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'The #JobstownNotGuilty social media campaign was absolutely necessary'

TD Paul Murphy writes candidly about the “relief, gratitude, anger and sadness” that accompanied the ‘not guilty’ verdict in the Jobstown trial.

SILENCE DESCENDED as the packed court room waited for the verdict. “Not Guilty” – the court erupted in joy. Eleven more “Not Guilties” came thick and fast as each and every charge against the six remaining defendants was rejected unanimously by the jury.

Relief, gratitude, sadness and anger came upon me quickly.

Relief that this two-and-a-half-year ordeal was over.

Gratitude for the jury which, in effect, defended our right to protest and for our legal teams who so comprehensively demolished the prosecution case.

Sadness that Philip Preston who would have been on trial with us had tragically died before he too could be found not guilty.

Anger at the Gardai who, as Judge Melanie Greally said, provided “testimony describing events that were not borne out by the footage”.

All the defendants have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and relief from people across the country and even around the world. For many, this has opened their eyes to what could in my view have been perceived as political policing, had the result been different, and also the potential for a gross miscarriage of justice.

Paul Murphy court case Ken Purcell, Scott Masterson, Paul Murphy, Michael Murphy, Ciaran Mahon, Frank Donaghy, Michael Banks (left-right) among supporters after the 'not guilty' verdict at Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

The reaction of sections of the mainstream media could not be more different. The ‘paper of record’, the Irish Times, couldn’t bring itself to have a frontpage story about the fact that the defendants were found not guilty. Instead, they led with a story about my #JobstownNotGuilty tweets. Their editorial featured, not a call for a public inquiry into the decision to pursue false imprisonment prosecutions, but a comment that those who used social media to comment on the trial have placed “jury trials under strain”!

Other media outlets attempted to redo the trial, forgetting that a jury had seen everything there was to see about the protest over nine weeks and had unanimously decided we were not guilty. On multiple interviews, I was asked whether I regretted the verbal abuse that Joan Burton had been subjected to.

On one, I answered back simply – “Well, do you regret it?” – because just like the presenter, I, like the vast majority of people present at the protest, wasn’t engaged in any abuse and wasn’t responsible for any abuse.

The need for the #JobstownNotGuilty campaign

The need for the #JobstownNotGuilty social media campaign is ironically proved by the actual focus of the media. The reporting from the court was generally reasonably accurate on RTE, but looked to me to be sometimes biased and one-sided against the defendants in other outlets.

Our social media reports were needed to give people outside the court a genuine sense of what was happening in court every day and what we were going through. The notion that it was aimed at influencing the jury is demeaning to a jury who sat through the evidence for nine weeks and ignorant because all of Solidarity reporting covered only what was heard while the jury was present. In reality, it’s a distraction designed to take away from the real story here – the vindication of the defendants.

This is not over

This is far from over for us. We want answers about where the decisions were made inside the Gardai and the office of the DPP to pursue these ultimately doomed prosecutions. The only way we’ll get that is with an independent public inquiry, not led by the Gardai.

A perverse situation currently exists where the only person convicted of false imprisonment is someone who was 15 years old on the day. He was convicted on the same Garda evidence that was ultimately rejected by the jury. Unfortunately, his was a judge-only court. He is appealing and if there is any justice, I believe his conviction should be overturned.

The remaining 11 defendants who have trials starting in October and next year now face an uncertain situation. It is clear that the entire investigation process was flawed – it seems to me now that this investigation was designed to gather evidence only to obtain our conviction. How can further prosecutions based on that same investigation proceed?

The defendants of this case and upcoming cases will be gathering at 2pm at the old Central Bank on Dame Street tomorrow. We encourage all supporters to come along to send a clear message – drop all the charges now!

Paul Murphy is a Solidarity TD for Dublin South-West.

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94 Comments
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    Mute George Wakefield
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    Jan 24th 2016, 7:24 AM

    When in Rome…..No- ditch that comment. This time Rome should do what the rest of Europe has done: Equality for all!

    105
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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:47 AM

    No roaming hands now!

    11
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Jan 24th 2016, 11:06 AM

    They should check out depictions of homosexuality in their ancient Roman mosaics, statues, paintings…

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    Mute T Beckett is back
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:11 PM

    Come on Italy’s the gayest country in the world….. Well after Brazil.

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    Mute Eddie Nugent
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:53 PM

    i though we were,

    1
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    Mute Richard Cheney
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:11 AM

    Catholics,giving everyone a pain in the face since 400AD.

    69
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    Mute T Beckett is back
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:08 PM

    I think you’re thinking of Christianity, idiot.

    It’s amazing how many people are incapable of knowing the difference. A lot of Northern loyalists are the same, and that’s no compliment.

    It’s funny the way when Protestants are homophobic they’re “Christian”, yet when the AFP refer to these Italians as Catholics.

