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Gerry Kelly, who was filmed removing a clamp from his car with a bolt cutters, says he has now paid the fine. Sam Boal

'Under pressure' to attend meetings, Kelly says he borrowed bolt cutters from gym to remove clamp

The Northern policing spokesman has since paid the clamping fine.

SINN FÉIN’S GERRY Kelly, who removed a clamp from his car outside a gym in Belfast, said he has now paid the fine.

Kelly, who serves as the party’s policing spokesman for the North, was filmed from a number of angles removing the clamp from his front wheel on Friday morning.

A pair of bolt cutters appears to be visible on the ground beside the politician in the videos, which have been shared widely online.

Once the clamp is removed, Kelly is seen placing it against a nearby wall before driving away.

After footage of the incident emerged, the party confirmed the incident.

original Screengrab of footage

The incident was met with opprobrium in Unionist circles, with TUV leader Jim Allister declaring the “flagrant breach of the law in removing a clamping device is something for which this pardon-swaggering MLA must not escape criminal liability”.

Last night, Kelly tweeted that he would meet with police if necessary.

In a statement this afternoon, Kelly outlined in more detail what took place on Friday:

I came out of the gym just after 8am to head to Stormont for talks. I saw that my car had been clamped. I phoned the number on the notice and the only response I got was music.
I then went in to the Mac and asked had they another number for the company. I immediately rang that number and this number was out of use.

Kelly said he was “under pressure” to get to the Northern Ireland talks meetings, which is why he made an “on-the-spot decision” which he said he now regrets.

“I remembered that the gym had a set of bolt cutters and I borrowed them. Let me add that staff at the gym were not aware what I was using the bolt cutters for. I then removed the clamp.

“I made an on-the-spot decision which I now regret,” he stated, adding:

I have contacted the company and paid the fine. The issue has now been resolved.

Kelly, a former high-profile IRA operative and political prisoner, has been a Sinn Féin MLA for Belfast North since 1998.

Read: Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly says he has spoken to police after being filmed removing a clamp>

Read: Sinn Féin’s Northern policing spokesman filmed removing clamp from car with bolt cutters>

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154 Comments
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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:15 PM

    Regrets that it was caught on CCTV you mean.

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    Mute David Murphey
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:25 PM

    @Dave Sherman: can’t believe he didn’t look around to see if there was a CCTV camera.

    64
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    Mute Tom&Gerry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:32 PM

    @Dave Sherman: He did what most normal people would do, he had a bolt cutter in his boot and he used it.

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:40 PM

    @Tom&Gerry: We all carry a bolt cutter in the boot, don’t we, I also carry a cement mixer and a skid steer loader, never know when you might need one,

    69
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    Mute Niccolo Saccho
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:42 PM

    @Tom&Gerry:
    Actually he borrowed the bolt cutter from the gym.

    65
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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:49 PM

    @Tom&Gerry: Poor Gerry. He got a loan of the cutter from the Gym. try to keep up.

    25
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    Mute Tom&Gerry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:49 PM

    @Tom&Gerry: Correction, he borrowed the bolt cutter from the gym.

    15
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    Mute ekumen kelly
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:51 PM

    @Niccolo Saccho: ah yea

    2
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:04 PM

    @Tom&Gerry: That’s it ? No apology to Gerry for whatever it was you were insinuating ? Not to worry though, it got you a few thumbs up. All that really matters, eh ?

    12
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    Mute frank murphy
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    Feb 6th 2018, 12:55 AM

    I am thoroughly enjoy the SF meltdown, this is hilarious stuff

    1
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    Mute Lydia McLoughlin
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:15 PM

    He “remembered” the gym has bolt cutters !! an odd thing to remember… Is it on the terms & conditions?

    253
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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:49 PM

    @Lydia McLoughlin: All gyms have them in the event that someone locks keys in locker, as has often happened to me.

    141
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    Mute David Huston
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:40 PM

    @Lydia McLoughlin: Wow, conspiracy theory overload Lydia.

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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:17 PM

    @Harry Corry: I never saw bolt cutters an any gym I used. They normally have master keys for people who loose their keys.

    Maybe where you live they also use grenades to open lockers???

    32
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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:51 PM

    @Bull Spite: ok, you got me. I made that up. No gym in the country keeps bolt cutters..

    14
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 6th 2018, 12:25 AM

    @Fake Avast: Not great at the auld reading are you? Harry Cory suggested that they had the bolt cutters to open lockers. In all the gyms I used they have master keys in case a key is lost. Obviously where you go they are a bit more explosive!

