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US senator and former comedian accused of kissing and groping woman without consent

Leeann Tweeden also accused Al Franken of posing for a photo with his hands on her breasts as she slept.

MINNESOTA SENATOR AL Franken apologised today and faced a likely Senate ethics investigation after a Los Angeles radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour.

Leeann Tweeden also accused Franken of posing for a photo with his hands on her breasts as she slept, while both were performing for military personnel two years before the one-time comedian was elected to the Senate.

Tweeden posted the allegations, including the photo, on the website of KABC, where she works as a news anchor for a morning radio show.

Tweeden said today that Franken was persistent, and “every time I see him now, my hands clench into fists.”

Still, she said she has no reason not to accept his apology, and is not calling for an ethics investigation or for Franken to resign. She told a news conference in Los Angeles that she came forward hoping to inspire others to tell their stories.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the allegations “troubling” and said he hopes and expects that the Senate Ethics Committee will investigate.

“Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated,” Schumer said.

Franken’s fellow Minnesota Democrat, Amy Klobuchar, said, “This should not have happened to Leeann Tweeden. I strongly condemn this behavior, and the Senate Ethics Committee must open an investigation.”

Franken initially released a brief statement in which he apologized but questioned Tweeden’s recollection of his behavior during their rehearsal for a skit.

In a longer statement this afternoon, he again apologised while maintaining that he remembered the rehearsal differently.

Sexual Harassment Franken Pablo Martinez Monsivais / PA Images Pablo Martinez Monsivais / PA Images / PA Images

“While I don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women’s experiences,” he said.

Coming from the world of comedy, I’ve told and written a lot of jokes that I once thought were funny but later came to realise were just plain offensive.

Of the photo, Franken said: “I look at it now, and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn’t funny. It’s completely inappropriate. It’s obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture.”
https://www.facebook.com/senatoralfranken/posts/1553158881436655

Senate Democrats reacted swiftly and with one voice to the allegation that came as Republicans are grappling with allegations of molestation against Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore in Alabama.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has said Moore should step aside, quickly said the Senate should look into Franken.

“With all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter,” McConnell said.

Franken said he welcomed the investigation.

Some of the more forceful statements came from the Senate’s Democratic women.

Claire McCaskill of Missouri said she was “shocked and concerned” at the allegations.

“The behavior described is completely unacceptable. Comedy is no excuse for inappropriate conduct, and I believe there should be an ethics investigation,” McCaskill said.

Patty Murray of Washington state said she was glad Franken had apologised but “that doesn’t reverse what he’s done or end the matter”.

Tweeden told The Associated Press that Franken wrote a skit for the pair that was filled with “sexual innuendo”, and that he had brought a woman’s thong as a prop that he waved around during their performance.

Part of the skit included a kiss, she said, and he insisted they practice during a rehearsal despite her protests.

“We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth,” she wrote.

The photo that she included was taken on the trip home from Afghanistan.

Franken is shown grinning and staring at the camera while reaching out as if to grope Tweeden’s breasts as she sleeps. Tweeden said she didn’t discover the photo until she returned home.

Sexual Harassment Franken Franken with Tweeden Staff Sgt. Patrick N. Moes / AP Staff Sgt. Patrick N. Moes / AP / AP

Speaking on her radio show this morning, Tweeden said she didn’t come forward with the allegations sooner because she feared her career, including a stint as a swimsuit model, would lead others to discount her story.

“I felt belittled. I was ashamed. I’ve had to live with this for 11 years,” she said on-air. “Somehow it was going to be my fault. It was not going to be worth the fight.”

Franken is a longtime comedian and Saturday Night Live writer who won a Minnesota seat in the Senate after a lengthy recount in 2009.

He drew criticism during his first Senate campaign for joking about rape while discussing a sketch idea during his days at NBC-TV. Franken said then that he regretted some of the things he had written, and said he respected women “in both my personal and professional life”.

Franken is the latest person swept up in sexual harassment allegations that have mushroomed since Hollywood figure Harvey Weinstein was hit with multiple allegations.

Tweeden said the surge of people coming forward with their own experiences of sexual harassment or assault encouraged her to go public with her account.

Read: Mel Gibson on sexual harassment scandal: ‘Your heart goes out to the victims’

Read: Three men and drugs worth an estimated €400k seized in Dublin 8

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52 Comments
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    Mute Connachtfan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:30 PM

    What is the world coming to…

    374
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    Mute Christy Nolan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:50 PM

    the politicians have made it this way

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:58 PM

    In the name of f*uk!!

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    Mute Jimmyjoe Wallace
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:58 PM

    It’s always been this way.

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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:01 PM

    there is just more news reporting now

    139
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    Mute Derek Murphy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:03 PM

    Christy, you an expert on Japanese politics? Please expand. Inform us all.

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    Mute Derek Murphy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:03 PM

    Christy, you an expert on Japanese politics? Please expand. Inform us all.

