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Man jailed for life for murder of father with machine gun while dressed in drag

Christopher McDonald (34) was found guilty by unanimous verdict of the 2014 murder of Keith Walker in west Dublin.

SCC Rolling 7 Sasko Lazarov / Rollingnews.ie Sasko Lazarov / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Updated 13.39

A 34-YEAR-OLD Dublin man has been convicted of being the murderer-in-drag who gunned a man down with a sub-machine gun in a busy car park.

Christopher McDonald, from the East Wall area of Dublin, was found guilty of murder by unanimous jury verdict after a little over two hours of deliberation at the Central Criminal Court.

He had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith Walker (36) at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club car park on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla, on 12 June 2015.

The verdict was met with shouts and a number of people burst into tears.

One man shouted: “Scumbag junkie bastard, I hope you rot,” before Justice Patrick McCarthy warned that there should be no misbehaviour in court.

Before Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced McDonald to life imprisonment, the deceased’s wife Lorraine Walker and sister Michelle Walker told the court of the devastating impact the murder had on them and their family.

Lorraine described her husband as her soulmate and best friend. Childhood sweethearts, they had been together for 17 years.

Her family, she said, was normal and happy until the day she received a phone call to say that her husband and the father of her two boys had been “brutally murdered”.

She said one of the hardest things she has ever done was telling her children that their father was gone and would not be coming back. “The look on their faces will never leave me,” she said.

Michelle said her brother was the eldest of three siblings and his strength and love had helped the family cope with the loss of their mother in 2014.

She described him as a man of simplicity and humour, who could convert a room of strangers into a room of friends. He was a proud father and loving son who would not get to see his sons grow up.

Following those statements Justice McCarthy asked the convicted man to stand and told him: “I now sentence you to be imprisoned for life, as is required by law.”

Justice McCarthy also thanked the jury for their service and exempted them from further service for ten years.

Evidence

Keith Walker was shot dead in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club as he stood chatting with fellow pigeon enthusiasts.

He had arrived at the club at 5.31pm in a car belonging to his friend Jason O’Connor. He was carrying pigeons belonging to O’Connor and the pair planned to travel to Manchester that night ahead of a weekend of racing.

O’Connor made a statement to gardaí and was due to give evidence on day two of the trial but when he was called he lunged at the accused and was held back by prison officers and a garda.

After the jury was asked to leave the court prosecuting counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley said that McDonald had called O’Connor a “rat” and this was what sparked the spat.

As the trial continued, the jury was shown CCTV footage of a person hanging around the pigeon club car park from about 4.20pm, 40 minutes before Walker arrived.

This individual was not identified in court but the prosecution case was that it was McDonald, dressed in drag, waiting to carry out the hit.

Several witnesses said they saw a man dressed in women’s gym clothes in the area, carrying a handbag and wearing a long black wig.

One witness reported him to gardaí after she saw him hanging around a creche beside the pigeon club.

At 6pm CCTV showed Walker talking to club member Mark Kelly and at 6.01pm the hit-man entered through the main gate, pulled a gun from his handbag and opened fire before escaping the way he came.

Black wig

A post mortem would reveal that the victim was hit 18 times and died from bullet wounds to his head and body.

Four days after the shooting gardaí found the gun used to kill Keith Walker in a laneway at Sheepmoor Grove, about one kilometre from the pigeon club.

The 9mm calibre Makarov sub-machine gun was inside a brown, furry River Island handbag and alongside it were a black wig and a transparent latex glove.

Forensic testing showed that McDonald’s DNA was on the wig and glove, both of which also contained traces of firearms residue. This formed the primary evidence linking McDonald to the murder.

None of the witnesses who saw the shooter on the day were asked to identify McDonald and CCTV showing the shooting was not clear enough for identification.

But the prosecution relied on the evidence of two teenage boys who met the gunman on his way to the pigeon club.

The boys said they met a man dressed in women’s clothes, with long hair and carrying a handbag. They both noted that he had a cut over his right eye and was wearing make-up. He asked them for directions to the pigeon club and then walked away quickly, as though in a hurry.

When gardaí arrested McDonald in the early hours of the following morning, he had a visible cut over his right eye, matching what the boys described. Gardaí also said they saw what they believed to be make-up on his face.

In his closing speech to the jury defence counsel Bernard Condon told the six men and six women they must ask themselves what they truly know about the killing and whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that McDonald was the gunman in drag.

Following just over two hours of deliberation the jury reached their verdict.

Read: Mayo man admits killing elderly brothers but pleads not guilty to murder

Read: Cardinal Pell returns to Australia to face abuse charges

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    Mute Mike McCarthy
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:06 PM

    It suits the wider political agenda to destroy our Country one small town at a time, and one green field at a time.

    Europe would love to litter our little Isle with Wind Turbines and Fish farms to feed the Cultures of France Germany and the UK – they care nothing for the Irish Heritage and Culture – we have to look out for ourselves and if we fail to do so, we have no-one to blame but ourselves.

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    Mute De Badger
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:16 PM

    This country has lost its fish, lost its gas and any oil found , and with this will loose It’s wind because these pylons will be for exporting power abroad. We won’t own any of the wind farms big multinational energy companies will and this jobs will be lost farce is a smokescreen, and then we loose our water because that’s the end game. And all to line the pockets of the few, some country we live in. But we deserve it because we never complain.

