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As scandal engulfs Spain's parliament, the question is, does any Spanish politician actually have a REAL degree?

Politicians from across the spectrum have been outed as suffering from ‘titlitis’ in recent times – that is, an addiction to boosting their CVs with fibs.

1 Pictured: not a real degree

INFLATED CVS, DEGREES that may or may not be real… a scandal over how Madrid’s leader obtained a law diploma has swept up other politicians in what has become Spain’s “mastergate”.

For close to a month, Cristina Cifuentes, Madrid’s conservative regional president, has been caught in a media storm over accusations she received her 2011-2012 masters degree from King Juan Carlos University (URJC) without taking all the required exams or attending lectures.

The opposition wants her to resign and prosecutors are investigating after the university rector himself admitted a document attesting she had passed was a “reconstruction” of the original, with two professors’ signatures faked.

Cifuentes announced last week she had given up “using the degree” but ruled out resigning, saying she had not done anything illegal.

From Harvard to Aravaca

As it turns out, Cifuentes is far from the only one with a dubious degree.

Spain: Cristina Cifuentes In Madrid Cristina Cifuentes, pictured in Madrid earlier in April SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

The scandal has helped shine the spotlight on a host of other politicians who either faked part of their CVs or allegedly received special treatment to pass their degree.

Pablo Casado, like Cifuentes a member of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP) for which he acts as spokesman, admitted that in 2008 and 2009, he also passed a masters degree at King Juan Carlos University in special circumstances.

At the time a regional lawmaker in Madrid, the university automatically validated 18 subjects out of 22, arguing he already had a law degree. He never had to go to class either.

“I did exactly what I was asked to do,” he said as justification. His tutor Enrique Alvarez Conde – the same one used by Cifuentes – has since been suspended by the university.

Casado was also found to have written on his CV that he had a post-graduate degree from Harvard University.

That turned out to be a four-day course linked to the Ivy League university in Aravaca, a Madrid district.

Such was the derision that Netflix Spain posted on Twitter a picture of its popular series Stranger Things, replacing the name of its fictional town Hawkins, where odd going-ons happen, with Aravaca.

Other revelations include the Socialist party’s leader in Madrid, Jose Manuel Franco, who said for years that he had a degree in mathematics which he actually never finished.

Centre-right party Ciudadanos, a fervent rival of Rajoy’s PP, has not been spared either.

Its lawmaker Toni Canto admitted that he wrote he was an “educator” on his CV, not because he had any official training but because he taught theatre classes “for many years”.

As for far-left Podemos, its organisational secretary in the northwestern region of Galicia and regional lawmaker, Juan Jose Merlo, has resigned after admitting he boosted his CV by pretending he was an engineer.

In the northern Basque country, Julen Arzuaga, a regional lawmaker for separatist coalition EH Bildu, went from holding a “masters specialised in human rights” in his official CV to being a more general “university human rights specialist in a global world”.

‘Titlitis’

All, it would appear, have been gripped by ‘titlitis’, or an addiction to fake university diplomas.

“We have a fundamental problem, which is this idea of titlitis, or the idea that it’s good for our politicians to have a university degree,” politics expert Pablo Simon recently told the El Pais daily.

In many cases we’ve seen that this has been achieved with huge lack of transparency.

This, he said, gave the impression politicians are “buying university degrees just like noble ranks were bought in the 19th century”.

In a country with an unemployment rate of 16.5% where jobs are hard to come by even for those with degrees, the ‘mastergate’ scandal has caused bitterness.

Last week, news that Cifuentes had given up a degree she may never have passed was greeted with derision, with the hashtag #YoRenuncio (#IGiveUp in Spanish) a worldwide trend on Twitter.

“If Cristina Cifuentes can give up a masters which the URJC cannot ascertain she did, I give up on the Nobel Peace Prize,” joked @_23Sergio.

© – AFP, 2018

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    Mute Adrian quinn
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:40 PM

    Ridiculous sheep shedding all their wool for a fashion item.
    Sent from my IPad.

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    Mute Matt
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:55 PM

    Samsung tab 3 much better :)

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    Mute Michael
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:00 PM

    Has it crashed yet?

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    Mute Bee Shop
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:10 PM

    Yes, everybody buy a smart phone and watch the power elite really take control.