    78
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    Mute Mally Wooney
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:10 PM

    Enlighten us all Christy. Fool

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    Mute Malachi
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:18 PM

    Politicians make workers stab disabled people en masse with knives?

    What politician has this ideology?

    69
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    Mute Fluffer TheCanary
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:20 PM

    i think that was in FG’s last election manifesto no?

    53
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    Mute Derek Murphy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:32 PM

    I think what he’s getting at is that this attack is linked to water charges. Right Christy?

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    Mute Devlin
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    Jul 26th 2016, 12:13 AM

    the fact christy got 170 reds says a lot looks like people still believe the government loves them enda kenny loves you people

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    Mute Malachi
    Favourite Malachi
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    Jul 26th 2016, 12:18 AM

    No, it means people aren’t stupid. Politicians aren’t to blame for mass knife attacks on disabled people, that’s just a typical “x goes wrong, politicians must be to blame”.

    Politicians are to blame for a lot of things, we can safely excuse them in this case however.

    45
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jul 26th 2016, 6:49 AM

    This is kenny’s fault. it’s the water charges what caused it

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Jul 26th 2016, 8:25 AM

    @Devlin
    Logic fail.

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    Mute Oleksandr Savitskyy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:38 PM

    This world is going nuts. Sorry for being pessimistic.

    117
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    Mute John Reese
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:05 PM

    The world always was nuts.

    72
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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:07 PM

    With the 24/7 instant reporting it just appears to be more nuts

    74
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    Mute Ben Smith
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:13 PM

    History informs us that humans have always been stupid, violent and cruel, but relatively speaking this is perhaps the most peaceful in human history. The only difference now is that we have 24 hour news media that thrives on fear and sensationalism.

    71
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    Mute Cosmo Kramer
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:40 PM

    Two world wars would tell us the world has always being like this.. It wasn’t very long ago Northern Ireland wasn’t on any tourist maps…

    35
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    Mute Tony Lynch
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:56 PM

    I’m getting under the bed and staying there untill mankind sortes it self out……looks like I’ll be there for a while

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    Mute Oleksandr Savitskyy
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    Jul 26th 2016, 12:24 AM

    @Ben. I Agree with you but there is more. Robots and artificial intellect are coming to take away jobs (no kidding) look at self check-out terminal in Tesco (the easiest example), 10 yeas ago there was person working in place of 2 self-check outs. Terrorism is on the rise, psychos attacks are on the rise as they have as you said 24/7 access to any info on Internet. The middle class is getting poorer and degradation than voting for super populists and so on. I think this informational revolution is a bit hard on people’s brains.

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jul 26th 2016, 7:02 AM

    driverless cars trucks and busses will lead to mass unemployment. 30% of workers are drivers. on the up fide the luas drivers will be on the dole queue

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    Mute Bobo Delaney
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:36 PM

    Why the fu#k would someone want to do that… The fear this mongrel would have caused these people. Hope he dies a slow death

    115
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    Mute Lizzie Birdsworth
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:16 PM

    Bobo they could beat him to death with has foam flip flops that would be a slow death.

    20
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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:28 PM

    Japan has the death penalty and it’s one of the more “cruel” ones in so far as your execution date is not set and your only told the morning it’s to take place. Prisoners can spend years on death row not knowing if that day will be their last. Psychological torture at it’s finest…

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    Mute Malachi
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:43 PM

    Wow that’s a great fact, Paddy. A unique twist on the death penalty to say the least!

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:51 PM

    Ironic thing is that none of us really know if any given day will be our last but stick someone in a cell for a few years and let them dwell on that and it’s guaranteed to mess with them worse than any physical torture really can. Every time the cell door opens… every time you hear a sound of any sort…. it could be the hangman…. Now that’s messed up….

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:52 PM

    Does it appear to deter Paddy?

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 26th 2016, 12:31 AM

    Depends how you define that. The murder rate is eleven times lower than the US however they have a 95% solve rate vs 64% in the US… Ireland has a rate of 1.1 per 100,000 Japan is 0.3 per 100,000… I’d say, on paper at least, yes. Not sure that means we want the death penalty though however Japans rates for reoffenders is 43% ours is 68% after 3 years for other crimes* so their harsh prison system might be worth a look at. Let me tell you though it ain’t pretty. *Non fine or traffic related outside of vehicular homicide.

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jul 26th 2016, 6:55 AM

    my parish priest told me “you know the day or the hour that God will call you” I said “my uncle in America knew exactly the day and hour. The judge told him”.

    18
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    Mute Kilburtech
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:31 PM

    Police say they have arrested a man who was a former staff member and that he has confessed to the stabbings.

    65
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    Mute David Conroy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:39 PM

    There should be a news blackout on all attacks to stop mentally ill people from planning copycat attacks !

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:52 PM

    How would that be possible with the internet? The Germans tried to suppress the NYE sex attacks and were unsuccessful. News blackouts would only increase mistrust of government and media.

