risk assessment of the situation they wouldnt have walked her into the situation.Wonder did any Garda management get a rap on the knuckles for this foul up? All this has achieved is that the next protests will be bigger and probably accompanied by a lot more water baloons!

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    Mute Jim O'Sullivan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:13 AM

    This is “Labours’s” way?

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 6:36 PM

    Its kinda 1930′s Frankfurt’s way.

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    Mute An Lámh Láidir
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:44 AM

    This is typical of the spineless policing Ireland is experiencing. I was assaulted last year and made a complaint about it and the ‘Garda’ in charge didn’t even follow it up even though I disregarded his advice not to press charges in the first place!!!
    There’s one law in this country for the rich and another one for the poor. Shame on the Gardai!!!

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:28 PM

    Did you go to GSOC and make a complaint?

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:45 AM

    In my opinion, the balance between human rights and police powers seems to be teetering on the brink of violation judging by this current arrest policy.
    Of course Burton has rights as do those who are being arrested daily but there appears to be a sinister side to this government’s approach to imposing its will upon the people. The IW quango has taken vast resources from state funds (our taxes!) which are being mismanaged and those who oppose this mismanagement are being targeted and smeared by unscrupulous, heavy handed policing. This backlash to the Jobstown incident is totally out of proportion to the alleged “crime”.
    This government has lost its mandate by breaking its election promises to the very people who voted it in and Kenny/Burton, to regain the respect of the Irish electorate, need to call a general election or end this police state approach immediately.

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:05 AM

    This is a CROMWELLIAN government they have broken the fabric of our society.

    54
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    Mute Maire Ben
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:56 AM

    This Government are turning the Gardai into Gestapo. Its like something out of an Orwellian novel. No wonder we are the laughing stock of Europe. What a complete numpty Enda Kenny is and as for Joan ……. words cannot describe this traitor!

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:58 AM

    “This Government are turning the Gardai into Gestapo.”

    Evidence?

    This is an insult to people who actually suffered from the atrocities committed by the Gestapo. In no way is arresting people who were involved in a potential crime that was recorded for all to see comparable to killing innocents.

    Perspective, please.

    “No wonder we are the laughing stock of Europe. ”

    According to whom?

    The echo chamber on here is getting more and more embarrassing.

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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:01 AM

    Judging by the Blueshirt supporters here, now we know why British Rule in the Pale had so many Irish supporters and collaborators.
    Clearly there is an Irish fetish minority that would relish a slip into a police state and Black and Tans back on the streets.

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:03 AM

    This STINKS to high heaven.

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    Mute John Michalski
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:25 AM

    My place was robbed a a while back. A huge hand print on the door where it was forced. Called the guard and they said they would be right over.

    Never showed, never rang, never contacted again!!

    Luckily I got a letter in the post a month later telling me they were fully investigating the crime!

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:46 AM

    Just a small amount of this ” due diligence” of policing by gardi in the Mary Lynch case would have ensured Mc Grath was locked up and unable to have carried out murder.. but neither victim were ” important” enough…

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    Mute Vannin
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:42 AM

    Definitly SFs fault (just thought I’d drag them into it as no-one else seems to has bothered this morning)

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:55 AM

    Don’t forget Islamic State.

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    Mute whynotme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:17 AM

    They’re recruiting 14 and 16 year olds now with micro-phones .

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    Mute whynotme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:18 AM

    *megaphones :)

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:58 AM

    When there were no arrests the thug brigade maintained that this was proof that the protests were peaceful. They seem to have changed their mantra.

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:28 AM

    Solny lions tea should take a law suit against you for making them look so stupid

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:17 AM

    Derek, you can also report the twitter account to Unilever. I’m sure a progressive Dutch company would love to hear about how a backwards conservative is using one of their brand images without consent.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:24 PM

    Thank god somebody is standing up for the rights of international food conglomerates.

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    Mute davedunne
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:15 PM

    I’m on the Barrys because of him. You all know that’s Patrick Lyons new account? That bloke from Norn Iron

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    Mute ptriley
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:20 AM

    Joan really sucks

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    Mute david verdon
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:42 AM

    Kangaroos have three vaginas !!

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    Mute Colm Byrne
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    Feb 12th 2015, 10:48 AM

    If they put as much effort into serious crime as they are into arresting and questioning protestors they might actually get something done.
    Im loosing respect for the gardai by the day

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    Mute Kieran Doherty
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:39 AM

    White feathers

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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:17 PM

    The new female bulldog in charge of the discredited police force is determined to let her political bosses that she’s up to the job.
    When will she change the harp on her underlings hats for a Swastika.?

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:51 PM

    Sean. At a guess I would say never…

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:23 PM

    This is a witch hunt by the government over a staged event to damage the anti water charges movement. The overreaction by the government and its use of the Gardai would put Hitler and the gestapo to shame.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:04 PM

    Nice Comparison, but I don’t think Hitler had any shame

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    Mute Joan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:25 PM

    Dave how could you even compare the two ? ?

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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:37 PM

    It’s reminiscent of pre-war Nazi Germany . This looks like a protracted effort to smear the anti water charges campaign, and the Government appear to be intent on waging a “class war”. The whole approach is ill-advised, and these provocative dawn vendettas should cease. The Guards continue to lose respect with this approach, and what will this campaign achieve? These dawn raids smack of dramatic showboating.

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    Mute Stephen Fagan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:18 PM

    21/03/2015

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:54 PM

    The Gardai and government would have been well aware of who was involved in this protest shortly after the event. The fact that these ” arrests” are only now taking place, shortly before another organised protest march, shows them for what they are. Politically motivated arrests for the purpose of discrediting the anti water charges movement, and to frighten people off protesting. It is a total abuse of power.