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    Mute Richard Cheney
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:24 PM

    Nope,if I was thinking of Christianity I would have said Christians,from the article; ‘the self-styled ‘Family Day’ organised by mainly Catholic groups…’ You’re suggesting Italy is a predominantly Protestant country,either that or the structure of your comment is extremely poor and unintelligible.

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    Mute CMac59
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:38 AM

    The Christian tradition is an essential part of European civilization. Homosexuality is not in the natural order of things and pretending so is to lie. They can live their lives quietly like us all, no need to parade themselves in our face all the time. This fixation with gays and trans is all mist unusual.

    44
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    Mute Gavin Lawler
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:44 AM

    Tell that to the Muslims and other religious orders. Perhaps you should worry more about your own dysfunctional religion where abuse has been covered up for years than the private lives of LGBT people. It’s 2016, live and let live

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    Mute John Ward
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:50 AM

    @CMac59: You need to read some books without pictures.

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    Mute Dell
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    Jan 24th 2016, 10:00 AM

    I think you are a little confused the reality is that Christianity is not in the natural order of things and pretending so is to lie. Christians can live their lives quietly like us all, not to parade themselves in our face all the time whilst trying to indoctrinate new generations through our school system. This fixation with sky fairies and zombies is most unusual.

    52
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    Mute David McDermott
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    Jan 24th 2016, 10:41 AM

    There are recorded instances of homosexuality in Europe before Christianity so technically the gays predate your made up religion. Bye bye

    42
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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Jan 24th 2016, 10:54 AM

    Indeed. Didn’t the gay roman soldiers take up a young boy

    6
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    Mute David McDermott
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    Jan 24th 2016, 11:10 AM

    Actually it would have been a Greek soldier and technically a straight one at that as he was most likely married.

    19
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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jan 24th 2016, 12:23 PM

    CMac59, homosexuality is found in more than 1500 species, homophobia only in one, so, tell me again about the natural order of things

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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 4:28 PM

    @CMac59. Replace “homosexuality” with the word “priesthood”. There now, that’s fixed it. Dont mention it.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:18 AM

    No as usual Jimmy you got it wrong. It was Roman Pedophilies, Hebephilies and Ephebophilies that took up young boy’s. So sorry for you that the Irish are a well educated people and can tell the difference. It must be a really difficulty for those of you dedicated to the homophobic agenda.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:36 AM

    @ Cmac. The Christian tradition is an essential part of European historical barbaric treatment of lgbt people. Homosexuality is, always has been and always will be the natural order of things along side hetrosexualty and pretending otherwise is to lie. The religious can live their lives quietly like us all, no need to parade themselves in our face all the time. This fixation by the church with with gays and trans is really freaky.

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    Mute Eddie Nugent
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    Jan 25th 2016, 2:08 PM

    David you need to calm down a bit, your a bit to much out there , you dont need to attack everyone , the internet can be a dangerous place.some of the older hacks like Larissa and JJSP can give you a few tips, try to express yourself without offending those, who might take umbrage around religious and personal matters.

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    Mute Eddie Nugent
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    Jan 25th 2016, 2:12 PM

    JJSP enjoying your tread, well debated even gave you a thumbs up, living my life quietly, i like the concept

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    Mute Ewan Scott-Douglas
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    Jan 24th 2016, 10:29 AM

    The Pro-Vatican lobby are going to be awful on this one. They lost Spain and ireland, this is the last country where they think its still acceptable to repress LGBT people

    41
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    Mute joocy_froot
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    Jan 24th 2016, 11:46 AM

    Hi Jimmy. I think you’re confusing schizophrenia with split personality disorder (although it’s called dissociative identity disorder these days). To equate either of these with transsexualism is way off the mark, transsexualism is not a mental illness. I can only imagine what being transgender is like (and what reading comments like yours must feel like for anyone struggling with their gender identity), but just because I have no first hand experience of it doesn’t mean I’m about to write off anyone who does as being “crazy”. A little empathy wouldn’t go astray here.

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    Mute Ewan Scott-Douglas
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    Jan 24th 2016, 12:19 PM

    Eh?

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jan 24th 2016, 12:30 PM

    My guess is, there’s been a hateful comment removed, Ewan

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    Mute joocy_froot
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    Jan 24th 2016, 1:20 PM

    Jimmy’s comment was removed.

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    Mute T Beckett is back
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:16 PM

    Well Ewan, problem with that theory is in Protestant countries there is no “pro-Vatican lobby”, yet, for instance in the UK you have Bnp, daily mail, orange order, members of the upper house who are loudly Protestant and fervently against gay rights.

    This is the same misinformation the media spun years ago when they blamed the Vatican for Africans not using contraception, only to have it pointed out that the Africans they were referring to were predominantly Muslim or Protestant!