    The world has entered a new era of mass surveillance. In order to keep wealth among the few, we must keep the have nots under our complete control. The ones who think they are wealthy, they are the last if the elites worry. For they keep the wealth within the elitist boundaries.

    People pay extraordinary amounts of local currency to have their private lives documented, willingly.

    Democracy is at it’s peak.

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    Mute Paul Lanigan
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:31 PM

    @Bee – full moon tonight?

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    Mute Plucky Duck
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:38 PM

    iPhones suck…

    Sent from my Sega Megadrive

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    Mute Bee Shop
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:05 PM

    Full moon every night. The elite just cover it up most of the time.

    86
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    Mute nelll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:09 PM

    How do we know your not part of the elite???

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    Mute Bee Shop
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:10 PM

    I’m a bee.

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    Mute Jack Russell
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:26 PM

    Deep guys deep

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    Mute nelll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:26 PM

    There’s two e’s in elite and you could bee the elite

    43
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    Mute Colm Harpur
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:32 PM

    Surveillance isn’t new.. Santa’s been watching people for YEARS…

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    Mute Tom Ó Drisceoil
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:32 PM

    iPhone is amazing.

    Sent from my iPhone. All praise iPhone.

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:32 PM

    The moon is a waxing crescent this evening. Very pretty. Kids didn’t see it. Noses stuck in their smart phones. ho hum.

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    Mute nelll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:51 PM

    Probably have an app that gives them a close up view of the moon via their smart phone

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    Mute kev
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    Dec 6th 2013, 6:56 AM

    Bee fabulous!

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    Mute Vril Haarp
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    Dec 6th 2013, 9:43 AM

    Im watching you

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    Mute Declan Conway
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    Dec 6th 2013, 10:47 AM

    @Plucky Duck – one of the funniest comments I’ve read in a while.

    Just sprayed my tea over my keyboard, but no matter.

    (It’s a ZX Spectrum, I’ve just upgraded from the ZX81).

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    Mute Catríona Ní Terrett
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    Dec 6th 2013, 12:55 PM

    And it a bit creepy that he know when you have been sleeping,knows when you are awake, good and bad…Weird!

    1
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    Mute sluazcanal
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:45 PM

    Typical Rip off Jordan.

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    Mute Gary Jordan
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:18 PM

    I resent that comment

    779
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    Mute Simon Gregory
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:40 PM

    If you pay that kid of money for a product like this you are a fool plain and simple and you deserve to be ripped off

    96
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:00 PM

    Or they might have more disposable income than you, each to their own I guess!

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    Mute Simon Gregory
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    Dec 6th 2013, 7:54 AM

    Do you not feel that that kind of disposable income can be better spent on something meaningful or donated to someone in need. I have an iPhone myself but I didn’t pay or it, bill pay free phone. I have disposable income but to say that €500 for a phone is acceptable is foolish, you can but a computer for €300. You pay that so people will see you with one, so that you have the “best” one available, it’s part of our society now to want the best an pay extortionate rates for it. So I stand by the comment it is foolish

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    Mute nocturnal paramedic
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    Dec 6th 2013, 12:28 PM

    Bill pay is basically hire purchase. You are paying for your iPhone throughout your contract instead of making a one off payment for the phone. Each to their own….

    4
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    Mute Yusuf Jamal
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    Dec 11th 2013, 11:44 PM

    The s4 will last at least 3 years. Then I will sell it for at least €200 to some kid because I keep my phone in mint condition.

    1
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    Mute Liam Hennelly
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:59 PM

    I got the 5C for €0 when I renewed my 24 month contract with O2 & my bill went down in price.

    32GB phone worth €700 for €0.
    I’ll take that.

    76
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    Mute sluazcanal
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:06 PM

    How much a month?

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    Mute Liam Hennelly
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:08 PM

    €55 per month for:
    Unlimited calls, data & texts
    100 international texts & 100 international minutes.

    €1320 over 24 months
    Minus price of phone, €700
    Is €620 for 24 months
    So works out at €26 a month.

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    Mute Colm Austin
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:09 PM

    What is your monthly base bill amount? I would prefer to buy out right and not be tied into an inflated monthly charge.