    6
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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:14 PM

    To be fair. It’s not the worst thing a shinner ever did.

    269
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    Mute Paddy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:20 PM

    @JJ O Riordan: agreed

    55
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    Mute David Murphey
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:25 PM

    @JJ O Riordan: he paid the fine; talked to the police. He clearly regrets his actions.

    No big deal.

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    Mute Are roo from Cork
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:46 PM

    @thewolf: ‘Frank’ “had” a clamping business..don’t you remember ?

    28
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:29 PM

    @thewolf: Puppy – do you thing that his behaviour is acceptable??

    13
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    Mute psychiatrist
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:00 PM

    @JJ O Riordan: Shows that he disrespects the law. Including tax law. So..

    5
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 6th 2018, 12:26 AM

    @thewolf: Deflect – deflect – deflect

    3
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    Mute Karl
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:08 AM

    @thewolf: whataboutery

    “Hitler was bad”…

    “Yeah but Stalin…”

    Hitler was still bad!!

    1
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    Mute Dotty Dunleary
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:16 PM

    Most normal civilised persons under pressure to get to a business meeting would have hailed a passing Taxi and worried about the clamp later..

    Not take a massive bolt cutters out of the car and cause criminal damage to the clamp.. It’s almost as if he was prepared for this outcome!

    176
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    Mute John Brendan Mullen
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:32 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: read the article Dot. He borrowed it from a Gym. Most normal bend over and take what you get lackies with cash in their wallet would call a taxi, anyone with any balls would do what Mr Kelly did. Anyone who clamp my car should worry about their own car. Might just have no wheels some morning when he’s trying to get to work on time.

    100
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    Mute Tom&Gerry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:41 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: No, they would have borrowed the bolt cutters.

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    Mute Brian O'Loughlin
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:43 PM

    @John Brendan Mullen: So you’d be happy if a member of FG/FF did the same thing?

    16
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    Mute Niccolo Saccho
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:44 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary:
    ‘Criminal damage to the clamp’
    Clamps have rights too you know. Seriously, this is a clamp we’re talking about here, an often illegal device used to extort money from innocent drivers. Who gives a toss?

    44
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    Mute John Brendan Mullen
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:50 PM

    @Brian O’Loughlin: big time. I’m not a party man

    7
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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:52 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: Doubtful there are passing taxis at 7.30. though FGers do tend to heil them

    19
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    Mute Tom&Gerry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:52 PM

    @Brian O’Loughlin: i don’t think anyone would care, also i don’t think the media would print it, or be allowed to print it.

    13
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    Mute Vigo the Carpathian
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:56 PM

    @Brian O’Loughlin: I for one would be ecstatic if a member of FF or FG had the balls to do it. It’d be a signal that the ridiculous laws surrounding clamping were on the way out. I mean the mentality behind immobilising a vehicle that’s supposedly causing an obstruction is daft when a ticket and a fine would do the same job of punishing people..

    32
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:14 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: he always looks like he is trying to control his temper every time you see him on TV.

    15
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    Mute flabar oflabar
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:26 PM

    @Father Hody Commody: Dara Murphy from Fine Gael didnt hail a taxi, but he did use the Gardai to get to Dublin airport in 2015 did he not?

    21
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:31 PM

    @thewolf: Define a cowboy clamper?

    4
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:32 PM

    @Tom&Gerry: Nah. They should never comment of SF/IRA guys!!!

    6
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:34 PM

    @Vigo the Carpathian: So? Change laws that don’t suit an MLA?

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    Mute flabar oflabar
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:36 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: What about the most civilized among us needing taxis to the airport in a hurry for whatever reason. Like Dara Murphy for example, or are FG TDs exempt. Not half as much coverage in 2015!

    14
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    Mute Vigo the Carpathian
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:51 PM

    @Bull Spite: Change laws that don’t suit logic..I can just imagine that fool Brian Cowan having the brain fart that introduced clamping in Ireland … “Duh.. cars is causing a obstruction… I know.. let’s make sure cars can’t be moved”.

    11
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:20 PM

    @Vigo the Carpathian: Laws that don’t suit logic? Should we also ignore the laws on beating women?