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    Mute Glen
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:11 PM

    Much like the way the UK has no way of reaching targets set out for wind energy by the EU and has no intention of doing so either. It looks to Ireland to build these turbines and then export to them. How does the government see this? As a great opportunity to export and gain revenue. But the other side of the story is that the British do not want the queens country litter with pylons. So it’s up to Ireland to see which side of the argument it stands on. Do we want the turbines andl

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    Mute Glen
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:11 PM

    Much like the way the UK has no way of reaching targets set out for wind energy by the EU and has no intention of doing so either. It looks to Ireland to build these turbines and then export to them. How does the government see this? As a great opportunity to export and gain revenue. But the other side of the story is that the British do not want the queens country litter with pylons. So it’s up to Ireland to see which side of the argument it stands on. Do we want the turbines andlq

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    Mute Sir Charles Chattan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 10:59 PM

    Loose our gas and wind, that stinks!

    7
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    Mute Gráinne O'Meara
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    Jan 8th 2014, 1:49 AM

    Hear, hear.

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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:20 PM

    I have worked in the wind industy for some years now. We have to put a form of renewable energy in place as we cannot sustain burning fossil fuels for electricity. Putting them onshore is the “cheap” option for the developers at present. They should be pushing to put them at least 15km offshore but at the moment it is a massive investment and the costs are 2 if not 3 times higher to do this. Developers need the government to offer subsidies for this kind of investment, but again the government can’t afford this. If we dont put them onshore we are nearly solely dependent on fossil fuels for electricity. What do we do if we don’t put wind turbines up……maybe a nuclear power plant???????

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:29 PM

    James, Wind Energy is a complete con. You’re no different then someone selling Homeopathy. Nuclear Power is our only solution.

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    Mute Despicable You
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:34 PM

    “The reality for rural citizens is that we have been desperately betrayed time and again by the people we elect to protect our interests”…you got it in one…you keep voting these fools and criminals (Lowry) in and then complain about them..it’s like complaining that you burned your finger after putting it in the fire.

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    Mute Bill
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:35 PM

    Yes William I mean what could possibly go wrong with a nuclear power plant ?

    48
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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:37 PM

    I agree with 50% of your statement. Nuclear is the only sustainable energy at present. But with the crying the people are having over a few wind turbines going up could you imagine the protests there would be over a nuclear power plant being built in the country. The wind energy a con bit I cannot agree with. Most of these wind turbines have their costs paid back in appox 5 years. I have seen exacly how much electricity they produce in one day to a year and its quite a lot espicially when you consider the price per KWhr. But we are building renewable energy not sustainable energy.

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:41 PM

    James all of this energy that you speak of is to be exported to the UK, the argument about our own renewable energy is a valid one but the reason we are getting these turbines is because the British Government doesn’t want to blight their own landscape with them and sure the Irish Government don’t mind destroying our country for the sake of a few €uros!

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:43 PM

    Bill, about 50 people have been killed by Nuclear Power since it’s inception. So not much. It took totalitarian Communism and the largest tsunami ever recorded to destroy two of them. One NP plant replaces about 4,000 wind turbines AND can run 24/7.

    James, wind turbines don’t pay back their costs in 5 years, the stupid politicians do so using tax payers money.

    47
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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:01 PM

    Actually us paying our electricity bill every month pays them back, stupid politicians don’t pay my electric bill.

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:02 PM

    You completely neglected to mention that as wind turbines are an extremely unpredictable method of generating electricity that traditional fossil fuel power station still have to operate in the background, producing what I believe is referred to as spinning reserve. This then ensures that if the wind stops we won’t have blackouts. In reality the power plants are now running inefficiently as they are having to continuously fluctuate their output. So please don’t leave a comment suggesting wind energy is a viable alternative to fossil fuel when it’s not. When you add in the hundreds of tonnes of cement that goes into the foundations, the rare earth magnets in the turbine and the need for spinning reserve I’m yet to be convinced it’s even green at all. Because of the way people in your industry along with the government has treated people on this issue, communities have now educated themselves to this complete farce. The wind industry is just another method of enriching a group of insiders under the pretence of green energy. Wind energy is inefficient, expenses, unreliable, unhealthy, environmentally damaging to the landscape and costs anyone with an electricity bill unnecessary money. The governments of Croatia and Poland are no longer pursuing wind energy for the reasons outlined above. The people of Ireland will not allow the industrialisation of our landscape with windfarms, pylons and substations for no benefits whatsoever. You can take your snake oil roadshow elsewhere.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Nuclear power in this country. Ha ha. While it is the best option i just would not trust the people or companies involved in constructing it. The brown envelopes stuffed with money would be flying around all over the place. A complete meltdown in 3 years.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:12 PM

    James, the electricity bill contains a subsidy aka TAX, that the politicians forced on the electricity industry to pay for the con jobs that are wind turbines.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:13 PM

    Listen you clown, a modern NP plant can’t have a meltdown.