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    Mute Liam Hennelly
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:10 PM

    See above.
    €55.

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    Mute sluazcanal
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:13 PM

    Rather pay for phone and get emobiles unlimited for €24 a month with out the contract. Much of a muchness really.

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    Mute Liam Hennelly
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:14 PM

    Yeah, fair enough.

    Works out very similar,

    They have it all worked out!

    24
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    Mute Poppy
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:03 PM

    Best phone deal at the moment is prepay Tesco. Top up by €15 each month gives you unlimited calls to landline & mobile & 1GB of data. No contract & you get club card points for everything you spend, top up in store & get double points. No hidden costs or surprised bills.

    26
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    Mute Shanners
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    Dec 5th 2013, 10:01 PM

    I’m due an upgrade in a couple days. I have a 12 month contract with meteor that they no longer offer. They want 450euro off me and 37 a month for 12 months for the s4. Last year they only charged me 230 to upgrade to the s3. I’m not paying that and I don’t want a 24 month contract. Back to pay as you go with my s3 until at least the s5 appears.

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    Mute Rúairí O’ Sullivan
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    Dec 5th 2013, 10:51 PM

    Except your stuck with that you hone for 2 years!……but in 10 months they’re going to launch an iPhone 6c which you’ll want and you will have toy €800 for it………

    3
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    Mute Briain de Seadhach
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    Dec 6th 2013, 1:04 PM

    The 5C is a different phone to the 5S.

    1
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    Mute Karen Moroney
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:51 PM

    But it’s new and shiny and can do things……like….like….eh….like…. What does it do exactly??

    71
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    Mute Plucky Duck
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:59 PM

    It connects to the Internet…. And has wifi….. So shiny….. Somebody hack out my lung so I can swap it for one…!

    44
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    Mute JD
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:59 PM

    It does everything any other phone can do but perfects it.

    26
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    Mute Colin Daly
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:16 PM

    Always used Iphones and macs,ipads etc………… My whole life then used Samsung S3,then S4.Stupidly thought I’d give the iPhone 5s 64gb another chance,lasted two weeks and sold it on adverts,absolute sh**e.Can do f*ck all on them and Ios7 is pretty for girls.Interface camera processor and general usage is appalling.So I’m back to Samsung galaxy note 3. About 3 years ahead of Apple.Check what people in Mobile Phone stores use,very little Iphones. Boom………..

    60
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:19 PM

    Meh. Paid €120 for a Huawei, I buy credit when I need it and it hasn’t given me a day’s bother in around 18 months. Does everything an overhyped, overpriced peice of iTat does without the drama queening about it.

    58
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    Mute Sheila Larkin
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    Dec 6th 2013, 4:57 AM

    How do you know someone doesn’t have an iPhone? They tell you

    25
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    Mute Yusuf Jamal
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:18 PM

    Get the Samsung Galaxy S4, it’s much better. Get it for less than €500 and join meteor €30 unlimited 4G texts and data until match.

    50
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    Mute Johnny Reynolds
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:43 PM

    And after march, what do you get? One gig a month? And on 4G? No thanks, I’ll stick to 15 gig a month from 3 for €20

    37
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:59 PM

    Where did you buy an S4 at that price?

    5
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    Mute Yusuf Jamal
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    Dec 11th 2013, 11:42 PM

    Amazon obviously

    1
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    Mute Fiachra Ahern
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:13 PM

    Thank god I don’t have a samsung s3 as they phone has been destroyed by the last android update. Very embarrassing for Samsung again.

    35
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    Mute Shanners
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    Dec 5th 2013, 10:02 PM

    What’s destroyed? Mine is fine

    26
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    Mute P O Leary
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:19 PM

    New update today. Back working 100% again.

    9
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    Mute brian magee
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:54 PM

    Do people actually pay for phones? They come free with most contracts

    33
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:02 PM

    Greatest myth of all! Price plans are built to include the cost of the phones, it often works out more expensive!

    99
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    Mute brian magee
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:05 PM

    Still cheaper, there’s no VAT on a free phone so the mobile operator can afford to get you the phone cheaper than you can, so the recoup cost required is lower

    13
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:03 PM

    I’m not sure about that Brian to be honest with you, sounds suspiciously like some gossip you heard somewhere!