    2
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    Mute Anne Warren
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    Feb 6th 2018, 12:49 AM

    @Dotty Dunleary: It’s almost as if he was prepared for this outcome!
    Indeed Dotty!
    I’m putting my tinfoil hat on now –
    was it an attempt (successful I may add) to provoke another torrent of Unionist/Loyalist outrage and calls for the resignation of yet another SF representative over what amounts to a very minor offence?
    https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2018/02/04/sinn-fein-bad-boys/

    3
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:14 PM

    Did he balance the bolt cutters on his head after removing the clamp?

    115
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    Mute John Fergus
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:22 PM

    I have to laugh at the story. What isn’t clear was whether or not he was on private or public property at the time. If he was on private property and has since settled up with the traffic management firm then there is nothing else to talk about. If however, he was in a public area there may be a bit more.
    You have to hand it to Leo’s 5 million a year spin machine. They are keeping public eyes firmly off the government but in fairness Sinn Fein is doing their best to help them. It’s scandal after scandal every 3 days or so. You have to hand it to the ex-provo he was well handy with this set of bolt cutters when he got them.

    72
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    Mute MK76
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:08 PM

    @John Fergus: The Church of Sinnfeinology has thought you well. You’re a true believer.

    Obviously EVERYTHING that shines a negative light on SF is somehow FG’s fault.

    20
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:30 PM

    @MK76: Any little excuse to have a go at the Shinners, you lot must have the fear. I taught you were better than that.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 10:50 PM

    @Jamie McCormack: ” thought”

    5
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:13 PM

    Did he return the bolt cutters that he “borrowed” without permission?

    62
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    Mute Hans Vos
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:33 PM

    @Honeybadger197: Read the article again
    He borrowed the bolt cutter but didn’t told the staff where he used it for. Nowhere in the article stay without permission.

    55
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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:39 PM

    @Honeybadger197: LOL! Poor honeybadger. Wrong about him having the bolt cutters in his car, so desperately making new assertions.

    Don’t worry, we’re not expecting you to admit you got it wrong and now just look silly.

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:15 PM

    @The Risen: Ah, you’re right. I got it wrong. No problem admitting to that. Still, at least he didnt kill one person and injure 200 more this time. Good old Gerry. The other bonus is it affords you “supporters” an opportunity to ignore the implosion of SF support in Finglas. Never mind the photos of badly bruised legs.

    22
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    Mute No One
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:21 PM

    @Honeybadger197: “No problem admitting to that. ” and then go on about his past and Finglas. I can almost hear you grinding your teeth from here!

    21
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:24 PM

    @No One: I don’t support former terrorists, nor do I support bullying/ violence. I can almost hear your blinkers from here.

    19
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:40 PM

    @thewolf: Strange indeed. A bit like your one man astroturfing operation on any SF article. Thats “devotion”. :)

    15
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:48 PM

    @thewolf: Puppy – you have a bad time. Your fingers must be sore from defending bullying, female abuse and clamper busting. The fact that you have all your supporters (thewolf, Seamus Og, Willy Malone, The Risen, Tom&Gerry, John Brendan Mullen, David Murphey) on here shows how desperate you guys are.

    Interesting that you guys don’t see it as a problem with the party’s Policing Spokesman damaging property as being a problem. Indeed many of the cults followers support the action in the above comments.

    The cult are incapable of seeing right from wrong!

    13
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:49 PM

    @Arfer Daly: Do you know the 5 lamps, Arfer?

    6
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    Mute John Dman
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:52 PM

    @Arfer Daly: leave hes British army “career” out of it!

    3
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:23 PM

    @thewolf: Puppy – usual bullying remark from you SF/IRA guys. Be careful or you might comment on Gerry’s vandalism!

    What do you think Mary Lou will do? Has she had her orders from South Armagh

    7
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:31 PM

    @thewolf: Any answers to the questions above

    6
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:05 PM

    @Bull Spite:
    Of course not – his entire posting history consists of either insults or deflection.

    7
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:10 PM

    Oh, and references to his unhealthy obsession with “FG fanboys” (anyone who has a different opinion to him).

    9
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:13 PM

    (in other words anyone who doesn’t share his view that SF are the best thing since ‘sliced bread’)

    9
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Feb 5th 2018, 11:05 PM

    @thewolf:
    What exactly is your understanding of the meaning of “obsession”??

    6
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Feb 5th 2018, 11:27 PM

    @thewolf:
    An astute observation

    4
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 6th 2018, 12:29 AM

    @thewolf: Son – Honey. Ho Ho Ho is that your best. Any comment on the vandalism?