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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:16 PM

    Hi Hugh,

    You seem a little upset. But i never suggested that wind energy was a viable alernative to fossil produced energy. And you are correct that the grid has to be adjusted to allow for an expected influx of energy from a wind farm. They study forecasts and predict how much electricity is expected for the next few hours, days etc and put a plan in place for that. The cost(carbon foot print) of the energy to produce, install and run these turbines knocked back to zero after 2 years of running at an average production rate of 75 to 90 %. Now I work in the industry and have been in different positions for the last few years so I have quite a lot more knowledge on the subject compared to somebody who opened up Google and typed in wind turbines in the search bar. I quite like the term you used “snake oil roadshow”. Iwill use this term again when I’m going through the airport to go back to work and somebody from Ryanair asked me to purchase a credit card from them.

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    Mute Edward Malone
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:18 PM

    William you realise Fukushima is still in danger of a potential melt down, have you ANY idea what the damage would be to the pacific and North America (direction of prevailing winds)?
    It only takes one nuclear disaster to royally F things up, nuclear power is the easy option but not the smart one if we care about the long term future of this planet we all live on.

    26
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:29 PM

    Fukushima is not in danger of a “meltdown”. No matter what happens to Fukushima NOTHING will happen to the Pacific or America. The amount of radioactive material is tiny and would be easily absorbed into the trillions of tons of water in the sea. I presume you know the sea is already radioactive, in fact so are you? NP cannot affect the planet negatively, it can stop climate change which is a real risk as opposed to the non existent risk there is from NP. You live in an imaginergy universe that has no basis in reality.

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:59 PM

    Its quite obvious you do more than just work in the industry

    24
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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 3:02 PM

    James, your attitude is typical of all others in the industry when you’re responding to legitimate concerns. My views are not as a result of goggle searches, but from reviewing peer reviewed independent expert research. As this complete folly will affect me I took the time to look into it. Your industry is a Ponzi scheme, and subject to class actions suits all over the globe as well as Ireland. I don’t know if your comment about the airport was in someway suggesting that without wind power there is increased emigration, because if it was I would urge you to read the Deloitte report commissioned by the the wind industry itself which clearly shows that very few long term sustainable jobs are created.

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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 3:23 PM

    My comment in relation to the airport is because I currently work in Germany. Reason being I prefer working on offshore wind farms to onshore and the rates are higher paid than the UK sector offshore or on the onshore sector. And I will add even if they get planning and start to build the wind turbines over there I will not be returning to seek a job in Ireland.

    17
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    Mute Summoning Dark
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    Jan 7th 2014, 4:43 PM

    That is nonsense, they have turbines all over the place in the UK. Not everything is the Brit’s fault you bigot.

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    Mute anonymou5
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    Jan 7th 2014, 7:35 PM

    I also work in the renewable energy sector (building biogas plants)in the UK not at home in Ireland…why… Because planning is slow and expensive, locals object to every renewable project under the sun….grid connection costs are crazy, consultants fees are crazy.. One project I’v been working in ireland cost 250,000 euro without even getting planing yet, in the UK it will cost 10,000 for the same project.
    As for selling electricity to the UK…hello we have a tiny market, we have to export. The reason why the UK has little wind turbine onshore is because of wind speeds, go to Scotland and around coast it’s a different story, they also have a lot of solar farms. Ireland is a back ward, no to everything place…if these locals would get a cut of the projects they wouldn’t be long shutting up.

    17
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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 7:56 PM

    Please look at the wind atlas on the SEAI website. You will see we have the exact same wind speeds as the UK, with the exception of the extreme west being similar to Scotland. So if you’re in the industry and you maintain that the UK doesn’t have turbines for wind speed reasons, then the same is true for Ireland. The export plan is to put the monster turbines in the midlands, the part of the country with the lowest wind speeds of all, Genius.

    28
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    Mute anonymou5
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:15 PM

    I created several wind farm feasibility studies,

    1)I don’t use seai wind atlas, because it’s not accurate enough.I use readings from weather stations. Then I use wind speed anemometer combined to create a wind rose of the site.

    2) when I said there little wind turbines in the midlands of the UK. There is still more than Ireland has, and the wind speeds aren’t as good as Ireland.

    Germany, Denmark, holland and other flat areas of Europe (with wind speeds half of what Ireland can utilise) have enormous wind turbines and people don’t bat an eyelid… Ireland should embrace this technology, for once we are “THE BEST” place in Europe for it.. If only the locals would get involved and back these things,

    Anyhow I won’t waste by time with people who don’t want to listen to the truth… My Germany colleagues can’t understand why Ireland is so slow getting renewables going..I’m tired telling them why

    23
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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:24 PM

    Ahh, nice to see there is still people in the country that can except change and technology other than myself and let the country move forward. Ireland is still a few steps behind most European countries when it comes to renewable energy. I would have to agree with everything you have said anonymou5. 2 great minds think a like.

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    Mute anonymou5
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:33 PM

    Yes James, don’t get bogged down with nybim brigade, when you and I create renewable, sustainable energy, enabling Ireland to become energy independent, also creating local jobs for construction and maintenance. We can sit back when we are old and grey and be proud. The irony we will be producing energy for these d##kheads.. Keep up the good work and I wish you success..ps up cortoon!!!