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    Mute big willy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:43 PM

    An army of guards just to arrest a schoolboy? Who do they think he is, the Six Million Dollar man?

    This behaviour will completely backfire on the government.

    See yous all at the next water march!

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    Mute Al Smith
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:22 PM

    The reason Joan went to Tallaght that day was strategic – she knew that there would be an angry reaction to her presence and that camera crews would film that and that would reflect badly on the water charge protesters,

    Now Joan is hoping that these arrests will lead to further violent outbursts by the water charge protesters will again make them look bad and alot of people will want to distance themselves form the anti water charge campaign,

    This actions by Joan are purely tactical and with the view to making the anti water charge supporters look bad to the general public,

    Joan is a complete out of touch heartless hag and will do anything to win,

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    Mute Joan Murphy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:32 PM

    Al , so it was all tactics and nothing to do with her being invited to the school for the graduation ?

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    Mute Al Smith
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:55 PM

    How many graduations has Joan been to before or since?

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:34 PM

    I’m wondering how many arrests were made on the individuals who brought this country to it’s knees I am talking about POLITICIANS / REGULATER / BANKERS / INTERNATIONAL FINANCE ADVISORS ? Anyone got any idea ??.

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:27 PM

    Re ATTACK AT JOBSTOWN:
    The old witch was sitting in her locked, comfy car, surrounded by gardai, chatting on her phone, reading her papers and “smiling”.
    I won’t apologise for either “old” or “witch”!

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:54 PM

    Ah but John it doesn’t matter how comfy she was. in your own words, she was attacked…

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:36 PM

    Yes by a water balloon.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:19 PM

    It doesn’t really matter what she was attacked with, she was attacked..

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 12th 2015, 8:21 PM

    @John Rabbett:
    Aah, John, you poor chap! Did you not realise that the hyperbole of my caption in capital letters was irony?

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    Mute Irish Sceptic
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:37 AM

    Well done the Gardai! If the situation was reversed and it was “water protesters” in the situation Joan Burton found herself in then they’d be screaming blue bloody murder, demanding arrests, resignations and tribunals of enquiry. Not so nice though when they’re being brought to account for your actions!!

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    Mute howzatme
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:52 AM

    Irish sceptic another sheep in the field

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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:53 AM

    Boo hoo hoo …. lads come on and quit the crying about being questioned before you normally get out of bed .

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    Mute the truth hurts
    Favourite the truth hurts
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:34 PM

    There won’t be half the effort put into investigation of the church shooting yesterday..political policing.

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:55 PM

    Can you provide evidence to your statement there….

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:09 PM

    That’s for the PSNI, not the Gardaí as it happened in Fermanagh.

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    Mute Irish Sceptic
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:56 AM

    Howzatme. Another delusional idiot.

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    Mute K.J. Lane
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    Feb 12th 2015, 11:16 AM

    Excellent news. Keep up the good work.

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    Mute big willy
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:46 PM

    He only threw a brick! As a lad, I smashed loads of neighbours windows with my football. My pocket money was witheld for the next few weeks, that was all, no signs of any guards or dragging me out of my bed at 7 in the morning

    Oh those were the days!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 12th 2015, 7:06 PM

    I wonder what Joan did to her seat after 2 hours of this…

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    Mute John Fergus
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:44 PM

    this is backfiring against the government. its galvanising public opinion against them. people are starting to see through this. however i feel this whole crisis has been engineered to take the public’s eye of the hsbc scandal and other banking scandals.

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    Mute Gwen Denny
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    Feb 12th 2015, 4:28 PM

    Yet how many people’s houses , cars etc were stolen this wk or people mugged and ” nothing can be done ” . It’s a disgrace

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    Mute Maurice Dodd
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:55 PM

    Anybody else sick of this added waste of resources by this woman?

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
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    Feb 12th 2015, 12:22 PM

    Parents. If you must protest like this, at least have the decency not to drag your kids into this, and risk them destroying their lives with a criminal record. In other words, don’t use your kids as pawns in pursuit of your own political beliefs. Let them grow up and make their own minds up as to whether or not they want to take such serious risks with their future when they’re old enough to do so.

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    Mute Al Smith
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:25 PM

    Odd you link protesting in Ireland with getting a criminal record – they have instilled the fear well in this one :/

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 12th 2015, 7:04 PM

    That is the best motivation for anyone to protest now, it has made me want to protest myself at the next protest. What a great motivator Joan is.

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    Mute 007
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    Feb 12th 2015, 9:03 PM

    Six guards each was it and a water balloon for everyone in the audience , the guards give out the haven’t enough body’s 2 enforce the the law but they have enough for this the hypocrites.

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    Mute Drew
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:59 PM

    17 down… Well done to the Gardai, hopefully they can gather enough evidence to press charges. How many more of them to round up?

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    Mute Ivorpabst
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    Feb 12th 2015, 5:11 PM

    Arresting a minor for throwing a brick ? That’s political policing !

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    Mute John Rabbett
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    Feb 12th 2015, 1:29 PM

    No oops, if there is enough evidence there to charge him for inside information, let him be charged. But I seriously doubt he’ll get any jail time for insider information…

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    Mute Thomas Mac
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    Feb 12th 2015, 3:14 PM

    That happened nearly twenty years ago – so I guess not ,John .

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    Mute Fox Trot
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    Feb 12th 2015, 2:20 PM

    Yawn

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