    3
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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:30 PM

    Love it. All the interchangeable FG fraperoom accounts squealing ‘who keeps a bolt cutters in the boot of their car’ for the last 2 days, and it wasn’t ever in the boot.

    Good times LOL!

    77
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:33 PM

    @The Risen: You have a view on what happened to Noeleen Reilly? You tried to deflect that earlier too before the comments were closed, inexplicably.

    53
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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:36 PM

    @thewolf: Yep, I’d be trying to change the subject too if I were him. He did the exact same as charles rex/charlie wrex/alan brogan and so on.

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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:51 PM

    @thewolf: Saw it. They actually had to close the comments section on the article. Sure, he’s being automatically flagged and restricted every time he sets up a new twitter account thanks to his antics on here towards me.

    Which I really enjoy :)

    30
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    Mute Bart Teeling
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:56 PM

    @Honeybadger197: A week ago you would have called her a terrorist apologist..

    24
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    Mute Leadóg
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:06 PM

    @thewolf: Don’t be too harsh on Frank lads. He’s only here for (bad) comedic effect.

    13
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    Mute Vigo the Carpathian
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:11 PM

    @The Risen: The number of them seems to drop off in the evening too while for some reason the number of pro SF commentators seems to rise.. If I were a cynic I’d think the evening shift at the Blue Shirt Head Quarters ( BSHQ for short) isn’t as well staffed as the day shift .. While a lot of the “shinners”, who according to BSHQ are all dole scrounging, Dutch Gold drinking layabouts seem to come online exactly when people would be getting home from work. I’m sure though it’s all just a coincidence….

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:28 PM

    @thewolf: Check her twitter so and let me know what you’re happy to overlook. Thanks in advance.

    16
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:38 PM

    @thewolf: Odd then that a non-member attends their Ard Fheis? No? Do many non members get this dispensation?

    14
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:01 PM

    @thewolf: Maybe you could look into the circumstances surrounding this dispensation, and indeed why she was advised to keep it in-house then. Thanks again. :)

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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:25 PM

    @The Risen: What happened with your previous accounts Jamming?

    7
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:28 PM

    @Honeybadger197: Well done. You have managed to get the SF/IRA guys into a spin. They are playing from Jammings playbook with the “honey” in their response.

    Of course they will continue to deflect and avoid answering any question.

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:56 PM

    @Bull Spite: I enjoy them spinning. It’s a useful insight. If any other party had a councillor posting photos of bad bruising, etc they’d be incandescent. Let them spin their true colours and educate the readers. There’s a lot more to come from this. They’ll be very busy trying to avoid Mary Lous crowning being overshadowed. The more things change, the more they stay the same it appears.

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    Mute MK76
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:16 PM

    @thewolf: The Church of Sinnfeinology teaches its disciples not to think for themselves and to treat everyone who questions the Church as an SP.

    And aren’t Jammin and Wolf just the two most devout disciples around.

    8
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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 6th 2018, 12:32 AM

    @thewolf: Puppy – any answers to the questions?

    4
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    Mute martobaby
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:11 PM

    Love to meet the clampers that start before 7am !

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    Mute David Huston
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:19 PM

    @martobaby: Day 3, He we go again

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    Mute David Murphey
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:24 PM

    @David Huston: I know. It’s so unfair.

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    Mute Jim Doherty
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:48 PM

    If Long Kesh/TheMaze/HBlocks couldn’t hold Gerry what chance would a wheel clamp have!

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:20 PM

    No taxis?

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    Mute flabar oflabar
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:26 PM

    @Gus Sheridan: Dara Murphy from Fine Gael didnt hail a taxi, but he did use the Gardai to get to Dublin airport in 2015 did he not?

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    Mute John003
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:32 PM

    This is a distraction story for SF…..Who hasn’t wished they had a bolt cutters when they return to find their car clamped….The real damaging story for SF is their councillor Reily who has been bullied since 2014 and nothing done about the complaints she made about it….She even claims that she was assaulted and nothing was done by SF about it…..

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:34 PM

    @thewolf: So why was she initially told to keep it in house?

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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:55 PM

    @John003: Did she go to the Gardai, yet?

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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:56 PM

    @thewolf: Gas alright. The Badger has leapt on every non fact these past few days. You can almost feel the saliva dripping down her jaw.

