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JOHN BYRNE HAS been homeless and living in Dublin for the past 25 years.
He came to national attention in 2011 after he was filmed rescuing his pet rabbit Bernie from the River Liffey after someone had thrown it in.
The story of the rescue spread to national and international media, and John was honoured with a compassionate citizen award by animal charity Aran.
Back in 2011, John was photographed by RollingNews as he received the award.
This week – nearly seven years later – RollingNews photographer Sam Boal came across John living in a tent on the Royal Canal in Dublin.
John has just been donated a new tent and provisions by members of the Polish community, and is living on the canal with his friend Darl and four dogs.
Sam took a series of photographs of the two men and their pets. John told Sam that the pair had to contend with giant river rats where they were staying, but that they were grateful for the new tent.
Sam said that he was surprised to find John still homeless after all the political and media attention he had received in 2011.
“It was strange seeing him there. I was a bit shocked that he was still homeless. That time with the rabbit was seven years ago,” said Sam.
“He was there with his friend Daryl and I think they had four dogs.
“25 years is a long time to be homeless. And [John] said that except for Daryl all his mates have passed away.”
John said that Bernie the rabbit had to be put down. But he still lives with his dogs.
Sam said that as he took shots, John’s dog jumped into his arms, and that all the photographs he took of this were the most natural ones of the shoot.
“You could tell that when the dog came over to him and just jumped up into his arms. It was just so natural and I started shooting,” said Sam.
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So to get the nomination he veers wildly to the right. Now we have the slow lumbering move to the centre to grab the undecideds.
Slow!? He’s moved to the centre so fast his head is spinning, he’s saying all of his statements about immigrants etc were just suggestions!
In fairness it’s a good thing he is, at least it proves most of the crazy stuff was just for show and attention
It’s a sad day when Fox News is being referred to as ‘the centre’ of American political discourse.
Trump didn’t have to do this. Megan Kelly only has an audience when Trump is sitting g in front of her.
She’s also very hot!
I wouldn’t kick her out of bed for atin biscuits
Ah yeah, that’s what I want from a ‘news’ network – a pretty face to distract while I stomach all the poisonous lies designed to control.
I apologisemy my embarassing gender and it’s ins
insistencw on turning everything that involves a woman into an analysis of how sexy she is.
What ??
Your embarrassing gender?
Is that not a bit sexist?
And we’re stuck looking at Vincent Browne…!
@rob. Ever considered that she may feel the same about you? Surely you judge political commentators on their insight, intelligent remarks, ability to analyse situations and to handle politicians. I’ve never yet read a comment on Vincent Browne’s ridability factor.
That’s a shame Rob.
Everyone thought it was inevitable that you and Meg would end up as an item.
I’m sure she’s crushed.
“insight, intelligent remarks, ability to analyse situations”
We are talking about Megyn Kelley right?? The woman who claimed on live TV that Jesus and Santa were white. Hardly first class journalism.
And you wouldn’t ride her……????? why exactly?
Alister just commented (albeit in a subtle way) on Vincent Browne’s ridability…
Sorry mate, still not getting it.
OK you know how there are some women on the planet that you are not attracted to?? Well think of her as one of those for me. It’s really that simple, Not sue how you can’t get it. I’m the same way with Katie Hopkins too, You get that one?
Ahhhhhh you mean like Katherine Zappone!
Gottit.
Cheers!
Jesus and Santa are white. FACT
As is my Unicorn.. But other people have different coloured ones. That’s the beauty of fictional characters.
Yesterday night?
Ah go easy Áine, yesterday night was obviously a late one so the author is a bit worse for wear today morning.
I’m sure by the afternoon of the day that this is, all will back to normal.
He’ll make a fine politician. U-turns all over the place!!
And back tracking everywhere. Says what his followers want to hear and then….
Fox News need Trump a hell of a lot more than he needs them. They know a winner when they see one.
This is a “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” The ultimate symbiotic relationship. With Fox News backing him I think Trump will win. If he does, I hope his first order of business is to put an end to group rights and entitlements, sort out the PC culture which prevails at the the universities and colleges. Indeed, that’s where all the nonsense started. Sort out the Mexican border and stop arming Syrian “rebels”. There’s no such thing, just militias all of whom are as bad as each other. That would be a good start.
Well said Marg. Don’t forgot Trump is virulently opposed to TTIP and wants to audit the Federal Reserve. Imagine what would happen if hew uncovers grand scale criminality with that audit — the consequences that would have throughout the world? It would revolutionize the banking system and see an end to those illegal thieving banker bailouts that blight ours and other countries throughout Europe.
It’s all a big act folks. Ask yourself, why has Kelly and Fox News waited a week to broadcast the interview? It’s all about building hype and media attention.
This is not news, this is showbusiness, and Donald is the biggest star. And journalists and media executives know this.
Saw him being interviewed by Piers Morgan and he didn’t seem that bad. I think it was his strategy to be outrageous to get redneck vote. – Now he’s going all moderate on things. By election day a lot of people will have forgotten the earlier stuff
He’s not a republican, He only ran as one because they are easier to manipulate.
People that are voting for him are just as bad and crazy as he is.
Yes, that damned democracy is so annoying.
Yeah, imagine if that happened anywhere else, imagine if politicians here were awful, and treated vulnerable people terribly, and looked after their rich buddies and were all-round awful people, and the voters in that country democratically voted them back into office. They’d be awful stupid eejits right enough….
The anarchic side of me would love to see this cartoon character become president just to show what money can do…and what it shouldn’t do.
have your say