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    Mute David Conroy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:30 PM

    No nice way to say it but, some poor people are on the verge in our modern society with mental illness. It only takes a “trigger”. It’s a real medical problem and it might arrive at a place near you !

    4
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    Mute Shane Cal
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:56 PM

    Stabbing seems to be the method of choice for mass violence in Japan.

    35
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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:24 PM

    Japan has virtually no guns in society so the go to weapons are knives . That and there might be a touch of the historical and spiritual connection to the sword in Japanese culture.

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    Mute Tariq ibn Ziyad
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:43 PM

    PMSL! Great analysis Padser!

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:55 PM

    Well..any hipster on trend had the two blades at all times….beards were strictly verboten/haram though….

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    Mute Howye Lads
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    Jul 26th 2016, 7:45 AM

    Paddy what do you recommend to order from a Japanese restaurant?

    5
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    Mute Peter Morgan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:48 PM

    Not sure “Japs” works – very sad obviously. Horrible for all the victims and families.

    25
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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:25 PM

    Theres no Wahabbis in Tokyo.Or Japan for that matter…Nippon wouldnt tolerate them..they never got duped with the social engineering that is multiculturalism…this must be a native nutter/murderer/savage.

    24
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:31 PM

    There should be a new god wins for those who wish to turn the discussion to Islam at any slight opportunity

    19
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:31 PM

    Ah well as long as he’s native then that’s alright

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    Mute Ben Smith
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:37 PM

    Yeah I don’t mind being murdered so long as the person is the same colour and religion as I am.

    29
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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:56 PM

    Tony…you are probably right!

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    Mute Chlorines72
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:47 PM

    This would never have happened if they had banned guns.

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    Mute Peadar O'Ruadhán
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    Jul 26th 2016, 4:06 AM

    Death toll probably would have been higher

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    Mute Dave Smith
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:17 PM

    Ban knives!

    14
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:25 PM

    No. A good guy with a knife would have stopped the bad guy with a knife.

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    Mute Malachi
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:44 PM

    Knives don’t kill people, people do.

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    Mute Patrick J O'CONNOR
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    Jul 26th 2016, 12:23 AM

    Japan my Love: my heart is saddened at this news. RIP. Condolences and sympathies to all affected.

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:33 PM

    Shintoists.

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 25th 2016, 10:39 PM

    But not Kamikaze it seems….or Seppuku…

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:20 PM

    It is becoming relentless at this stage.

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    Mute Tariq ibn Ziyad
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:45 PM

    Wrong,it’s never been more peaceful.

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    Mute Barry K Ellis
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:45 PM

    It’s Like ZOMBIE invasion month.. SICK and Sad ‘ people ‘ out there.. Love is Stronger.

    7
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jul 26th 2016, 6:47 AM

    As Vincent brown says “it’s all the medias fault

    6
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    Mute Johnny McGran
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    Jul 25th 2016, 11:16 PM

    WTF is wrong with some people??!!

    6
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    Mute Patrick Jones
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    Jul 27th 2016, 11:21 AM

    Just mental

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    Mute aboutallthethings
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    Jul 26th 2016, 7:45 AM

    Stop the planet, I want off…

    5
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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Jul 26th 2016, 8:33 AM

    They were looking for people to join the one-way mission to Mars – did you send in your application?

    5
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    Mute Joe Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2016, 7:05 AM

    If this is how 2016 is going to keep playing out then I really do fear what’s in store for 2017…

    4
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    Mute Lukey
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    Jul 26th 2016, 10:57 AM

    worst mass crime in Japan since WW2

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    Mute Bernard Kilmurray
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    Jul 26th 2016, 3:09 PM

    150 poeple residents all living together, i would like to know what the living conditions where like? RIP

    1
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    Mute David Quim
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    Jul 26th 2016, 8:00 AM

    What a tragedy for the victims and their families. Someone who would commit such a savage crime is either very evil or, perhaps, very sick with a mental illness that those around him did not notice until it was too late. Unfortunately, our Divine Lord in his Infinite Wisdom created a universe where mental illness and sickness can afflict anyone at any time. Some of those who comment on here and call for cruel punishment for the perpetrator even before the facts of the case have been investigated need to ask themselves whether they can be sure that insanity will never strike them or those close to them.

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    Mute Jacqueline Flynn
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    Jul 27th 2016, 11:07 AM

    Firstly please don’t address him as “Our” 3 Devine Lord. He might be yours but he’s certainly not mine nor a lot of others too. I’ve no interest in praying to “a god” who has the power to inflict mental illness on anyone he chooses to! As Paul Daniels use to say “now that’s what I call magic!” :)

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    Mute Ian Begley
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    Jul 27th 2016, 8:12 AM

    Why am I get news alerts for last week’s massacres?

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    Mute james
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    Jul 27th 2016, 5:03 AM

    Old news at this stage…..24 hours later ffs journal

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