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    Mute Bart Teeling
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:05 PM

    @John003: If she was assaulted, she should go to the guards.. Looks like a personal feud with another Councillor when she wasn’t selected for the last general election. If she was assaulted though, go to the guards and name names.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:17 PM

    @Honeybadger197: and more importantly….by whom?

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:19 PM

    @thewolf: Did you not see the photos or the correspondence online wolf?

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:30 PM

    @thewolf: Why was she advised to keep it in-house?

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:42 PM

    @thewolf: It’s all on her twitter. I’m glad shes realised what she was involved with. I fear this may overshadow Mary Lous crowning. You’re going to be a very busy boy in the coming days. :)

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    Mute Sam Alexander
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:50 PM

    @thewolf:
    Normally, if people are assaulted, they report it to AGS – not members of SF. How many who suffered punishment beatings reported the perpetrators to the PSNI or the AGS? Members of SF are aware of the consequences of reporting SF or IRA members to the police.

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    Mute Bart Teeling
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:02 PM

    @Honeybadger197: Despicable if it happened, but unfortunately its just ‘he said, she said’ unless there’s an official complaint to the guards..But I suppose due process only applies to rugby players..

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:08 PM

    @Bart Teeling: Are the photos mere figments of twitters imagination? Was the Cabra GAA club a miasma in our collective minds? Why was she advised to keep it in-house?

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    Mute Bart Teeling
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:12 PM

    @Honeybadger197: I’ve seen the photos but they prove nothing I’m afraid. It’s a serious allegation and should not be tried on twitter.

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:16 PM

    @Bart Teeling: Any thoughts on why was she advised to keep it in-house so?

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    Mute Niccolo Saccho
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:52 PM

    I’ve often removed clamps, without damaging them of course which requires time and effort. I felt both proud and liberated.
    Unionists and Fine Gaelers (ideological bed partners) seem to be trying to turn this into an ethical issue worthy of stepping down on Gerry Kelly’s part. An absurd and hypocritical argument considering their defence of Arlene Foster on the ash for cash scandal.
    It’s a bloody clamp, an often illegal device to extract money from innocent motorists.
    Nothing to see here, Move on.

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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:03 PM

    @Niccolo Saccho: And the cash for ash circus is due to start soon i believe.

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    Mute flabar oflabar
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:29 PM

    @Niccolo Saccho: Dara Murphy Fine Gael, in 2015 he got a garda squad car to the airport instead of a taxi, not half as much coverage. It’s gas

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:34 PM

    How did he know that the gym had a bolt cutters on the premises? The Sinn Fein statement issued 2 days ago said he discovered the clamp at 7.20 am which seems a bit excessive. Now he says if was after 8.00. Who can you believe?

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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:51 PM

    @John O’Neill: Time to call in the FBI ??

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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:58 PM

    @John O’Neill: A bolt cutter is standard in a gym, or in a boarding school, or in a sports club to remove locks where they keys have been lost. Lost that one, so now it’s onto the time crime. Next it’ll be spelling mistakes. The €5m isn’t being spent well is it?

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    Mute Vigo the Carpathian
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:00 PM

    @John O’Neill: Because all gyms have bolt cutters… in fact the one’s I worked in college had several to remove locks…

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:01 PM

    @Harry Corry: the FBI are not required to check when lies are being told. Most of us can figure that out for ourselves.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:01 PM

    @Father Hody Commody: use your real name

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    Mute Ryan Maher
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:32 PM

    Who’s cares?…

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    Mute John003
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:45 PM

    This act of resistance could kick off a revolution against campers….In Paris people carry super glue to put in the clamp lock….Then the campers have to cut it off…Replacement cost €3000….

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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:06 PM

    @Ryan Maher: The Indo ..

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    Mute No One
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:23 PM

    @John003: Must remember that one!

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:49 PM

    Rushing to talks ? They have not spoken in nearly 12 months. Pull the other one. We are not fools.

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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:06 PM

    @John O’Neill: Meetings, ‘John’

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:41 PM

    @thewolf: at least I am not hiding my identity

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    Mute Darren Norris
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:20 PM

    Taxi number must also have been out of service

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    Mute Richie Mulcahy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:12 PM

    This fella wouldn’t lie in bed straight and these tramps want to run the country

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    Mute James Mc Loughlin
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:04 PM

    Is he not a spokesperson for law and order,wait and see how it pans out,will there be one law for joe soap and another for him

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    Mute Sam Alexander
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:02 PM

    @thewolf:
    Like McElduff and Miller – too late, they were caught in the act.
    As regards your name calling, like McGinness’s referring to all and sundry that are not apologists for the atrocities of the PIRA as West Br,it it becomes a badge of honour not an insult.

