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The story of Alice Clifford, a Dublin mother who went missing from a hospital 38 years ago

“I’m not afraid of death, death is a natural part of life. But this isn’t natural.” Alice’s daughter Pat says that there are still many questions around her mother’s death.

THE FORMER UK Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher was in Dublin the week Alice Clifford, mother of seven, went missing.

Thatcher had just swept to power during a general election in May 1979, and that November, she joined then Taoiseach Charles Haughey and the other EU heads of state for a European Council summit meeting in Dublin Castle.

As gardaí lined the streets of Dublin, providing security for the European dignitaries’ arrival, Patricia O’Reilly and her siblings were searching Dublin city for their mother Alice.

“I remember going across the Ha’penny Bridge, and if there was a homeless person begging or sleeping, I kind of huddled over trying to move the cloth to see if it was her.”

“I remember my sisters going up O’Connell Street and stopping police and asking them if there had been a sighting of her, and they didn’t know what we were talking about. I can understand now but back in the day we thought ‘Does every policeman not know she’s gone?’”

Pat was 18 years old when her mother disappeared from the grounds of St Loman’s Hospital in Lucan. It’s been almost 40 years since her mother disappeared, but she says not knowing what happened to her hasn’t become any easier.

In those 40 years, her and her three brothers and three sisters have had their mother’s disappearance interwoven into their lives.

DSC_1274 Pat O'Reilly holds a photo of her mother and father at her Dublin home. Gráinne Ní Aodha Gráinne Ní Aodha

In the year after her disappearance, the family took turns each weekend in searching hedges, roadsides, canals and other corners of Dublin in the hope of finding some trace of their mother. They’ve been called in to identify bodies that have washed up on coastlines, some of which have been “gruesome”. They’ve made radio appeals and done newspaper interviews in the hope that they might prompt some new nugget of information that will reveal what happened to their mother.

But each time they talk about what happened, discuss new theories, and revisit that time in their lives when they lost their mother, “it’s like scraping off a scab”, Pat says.

About Alice

DSC_1253

Alice Clifford loved to dance.

An energetic character, her first husband died suddenly from a burst appendix when Alice was in her 40s, the family were under pressure financially, and had to pull together. Two of the eldest daughters left school early to try and get work,  she went back to her job doing part-time administrative work for Cherry Orchard Hospital.

In her 50s, Alice began to become forgetful, and confused. She was given electric shock treatment, but her condition gradually became worse and worse. Later, she was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease.

“There were days where my mother knew who we were, there were days when my mother didn’t know who we were,” Pat says.

Alice Clifford A picture of Alice in her early 20s.

Her second husband John and her daughter Pat looked after her, in what Pat described as a difficult time for the family.

“After the electric shock treatment, my mother had two bald patches, and I remember at 16 or 17 I was taking my mother to the hairdresser’s. I did find it difficult during those years that the roles had been reversed and that I was looking after her.

“There were times when I would’ve got annoyed with that because I was going through the difficulties of being a teenager. I kind of withdrew from school.”

Pat was fifteen when her mother began to exhibit memory issues; all her other siblings had married and had children of their own by then.

“I would have been about 16, and I remember going to work at around eight o’clock in the morning. And at about ten to eight in the morning there was a knock at the door and I was flying around getting ready for work. And my mother was standing at the door in a cardigan and a pair of tights and nothing else.

“Some lady was with her and said ‘I found this lady at the end of the road and she’s disorientated’. We didn’t even know she had gotten up early, there was only one shop in Ballyfermot at the time that would have opened at 8 o’clock and that was up near the Assumption Church. and my mother was trying to find her way to that store.”

“You’d be waking up and dozing off and waking up and dozing off, listening out for her.”

“We were her carers really,” she said.

A foggy Thursday

In 1978 she was offered a week’s respite at St Loman’s, to give her family a rest from what had become round-the-clock care.

She was given another two weeks again in 1979. On the 28 November, two days before she was to return home, she had a craft class at the hospital.

When it finished, the patients returned to their wards – but nobody noticed Alice never made it back.

“She didn’t willingly go in there, as far as I can remember,” Pat said. “I think my stepfather had to sign her in for two weeks. She wanted to come home, so we thought she’s annoyed with the family, any chance she has of getting out of there, she’s going to get out of there.”

When the gardaí came to the Clifford home in Ballyfermot, they asked if Alice was there. When the family explained that she was at the hospital, the gardaí said that she wasn’t, and that she was noticed missing at dinnertime.

“We were stunned,” Pat said.

DSC_1257 Pat O'Reilly Pat O'Reilly

They had to use the neighbour’s phone to let her siblings know that their mother had gone missing, because “not everyone had phones back then”. Two cars drove to the hospital, where they were told the grounds had already been searched. So one car drove up the Lucan way, another drove down the Ballyfermot way.

But then it began to rain, and Pat says she had a feeling of dread.