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:40 PM

    There is growing resistance in Germany to turbines, both from communities and business leaders, due to the impact on the landscape and the increase in the cost of electricity, this is well reported in De Spiegel. Also Germany has setback distances of 1.2km to large turbines. We have 500m, which is the main reason for the lack of acceptance by communities. The main reason for the backlash to these plans is the manner in which the government and the industry are trying to railroad the plans through. In countries like Germany where they take things like the legally binding Aarhus Convention seriously there is as a result much better public acceptance. If that approach had of been followed in Ireland, there probably wouldn’t now be approx 100 windfarm, pylon community groups in the country. In saying all that, I would recommend the next time your German friends ask you about the situation in Ireland, give them a copy of Pat Swords Eirgrid submission on behalf of EPAW, (available online). Detailed accurate read on the why this whole issue is a total folly.

    39
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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:46 PM

    Don’t try and fudge the issue. This comment string is about windfarms and not all renewables. This is also not an NIMBY issue either. This issue effects all of us and needs to be openly debated, with fact based information and not the propaganda that is rolled out by the wind industry.

    27
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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:55 PM

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_offshore_wind_farms_in_the_United_Kingdom

    The above is a link to the list of UK offshore wind farms, for those who seem to think there aren’t any, or many. There is also a list of onshore ones if you care to look for it.

    Ooops, sorry, facts getting in the way again.

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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:57 PM

    Anonymou5

    ya there is a shower on here that cannot see change as a positive thing. If I could get the finance together I’d put a line of them behind my house and watch them spinning all day. I like you ps comment at the end too by the way.

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    Mute anonymou5
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:02 PM

    Hugh, on every project I’v worked on in Ireland, I have invited locals to an information evening. An open and frank questions and answers session. Each time one member of the locals would argue black is white and then the “them and us” row starts. That one person would set up a group and lead “the fight” just like the gentleman who wrote the artical.. That’s Ireland for ya

    15
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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:10 PM

    oh so you use airplanes James ? how much fossil fuel do they use? why not use a wind powered one if you hate fossil fuels so much ?

    Here’s another few questions for you you may be able to apply your expertise on :

    1) how much fossil fuel does an average wind turbine consume in a year and why do they need to use it ?

    2) how much concrete goes into an average turbine base and how is the concrete made ?

    3) where is the neodymium sourced and how is the waste material cleaned up after processing?

    4) which fossil fuel plant(s) have been shutdown as a direct result of wind power in Ireland ?

    5) what is the impact on conventional generators due to increased ramping to accommodate wind ? please specify CO2 impact and maintenance costs

    6) Where are the legally binding assessments for NREAP – SEAs, consideration of alternatives to wind energy , cost / benefit analysis, ensuring citizens rights in relation to public participation, access to justice and access to information

    7) lets say you have a system with 0% wind , the contribution by wind is 0. then you have a system with 100% wind , the contribution by wind is still 0 (because you cant convert the energy into power , its too erratic). Now, at what point does wind make its maximum contribution ?

    8) at what point in Ireland’s system does adding more wind become of no benefit ?

    9) how much did wind companies get last year for switching off their turbines ie constrainment payments ?

    10) Does the wind always blow somewhere in Ireland (hint: dont give me the spin answer – I have the figures in front of me for July 2013)

    11) Has wind energy brought the cost of electricity down in Ireland (gas imports avoided must take account of spinning reserve requirements which SEAI opted to not include and you must take from that figure costs in our bills both hidden and not hidden ie infrastructure costs, grid upgrades etc)

    I look forward to your reply. Nice to talk to someone here from an engineering background for a change.

    24
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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:15 PM

    Hi anonymous, why are you a nimby ? you need gas for your wind turbines but you are against fracking ? how do you intend powering your energy independent utopia without lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of gas.

    also, in a system with 100% wind , the contribution by wind is 0. so please advise how you are going to cook the dinner. (hint: your conscience might be bothered by using coal)

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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:19 PM

    “change is always positive”

    Hi James,
    please discuss this statement giving examples.
    Thanks
    Ray

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    Mute anonymou5
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:27 PM

    With my masters degree in energy management and several years experience in the renewable energy sector I would love to answer you ray, but I couldn’t be arsed as I have to go sleep now, 6am start

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:29 PM

    Think you might be waiting Ray for a response. By answering the points you raised James and Anonymou5 would have to explain the total farce their trying to promote. People trying to promote this crap seem to just rely on calling people NIMBY’s and saying they are against change which is not the case. I appeal to the boys to answer the points you raised, doubt they will as the emperor has no clothes.

    23
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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:30 PM

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/high-costs-and-errors-of-german-transition-to-renewable-energy-a-920288.html

    my god anonymous, this article seems to differ from your assertion about Germany’s renewables. how is this so ? isnt that strange ? sorry to bother you with a little nuisance like detail and facts. dont let them get in the way of your utopia. btw , what planet is that on ?

    “That’s when heavy oil and coal power plants have to be fired up to close the gap, which is why Germany’s energy producers in 2012 actually released more climate-damaging carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than in 2011.”