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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:34 PM

    @T Beckett. Except you are ignoring the official advice from the Vatican. In Kenya – where an estimated 20% of people have HIV – the church condemns condoms for promoting promiscuity and repeats the claim about permeability. The archbishop of Nairobi, Raphael Ndingi Nzeki, said: “Aids… has grown so fast because of the availability of condoms. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/09/aids

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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:39 PM

    @T Beckett. More recently, In Pope Benidicts book it’s written : “In the book, the Pope says that condoms are “not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection”. The Pope’s attitude towards homosexuality and artifical contraception has not shifted, with other passages in the book reaffirming the Vatican’s opposition to both. The Roman Catholic Church’s traditional opposition to contraception has led to the Vatican being heavily criticised for its position in the context of the Aids crisis. The book – Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times – is based on interviews that the Pope gave the German Catholic journalist, Peter Seewald, earlier this year”…….. any comments ? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11821422

    5
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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Jan 24th 2016, 6:19 PM

    Yes my comment was removed, despite not being abusive in any way. There was a book written recently called the Silencing How the left are killing free speech. The Journal are instruments of the silencing she writes about

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jan 24th 2016, 6:30 PM

    Aww, poor Jimmy loudly complaining being silenced while exercising his right of free speech, victim complex much?

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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 6:36 PM

    Play the ball larissa.

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    Mute Dell
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:14 PM

    Jimmy you said something about transsexuals being mentally unwell and likened this illness to skitzophrenia.. personally I think they should have let the comment there so people could see the kind of ignorance people from the LGBT community deal with daily.

    8
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:41 AM

    Jimmy Mc make an non abusive comment on a lgbt related article. Now that would be a first. It would appear that it is his favourite pastime.

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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:48 AM

    @Dell. You serious cause that’s not right and absolutely it should be deleted. I have a close family member with schizophrenia and it has had a devastating effect on the family. What an ignorant simpleton and I still wouldn’t wish it on any of his.

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    Mute Cathal O'hÁodhagáin
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    Jan 24th 2016, 7:29 AM

    The last bastion of power of the Catholic Church in Europe?

    38
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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 4:25 PM

    Most of whom would personally wish for and accept this change, happily. Well according to the former senior vatican priest Fr Charamsa anyway. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34654581

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    Mute John Joe Collins
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    Jan 24th 2016, 7:03 AM

    Good morning everyone jaysus its great not being hung over for a change and having a few extra 50s in me pocket…

    30
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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:48 AM

    You should get a bank account, they are great too

    16
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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 5:29 PM

    The Vatican bank will wash those at the minimum rate Joe.

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    Mute Gerry Dunne
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    Jan 24th 2016, 2:27 PM

    The vatican is the biggest hypocrisy in the world, it has many gay clergy living within its walls .Its just a place of delusion and denial and has no place in a modern society.

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    Mute P-anti matter
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    Jan 24th 2016, 4:32 PM
    1
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    Mute CuzzyRah
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    Jan 24th 2016, 2:08 PM

    Italy is not a Western European nation, she is Southern.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:41 PM

    And caused a big Earthquake…

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:43 AM

    Does it upset you Michael?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 26th 2016, 5:07 PM

    Are you mad??? lol.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 26th 2016, 11:45 PM

    Not at all. Judging on your usual commentary on anything to do with gay people possibly getting any form of rights it seems to upset you. I am sure you are more upset then you are letting on. How dare us nasty gays even suggest that they should have the same rights as everybody else. And all that.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 29th 2016, 10:52 PM

    I have nothing against any person, just how that person treats others as well as calling a turnip a turnip.
    What is it with you trying to put words into my mouth.
    Is everyone who doesn’t agree with you, a label you use on them in order to say your right?

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:13 AM

    You Just don’t get it Michael do you? You don’t get a say in who I or any other LGBT person is. We exist get over it . Thankfully at least here in ireland you don’t any more get a say in the rights of gay people. In a nutshell Michael your agreement is not required for us to exist or have our rights afforded to us. And that is not to put words in your mouth That is calling a turnip a turnip. And to call a turnip a turnip once more. Your constant negative disgusting commentary on here about lgbt people is and is encouraging to others horrendous treatment of lgbt people.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 31st 2016, 2:25 PM

    You Just don’t get it James, it is called debating but god forbid anyone who questions anything or debates it in your world, hay?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 24th 2016, 9:43 PM

    Rome in the 90s had a big trouble with HIV positive Priests…

    1
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:44 AM

    What has HIV positive priests got to do with gay rights.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 26th 2016, 5:08 PM

    As they were gay?

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 26th 2016, 11:36 PM

    So what. What is the connection? I had the flu last week and I am gay. Will the flu half any any bearing on my rights as a gay person.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 29th 2016, 10:49 PM

    Who people are leads to what people do or do you not agree?

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:15 AM

    “Who people are leads to what people do or do you not agree?” That statement makes no sense in relation to this conversation. Please do explain.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 31st 2016, 2:26 PM

    It is called selective blinkers lol.

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