“I got upset in the back of the car, and my sister said, ‘Why are you crying now?’ because we expected to find her up the road. And I said, ‘It’s raining and she might shelter and we might pass her by’.”

Over 38 years later, and Alice is still missing. Despite the family’s continued search efforts, a number of media interviews and discussions about the different theories that could have caused their mother to vanish, there still have been no sightings of Alice Clifford – and just one testimony offering a possible explanation to what might have happened.

Theories

DSC_1261 An aerial shot of the grounds of St Loman's Hospital. Pat O'Reilly Pat O'Reilly

We were given a date for the inquest, and then I got a call, and the call was that somebody had come forward [with information].

That person was John Fitzpatrick, who said he was working as a construction worker on the hospital grounds at the time that Alice went missing.

He says that he was laying 100m-long electric cables in a large trench, right outside the building where Alice’s craft class was being held that day.

It had then been filled in very early the next morning.

A dig was commissioned on the land in light of this information in 2013, which the gardaí described as “extensive”. But Pat said they were just digging holes across the land in search of cables – and if the cables were found, a more thorough dig would take place.

But they found no evidence of the cables that John had referenced, and no other witness to corroborate his story.

Despite this, Pat maintains that this is the most likely answer to the question of what happened to her mother, and explains why there were no sightings of her outside the hospital grounds – “because she never left”.

“My mother was 5ft 2in, and around 8 stone. If she had found a way outside and fallen in the trench wearing a cardigan and slippers, she’d have had no chance.”

DSC_1254 A newspaper clipping from 1986.

After years of hoping, wondering, and imagining different scenarios, the family are still hoping someone will come forward that will solve the mystery, or lead them to the place where their mother might be.

“I do understand that, there’s different reasons why people go missing,” Pat says.

“One kind of missing is, the IRA killed somebody and dumped the body. Then, there’s my mother, an unwell woman, who would want a woman not well and taking her? So that’s very odd. Then, the children the young teenagers and adults that go missing and might be kidnapped, or sold.

“There’s so many different scenarios, I know everybody misses the person that goes, but there’s always a different reason why, but who would have wanted a woman who wasn’t well?”

In October of this year, Pat’s brother died shortly after being diagnosed with an illness. Another of her brothers is seriously ill now, and she’s adamant to be at his bedside, holding his hand when his time comes.

“I’m not afraid of death. Death is a natural part of life. But this,” Pat says, gesturing to the newspaper clippings of her mother’s disappearance from over the years, “this isn’t natural.”

Read: Alice Clifford went missing in 1979 – now houses are being built where her family think her body could be

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    Mute Eugene Tyson
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:21 PM

    Shuffle himself out hopefully

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    Mute Dot Com
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:59 PM

    @Eugene Tyson: The fact is Varadkar and his party are getting hammered on social media where the spin doctors can’t control the content, He knows he won’t get back in because his policies are a disaster.

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:05 PM

    @Dot Com: Exactly, he’d want to replace them all and appoint a new Tanaiste while he’s at it, people who actually concentrate on their jobs and take their duties seriously and conscientiously Lio won’t last himself anyway, the way things are going..

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    Mute Carpentoza
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:22 PM

    @Dot Com: do you need to broaden your echo chamber perhaps? Im no fan but fg and leo are still the likely party to lead next time check the opinion polls

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:26 PM

    @Carpentoza: Those phony phone calls they make to the usual 1000 people? These polls are used to ‘shape’ rather than ‘gauge’ public opinion. Who are the directors/shareholders of the polling companies?

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    Mute Genius 80s+
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:11 PM

    @Carpentoza: I’m no fan but, Stop fooling your self pal, time to come out as an FGer.

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:17 PM

    @Dot Com: social media is irrelevant. Old people don’t read social media.

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    Mute Tommy Berry
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:44 PM

    @Dot Com: But he will get back in.

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    Mute Genius 80s+
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:48 PM

    @Tommy Berry: Everbody knows he wont/

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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Jan 1st 2019, 3:22 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Another misconception!

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jan 1st 2019, 4:11 PM

    @Nuala Mc Namara: True, its also funny how few government apologists are on here trying to defend FFG. Maybe they are still in bed having a LIE-ON.

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Jan 1st 2019, 4:52 PM

    @Dot Com: The spin doctors control 1000′s of social media accounts which are easily spotted.
    They will attack en mass to lessen damage to verruca.

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Jan 1st 2019, 6:53 PM

    @tommytukamomo: “1,000s of social media accounts”. Really?

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jan 1st 2019, 6:59 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: ‘social media is irrelevant. Old people don’t read social media’

    Really???

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    Mute Carpentoza
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    Jan 1st 2019, 9:29 PM

    @Frank Cauldhame: dismissing information as fraudulent because it doesn’t suit you is hardly mature debate. The poorly informed representing as the enlightened

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    Mute davey boy
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    Jan 2nd 2019, 9:06 AM

    @Frank Cauldhame: Just because someone says that Leo will get back in doesn’t make them a FG apologist it just makes them a realist.