    22
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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:39 PM

    Hi Hugh,
    Believe me, there are a lot of German people who do not want wind farms.
    Ray

    23
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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 10:29 PM

    You have raised some excellent points there. And I will when I have time answer these points. But like my good friend anonymou5 we have jobs to get done tonight and tomorrow. There are wind turbines to be built here tonight in the German North sea to provide them with zero emission power to help reduce there carbon foot print. I don’t hate fossil fuels I just believe we use too much of them for electricity production. We will never see a 100 per cent supply of electricity from wind unless we have either nuclear or hydro power to fill the void. I’m sure the “against everything protesters” would be out in force against these other 2 options also. Now I shall bid all the people who commented here good night as I have work for doing. But it has been interesting reading all your above opinions and hopefully none of you will be sitting in my local when I’m home next week so I can relax over a pint and say well done James you have done your bit helping to save the world from global warming.

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    Mute Jim Higgs
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    Jan 8th 2014, 12:59 AM

    German fossil fuel use has gone up because of Merkel’s political decision to close nuclear power stations.

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 8th 2014, 8:42 AM

    The silence from the snake oil merchants is deafening. They really don’t like someone bringing up actual facts.

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    Mute Pauline Harney Keogh
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    Jan 8th 2014, 9:13 PM

    Not sure if your figure of 50 people dead as a result of nuclear power disaster is correct William…. What about all the people living with and dying from illnesses caused by the chernobyl disaster.
    An exclusion zone of of 1,000 sq miles was established after that disaster to protect people from the radiation is left. Imagine that happening here…. Goodbye Ireland..

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    Mute Stephen Sj O'Byrne
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    Jan 8th 2014, 10:38 PM

    Sorry but that is simply untrue – there is signficant and growing opposition to wind energy in Germany on the basis of cost and environmental concerns

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/wind-energy-encounters-problems-and-resistance-in-germany-a-910816.html#spRedirectedFrom=www&referrrer=

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    Mute John Pepper
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    Jan 9th 2014, 1:16 AM

    @ William. An Irish np plant could.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 9th 2014, 9:40 AM

    Pauline. 50 is correct and according to the World Health Organisation and EVERY other major scientific organisation there are NO people “dying from illnesses caused by the chernobyl disaster.”. 1000 sq miles is only 33 miles by 33. That problem was caused by the Communists, like lots of other problems. That Chernobyl killed and injured thousands is just a myth.

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    Mute Pauline Harney Keogh
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    Jan 9th 2014, 10:08 AM
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 9th 2014, 11:22 AM

    Pauline, that book you referred to hardly can be compared to a major report by the World Health Organisation which says the exact opposite, can it? The book was written by the founder of Greenpeace in Russia, hardly an unbiased individual. Greenpeace have been opposed to Nuclear Power since their inception, although several founding members have resigned over Greenpeace’s continuing opposition to Nuclear Power.

    Read this from one of the more famous founders of Greenpeace.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/14/AR2006041401209.html

    Lovelock says in the article above, “Thirty years on, my views have changed, and the rest of the environmental movement needs to update its views, too, because nuclear energy may just be the energy source that can save our planet from another possible disaster: catastrophic climate change.”

    The Greenpeace sponsored book claims, based on nothing whatsoever, that 1,000,000 people died as a consequence of Chernobyl by the simple method of assuming EVERYONE who died who was in any way associated with Chernobyl died from causes associated with it. That book is 100% discredited and regarded as garbage by the scientific community.

    The review of the book by M. I. Balonov published by the New York Academy of Sciences concludes that the value of the report is negative, because it has very little scientific merit while being highly misleading to the lay reader. It also characterized the estimate of nearly a million deaths as more in the realm of science fiction than science.

    So you’ve quoted a book whose conclusions are described as Science Fiction.

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    Mute Denito
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:05 PM

    NIMBYism. Pure and simple

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    Mute David unsworth
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:11 PM

    They should just remove all of the natives (culchies) and build what they like then. Them flea bags haven’t evolved yet.

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    Mute JamieKay
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:17 PM

    Wind turbines are only 30% efficient.they don’t generate power when there’s no wind and when it’s to windy they’re shut down as a safety precaution

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    Mute The Dr.
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:26 PM

    Apart from their efficiency, they’ve also got a short lifespan and huge maintenance costs!

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 3:48 PM

    Denito, please do some research before you make an uniformed comment. Anyway forget nimby ism this will effect everyone through your electricity, so it’s a national issue. If you actually look at the mountain of independent expert research you will see, there is no real benefits from this. There is also a lot of peer reviewed research on the negative health implications for some people who are sensitive to infrasound living in close proximity to turbines. Search Professor Alvin Evans or Chris Hanning, British Medical Journal. A good resource for all the information is the EPAW website. These are real concerns not NImby ism.

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    Mute Denito
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    Jan 7th 2014, 4:46 PM

    Well Hugh I would also have some reservations about wind energy but in the context of man-made global warming, which looks likely to cost untold trillions over coming generations, I can’t see how we can avoid renewables, including wind, becoming an important part of the energy mix globally.

    Protesters, such as the writer of the piece above, try to disguise the fact that they are acting purely out of NIMBY self-interest by listing off every counter-argument to wind energy that they can find when the reality is that they wouldn’t care a fig if the windmills were going in 50 miles up the road.