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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:15 PM

    @thewolf: What a stupid comment. Like anyone else he should be prosecuted for vandalism as a citizen. As a politian and policing spokesman I would expect the party to deal with it seriously.

    Of course you don’t treat bullying, beating woman, vandalism and mockery of the families of victims of bombing as serious.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 6:41 PM

    Who cares? The people who are supposed to believe our public representatives, that’s who. Unless you choose not to.

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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:09 PM

    @John O’Neill: you’ve obviously been deeply affected by this incident, I hope you recover soon..

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:42 PM

    @Harry Corry: cowardly comment

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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:53 PM

    @John O’Neill: 2 accounts ? Why so ?

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:04 PM

    @Harry Corry: no more than you are, I just posted my opinion and you did too so you are obviously affected by the comments I made

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:05 PM

    @Harry Corry: one is Facebook and one is Twitter depending on how I see and respond. I use my real name on both

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    Mute Sandra Duffy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:08 PM

    People on here talking as if ignoring a clamp is an everyday occurrence. Maybe Belfast is more lawless than most cities.

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 10:16 PM

    I was once clamped . If I had access to a bolt cutters I would have done the same .

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    Mute Karl
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:09 AM

    @Mary Mc Carthy: then to would be a criminal

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    Mute Sean Murphy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:27 PM

    One thing for sure. Gerrys vote will rise after this. There is a secret pair of bolt cutters in us all.

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:01 PM

    There will have to be a clampdown on this type of commentary!!!

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    Mute Brendan Glynn
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:01 PM

    Then why the need to go to gym? – if he had an urgent meeting – where – Stormont is closed??
    So I robbed sombody but I’ve told the police about it…blah..blah….it’s a crime and he knows it but thinks he’s above the law…mla(h)…mla(h)!

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:02 PM

    “No one is above the law” except if your late for a meeting

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    Mute Peadar Ó Gréacháin
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:05 PM

    Clampers day on the Journal………….what a shower of plonkers.

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    Mute Gerry Murphy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:10 PM

    @Peadar Ó Gréacháin: And in fairness you would be a damn good judge of plonkers!

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    Mute Kevin Davy
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:36 PM

    His only regret was being caught on camera red handed . You can see him looking around in the video. He knew exactly what he was doing was wrong.

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    Mute Louis O'Dwyer
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:14 PM

    Load of Umbalala

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    Mute Jim Monaghan
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    Feb 5th 2018, 7:46 PM

    And the new leader is trying to talk politics. I am amzed that a clever politician can be so foolish.

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Feb 6th 2018, 8:21 AM

    There are a lot of questions that should be asked how come he was the only one clamped and how did they just happen to be there at 7.20 am very strange am I missing something.

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    Mute Adam Reid
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    Feb 5th 2018, 9:32 PM

    What about? Deflect, deflect, deflect.

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    Mute Con Stable
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    Feb 5th 2018, 8:38 PM

    He could have got a taxi?

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    Mute Aidan Conway
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    Feb 5th 2018, 10:26 PM

    He should be proud of what he did.
    Clamping is the most punitive ill conceived penalty for parking where you shouldn’t.
    It’s such a bitter twisted response! Blocking a bay , clamp them …keep them there! How dumb, only purpose is collecting money.
    Get rid of clamping its primitively? It’s biblical… Eye for and eye.

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    Mute Bull Spite
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    Feb 5th 2018, 11:13 PM

    If I saw a convicted terrorist and murderer arrive out of a building with a bolt cutter I would count my fingers and toes. Then I would run and try to break the four minute mile!

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    Mute Rear Admiral
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    Feb 5th 2018, 11:00 PM

    >The incident was met with opprobrium in Unionist circles

    For sure they did NOT use the word “opprobrium” whilst throwing their arms in the air and faking outrage

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    Mute James Keogh
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    Feb 5th 2018, 10:53 PM

    Cut and Bolt to TG 4 like Trevor, use CCTV recording as screen test for Rós na Rún

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    Mute Karl
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:10 AM

    He paid the fine and considers the matter closed.

    Except he committed a crime, it’s called criminal damage.

    And he is a party justice spokesman.

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    Mute Jim Kirby
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    Feb 6th 2018, 1:13 PM

    He was in a rush to get to Stormont—has he never heard of taxis?

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