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:23 PM

    Rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:35 PM

    @tommytukamomo:

    Do you think the government is at risk?

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:39 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: Hopefully, but the same old sows & swine want to keep their snouts in the trough.

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Jan 1st 2019, 3:45 PM

    @tommytukamomo: more like lining up some more of his chums for a ministerial pension !! move a few on -those that have enough ‘service’ to claim a ministerial top up to their pension -and give some new faces a chance to boost their pension by a few grand a year !!

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    Mute Willy Mc Caul
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:22 PM

    Housing and health about to receive a new 5 or 10 year plan.. FFG way…

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:24 PM

    @Willy Mc Caul: another 5 point plan

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:26 PM

    @tommytukamomo: five year ,plan ,duck, dive, dodge , denounce, and of course delude !

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:57 PM

    @Willy Mc Caul: Yes like the constantly wheeled out metro north nonsence? In the time they have been messing about with metro north London Has finished the dock lands light rail and the jubilee line and crossrail. In the and time 25 cities in China have completed full urban metro systems. The Spanish built a fabulous high speed rail systems. We’re still taking about a single short metro line for decades

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:48 PM

    @Gerard Heery: Now that’s definitely the FFG five year plan!

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    Mute Marty Lawless
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:55 PM

    Election time sockboy

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    Mute Gerard Lord
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:26 PM

    Shuffle the whole government!

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    Mute Bill Clay
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:54 PM

    Harris and Murphy about to get reassigned no doubt and the Irish media will, as always, ignore their disastrous failure.
    They’ll both make a fine Taoiseach one day.

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    Mute Conor Phillips
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:09 PM

    Oh no. Does that mean Shane Ross could be deployed to ruin a different area of our lives? Perhaps they could just make him the minister for making the tea at cabinet meetings?

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:50 PM

    @Conor Phillips: Lord Ross doesn’t make tea.. He has a boy for that… “Boy, fetch me my tea!”

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    Mute Sharon O'sullivan Gerhardt
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    Jan 2nd 2019, 8:14 AM

    @Conor Phillips:
    I agree he’s got to be the worst Minister ever! Has ruined numerous industries with his policies.

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    Mute Paul Gurney
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:14 PM

    This is so a lad thats not qualified for his brief can get a role where he’s not qualified for his brief..Sure what can possibly go wrong!!!!!

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:25 PM

    I reshuffle won’t mean much to anyone except themselves, with this incompetent bunch.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:31 PM

    Another smug smarmy photo of this obnoxious tool.

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:40 PM

    @Adrian:Self satisfied smirk on his face

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:41 PM

    @Adrian: a tool has a use. However limited, but still has a use..
    The minister for everything is as useful as a handbrake on a toilet seat.

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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:43 PM

    This country is a society as well as an economy and it is people who vote for politicians not companies,etc.We hear from politicians many times on a daily basis on a variety of issues but with National emergencies in homelessness, housing and health,etc affecting our society,it’s time for politicians to really listen&it’s time for straight talking not spin,not divide &conquer and not excuses and it’s time for ALL sections of society to really feel that they matter&that the power really comes from the people!

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    Mute Barry O Toole
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:03 PM

    Leo needs a boot up the backside himself

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    Mute Mill Lane
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    Jan 1st 2019, 12:54 PM

    Replacing useless f”"kers with other useless f”"kers

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    Mute Colm Ó hAodhagáin
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:38 PM

    Pass the buck time. No responsibility.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:35 PM

    Politics, the art of the impossible, with our current totally inept useless bunch bringing new meaning to this self gratifying phrase, finding more things impossible than most.

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:53 PM

    Hopefully this clown will be first

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    Mute Billy Davies
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    Jan 1st 2019, 1:00 PM

    I hope fine gael get re-elected

    54
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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:49 PM

    @Billy Davies: That’s nice, I hope they don’t.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:01 PM

    Send Ross somewhere…
    Anywhere.

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    Mute Maire
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:15 PM

    Hope he gets rid of Shane Ross, when did anybody cause an accident with 50mg of Alcohol on board? Probably never!!

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    Mute Barra O Brien
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:30 PM

    @Maire: Fond of a drink and a bit of driving? Hope you get busted

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    Mute Maire
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    Jan 1st 2019, 5:39 PM

    @Barra O Brien: Sorry, Dara, I don’t drink and Drive!

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    Mute Chris OB
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    Jan 1st 2019, 4:43 PM

    Yea abdication of the little responsibility there is.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Jan 1st 2019, 5:35 PM

    That won’t change anything, not even their underwear?

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    Mute Enda Daly
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    Jan 1st 2019, 7:59 PM

    Please god he sees sense and gets rid of that clown Shane Ross

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    Mute Dan public
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    Jan 1st 2019, 2:22 PM

    C

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    Mute Niall Power
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    Jan 1st 2019, 6:46 PM

    Coveney would be a far better Taoiseach,
    I’m sick of sock boy!

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