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    Mute Aunty Simmonite
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:24 PM

    There is no case made for these pylons as they will be used to export power to places who have decided not to destroy their own countryside with wind turbines and pylons. Nor has a case been made that they will create employment here after the few construction jobs run out. if new powewr lines were needed then the cost of burying them is an extra 3% on our bills which pales into insignificance with the subsides and carbon taxes that we pay out already. The sheer size of these pylons and their associated wind turbines is beyond the comprehension of the lay person, for Dublin dwellers think of Liberty Hall and then try to imagine something 3 times it’s height, then imagine what hundreds of them would look like in the Phoenix Park.

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Jan 7th 2014, 9:07 PM

    Two of the Pylon routes in question run through Special Areas of Conservation: the Comeragh Mountains and Slievenamon. Much work has been undertaken by Waterford CoCo in the development of tourism in the area, such as the recently launched hiking routes in the Comeraghs. South Tipp CoCo is also seeking to promote tourism in the Suir Valley, along the former Towpath on the River Suir between Carrick-on-Suir and Kilsheelan. Surely such initiatives would suffer were pylons to be constructed in either or both of the aforementioned areas?

    Why did EirGrid not consider an underwater power route from (a) Knockraha to Great Island via the Cork/Waterford coast or (b) from Knockraha to Dublin as part of its study area? Given that the company wishes to construct a 600-kilometre underwater inter-connector from Great Island to France, it appears incongruous that the same consideration would not be given by an Irish company for one of its proposed Irish projects?

    It has been stated on more than one occasion by both EirGrid and Minister Rabbitte that this power line is necessary for economic development. How then did the country prosper during the late 90s and into the mid-2000s when this route was not in place and full employment was achieved?

    Belgium has buried 80 per cent of all its cables according to MEP Brian Crowley Why has an exclusively overhead option been forwarded by EirGrid given what is now being carried out in other EU Member States?

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 8:26 PM

    Regardless of what side of the argument you are on, its important to have an informed debate on this issue. The plans for this country will dramatically change the landscape for generations, with several thousand 185m turbines, the corridors of pylons and substations to service them. Countries further along this path are experiencing many issues as a result of the proliferation of turbines. Putting aside the property devaluation, landscape issues, increase in cost of electricity for consumers, there is a a large body of evidence supporting health issues as a result of the infrasound generated by turbines. This has been well documented in peer reviewed studies along with the British Medical Journal. For that reason alone, this needs to be investigated. The draft guidelines recently issued by the department are completely industry friendly. One of the bodies responsible for putting the guidelines together is the SEAI. The chairman of the SEAI, Mr Brendan Halligan is also a director Mainstream Power, one of the companies wanting to erect thousands of turbines. Please look it up. As this is such a radical change to our country, we need an open, transparent, fact based debate and not just leave this up to vested interests like Rabitte and Halligan to decide what is best. The project needs to stand up on its own merits. A good place to start would be a comprehensive Cost Benefit Analysis.

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    Mute Kevin Landers
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    Jan 7th 2014, 11:03 PM

    He answers his own argument in the column. It is because planning laws have allowed one off houses all over the country that wind farms can’t be put up anywhere without someone being close by. In Germany, you would never find a one off house, only villages. This leaves plenty of room for the likes of wind farms.

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    Mute John Pepper
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    Jan 8th 2014, 12:08 AM

    I think there kind of cool looking. Wouldn’t mind seeing them out my back window at all.

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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 8th 2014, 11:12 AM

    John, please explain whats cool looking about tonnes of concrete being poured into the ground in a field ?

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    Mute John Pepper
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    Jan 8th 2014, 5:51 PM

    I think they look cool that’s all. What’s wrong with that. If I was buying a house and they were in view it wouldn’t put me. No need to get all wound up but now that I have explained myself your honour please explain why you don’t like them. Not trying to persuade you that you should btw. Each to there own.

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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 10th 2014, 9:18 AM

    I posted something here and its gone now ? Wind turbines attract bats and kill them. They also chop birds of prey in half

    http://www.epaw.org/multimedia.php?lang=en&article=b14

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    Mute John Pepper
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    Jan 11th 2014, 3:08 AM

    Every building that wants to stay standing for more than five minutes needs tonnes of concrete poured into a field. I believe in the building trade they are know as foundation’s but I may be wrong.

    Just think the turbines look cool.

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    Mute Ray Martin
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    Jan 11th 2014, 7:02 PM

    not so cool if you are bird or a bat

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    Mute Elaine Stanley-Mcgoldrick
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:20 PM

    If the landowners just say no to putting them on their land, then they can’t go ahead.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:31 PM

    ” landowners can now expect £40,000 a year “risk-free” for each large turbine erected on their land”. Yes, I can hear them say NO very loudly.

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    Mute James Flaherty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:40 PM

    Thats Bo”"ocks, 15000 to 20000 per year per turbine.

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:43 PM

    Somewhere around €20K is what I’ve heard. And most of the landowners are delighted by this but is it fair that one person prospers while everyone suffers because of these turbines?? If someone put in a planning application themselves to errect a 120 metre structure they’d be told where they could shove their plans but it’s okay now because the Govt. will make a few quid out of this one.

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    Mute Elaine Stanley-Mcgoldrick
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:43 PM

    I hope they read the small print. If the farmer wants to do anything with that land for example build a house, they have to ask permission from the turbine company and when the lease runs out the company walk away and leave it up to the farmer to get rid of the turbine. He will need to save his lease to pay to take down the turbine.

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    Mute Marcus Kiely
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:54 PM

    Landowners will have no say. There is a bill where it gives them the right of way to erect these structures on your land with or without your permission. Got this from an Eirgrid employee at one of their open days about this project.

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    Mute Pauline Harney Keogh
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:22 PM

    Yes they can… Its called a compulsory purchase order.

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    Mute Aunty Simmonite
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:29 PM

    The gearboxes of these turbines are last just 5-7 years instead of 25. When a machine reaches the stage where it is Beyond Economic Repair then it will be scraped our in the case of wind turbines just abandoned.

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    Mute David Burke
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:35 PM

    This man is a liar and will hopefully be sued. Nobody forced Ireland to choose a target of 40% of electricity from renewable by 2020. We chose that to meet the emissions targets we signed up for. The entire article is conspiracy bullshit with absolutely zero evidence.

    The Grid 25 program is to strengthen the Irish grid to deal with the wind capacity we are building. The proposal to build wind farms in the midlands for export of electricity is a totally different project and has nothing to do with grid 25.

    The author either doesn’t know what he is talking about or is being incredibly misleading.

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    Mute John Gleeson
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:30 PM

    Europe cares little for our little country,our long term future exists outside of the European Union and the sooner we realise that the sooner we can begin repairing the damage done to us by our “European Partners”

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:52 PM

    Leave the EU and have to abide by most European laws only without any input AND have to pay dues? Oooh I hope we can be as lucky as Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.

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    Mute John Gleeson
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:11 PM

    I mean leave Europe full stop

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    Mute censored
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    Jan 8th 2014, 3:43 AM

    We could tie some large chains to our island and enlist a swarm of otters to pull us away out into the Atlantic I suppose.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:11 PM

    “When is enough enough?”

    Those of us who cannot believe how much the CAP takes from the overall EU budget are in agreement with you there. But that’s the *good* Europe, right?

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    Mute David Burke
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:55 PM

    Which keeps useless farmers on the land and prevents young, well trained and ambitious farmers from having any chance of getting accesses to land. You drive around Ireland and see so many farms is terrible condition or doing nothing with the land and then see farms on the same land thriving.

    If someone can’t make a living as a plumber we say tough he mustn’t be a good plumber. If farmers can’t make a living at farming then there is something wrong with the world and it’s unfair. Never that farming isn’t the same thing it was 40 years ago and technology has moved on.

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    Mute Ken Connolly
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:43 PM

    I’m not saying this about the author as I know exactly nothing about him or the group he represents but in my experience many of our ‘rural citizens’ (/city commuters) and community groups are relatively new to their communities, contribute little and oppose all further development of their villages and surrounding country side once they have moved there.

    In some cases these nouveau rural types believe it is their duty to protect the views that their 500,000 bought them back in 2007. Even if their actions will deprive the struggling land owners and farmers in the area the only financial lifeline left to them.

    Again I am not saying this is the case with Mr Doyle or his group but I would like to hear the local IFA/farmers take on this.

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    Mute David Burke
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:46 PM

    They also complain when government services aren’t as good as in major cities where it costs a fraction of the cost to provide such services. Enjoy massive subsidies from the government and the EU at every possible level and then bite the hand that feeds them.

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    Mute Sean P
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    Jan 7th 2014, 3:46 PM

    David, rural population pay the same taxes so should be able to avail of the same services which often they don’t. In the two big freezes when there was no water folk outside towns were left to fend for themselves for up to 30 days in the first hard winter and up to 60 days in the second while having to watch interviews with women having a crisis because they could not wash their hair for two days.
    There were no army trucks delivering water like they did to housing estates.

    Not sure what massive subsidies you are referring to but the energy discussion as any resources discussion should not be turned into a city – countryside divide.

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    Mute David Burke
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:18 PM

    Billions of euro in subsidies to provides services to people in rural areas.

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jan 7th 2014, 7:07 PM

    We are all citizens of this country, everyone is entitled to the same service from our government. I take it mr Burke, you would have us living like peasants of old, drawing water from rivers with buckets, our homes illuminated with candles and transport ourselves across fields on horseback. And if we have some medical emergency we should be left die……

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    Mute censored
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    Jan 8th 2014, 3:44 AM

    It’s not a communist “utopia” Donal.

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    Mute byrondenis
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:50 PM

    It’s progress deal with it

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 7:50 PM

    If you bother to do any research you would see its no where near progress. Why do you think it is. Why do Irish people believe any line of crap there fed as gospel.

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    Mute Jim Higgs
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    Jan 7th 2014, 4:22 PM

    The paranoia is strong here. The Irish planning laws are mainly dictated by the Irish government.

    Wind farm regulations should be fair to the people who live nearby – it would be nice to have a comparison of the regulations in Ireland with those of Germany or Denmark. If you travel in rural Germany, there are thousands of wind farms – and there is nowhere near the amount of wind.

    Many people in the west are contemplating the reality of climate change with the recent flooding. Wind power is one way to combat this, but there is no simple solution. People seem to forget that we spend billions on foreign oil and gas. Surely it would be good for the economy to have an industry that helps with the balance of payment, provides employment, and provides money to rural communities in ireland?

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    Mute Simon Mc Keagney
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:20 PM

    “Research across Europe has shown definitively that when a wind farm is partly or wholly owned by people who live near it, there is far more public support for it. Denmark and Germany have high levels of community ownership of wind power schemes and consequently low levels of opposition to wind farms”

    http://www.thephoenix.ie/phoenix/subscriber/library/volume-31/issue-25/page-41-42.pdf;jsessionid=08CD27D8074388DE688DFA4EB145A9EE

    Not buying the health arguments, many of which have been discredited, but I do think Ireland has missed an opportunity to involve communities in owning their local energy, as is the law and the norm in other EU countries that have embraced renewables.

    Also lacks perspective on the billions Irish citizens pay for our dependance on foreign fossil fuels, yearly, costs which are only likely to continue to rise in the decades ahead. The EU is really not the enemy here- it is Ireland’s own national issue for failing to grasp the need for a bottom-up approach to renewable power. Germans, Danes have fought tooth and nail to keep their turbines. And I won’t even touch the issue of climate change, which was completely ignored in this piece.

    Fracking on the other hand, in your back garden, in say, Leitrim- might be something you could consider protesting about http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0201/311744-fracking/

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 3:56 PM

    Simon, you comment is full of inaccuracies. German industry group equivalent to IBEC is lobbying the government there to reverse the rush for wind power as it’s making power to expensive and them uncompetitive. The Danes have a compensation scheme in place to compensate people who have turbines built near them. I have read extensively on the health issues, I ‘m not aware of any that have been discredited, the wind industry just says they don’t exist, but the would say that.

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    Mute David Burke
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:20 PM

    Hugh you are conspiracy nut.

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:50 PM

    David everything I said there is factually correct. I have done a large amount of research on this study as I’m part of a local community group opposed to the plans. The facts in this case all stand up on there own, removing any need to exaggerate or embellish them.

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    Mute censored
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    Jan 8th 2014, 3:45 AM

    Research on the internet right? Watch out for the illuminati Hugh.

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    Mute Sean P
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:59 PM

    I have lived abroad for a number of years and have seen the installation of individual, smaller scale types (65 m high) to the really big guys such as the ones lining Rotterdam Port.
    I can’t help thinking what impact not only the pure existence will have (and having visited friends last sunday who live outside Shercock in Cavan you feel like you’re in teletubby land) but the logistics of building them and transporting the individual components.
    If you looked at the transport vehicles whose loadbeds are extended to up to 60 meters then please someone tell me how these will be able to pass through the villages and Xroads and on to the sites?
    There’ll be a lot of demolition and re-building going on and that won’t be done in a few month’s work.
    For a bit of fun, why not google “logistics transport wind turbines”.

    Nuke Power as an alternative?
    No, thank you.

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    Mute Tim Clifford
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:31 PM

    Bertie-Ahern-like contempt???

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    Mute Alan Dunne
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    Jan 7th 2014, 4:03 PM

    The sensible thing to do was put it under the new roads that were built in the boom. Typical of this country no forward planning why do we even have a census in Ireland if they can’t plan ahead.

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    Mute Paddy Murray
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    Jan 7th 2014, 5:10 PM

    Then if something goes wrong, you have to dig up the road…. brilliant!

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    Mute duisigheire
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:41 PM

    I’m liking this approach…. lol Good on that person

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=264045437079711&set=a.255092197975035.1073741830.243779782439610&type=1&theater

    well worth a share folks,

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:01 PM

    The irony of a group calling themselves ‘environmental’ protesting against renewable energy…

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    Mute David Burke
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    Jan 7th 2014, 2:43 PM

    As long as the energy doesn’t come from near them, or under them or isn’t turned into electricity near them or effect them in any way, shape or form they are in favour of modern comforts.

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Jan 7th 2014, 7:40 PM

    Our countryside has been destroyed by one off houses. They litter the countryside.
    But… People benefit from these one off houses.
    Similarly people will benefit from wind turbines.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Jan 7th 2014, 3:49 PM

    R A B I T T E.

    The Journal and Mr Doyle are being neither clever nor funny by referring to the minister as Rabbit.

    Mr “Dull” does his argument no favours with such childish carry on.

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:56 PM

    Rabbitte is how it’s spelled. Always thought he was a bollox though

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    Mute censored
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    Jan 8th 2014, 3:46 AM

    Rabitte is how it’s spelled and bollox is how it’s pronounced.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jan 8th 2014, 1:34 PM

    http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/index.php

    The above is a link to UK power generation from all sources. It’s not quite real-time but is updated very frequently. It is quite interesting and, as it’s not published by any lobby group it is factual. Worth keeping an eye on the wind power numbers over time. You will notice there is also a meter for Irish input to the UK grid. Last time I checked it was negative.
    Have fun.

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