    31
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    Mute Niall Doheny
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:17 PM

    If ya have the money then why not buy one , if ya dont then jus go buy a cheap phone like a samsung or something !!

    32
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    Mute Michael Jardine
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:40 PM

    HTC one the best of the lot. Wouldnt swap it for any iPhone or Samsung.

    31
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:01 PM

    Nobody suggested that you should!

    34
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    Mute Michael Jardine
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:04 PM

    Your hilarious.

    10
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    Mute Darragh Lynch
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:24 PM

    #You’re

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    Mute saltaroo
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:30 PM

    You’ errr eh better not

    10
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    Mute Michael Jardine
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    Dec 5th 2013, 9:52 PM

    Another pedantic p***k

    13
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    Mute saltaroo
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    Dec 5th 2013, 10:03 PM

    That’s better

    17
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    Mute Benton Oswald
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:55 PM

    Nope you don’t get away with that bucko. If you are going to post 2 words on a forum and one of them is incorrect, you deserve what you get.

    32
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    Mute Michael Jardine
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    Dec 6th 2013, 10:31 AM

    Bucko? Away and fling shite at yersel. Yes I spelled that wrong too

    1
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    Mute Benton Oswald
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    Dec 6th 2013, 12:09 PM

    Just saying bing-bong. No need to get abusive and crude. If you’re doing sarcasm then spell correctly. Otherwise you come across as a bit of a tool.

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    Mute Stephen Carrick
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:48 PM

    Got mine in the states few weeks back on honeymoon cheap as chips :)

    31
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    Mute 19Ferg
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    Dec 5th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Where do you buy your chips ?

    154
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    Mute Stiofán De Priondárgas
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:17 PM

    China will just make an exact copy of the iPhone anyway for less than half the price, looks the real thing but the software is a tad off!

    15
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    Mute Gary Marshall
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:33 PM

    Anyone know how much a working saga mega drive with games is worth. Looking to sell it. Perfect condition.

    14
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    Mute savagecabbage
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:46 PM

    I like my phone and I’m angry about it!!!

    13
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    Mute Seany Mc Donagh
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:45 PM

    Fair pricy alright . I just buy the old iPhones off my friend when he upgrades :) 64gb iPhone 5 for 150.
    Wish he would change to android . Most I ever paid for a phone was 610 for the HTC Evo 3D . Loved that phone. Pity it couldn’t swim in a toilet though :(

    13
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    Mute Michael
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:03 PM

    Anyone want to buy a brand new unlocked,still in the box 16gb for E600 iPhone 5s I’m home in a week seal intact on the box!

    10
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    Mute paul kelly
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    Dec 5th 2013, 8:36 PM

    How much for a sony xperia z1..not joking.

    8
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    Mute Brian Gallagher
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    Dec 6th 2013, 2:32 AM

    Just buy a phone for $100. I guarantee it’ll last a lot longer than your iphone. Anyway, They all do the same thing right? Call, SMS, email and a bit of browsing whenever you’re feeling anti social.

    6
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    Mute Padward
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    Dec 6th 2013, 1:33 AM

    They don’t sell in africa?

    6
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    Mute Jay Warner
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    Dec 6th 2013, 9:44 AM

    Apple products are for idiots that can’t be trusted with tech… That’s why they like the comfort blanket of Apple only letting them do what Apple allows them to do. Oh.. And the pretty white box with the fruit logo on it.

    5
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    Mute Daddy De La Noche
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    Dec 6th 2013, 11:07 AM

    It’s still cheaper to buy one unlocked from America, and pay the customs fees when it comes to Ireland than it is to buy it from Europe, and that says it all really

    1
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    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
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    Dec 6th 2013, 4:05 AM

    Got a HTC One mini, best phone i’ve ever had. Fast, great camera and much better screen than the iPhone. Free with a 2 year contract on Vodafone. €35 pm, free VF to VF calls and texts and 100 any network minutes.
    As long as you don’t have to deal with their terrible customer service it’s a really good deal. Only 1g of data but sure there’s WiFi everywhere.

    1
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    Mute Paul Lanigan
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    Dec 6th 2013, 11:56 AM

    For anyone complaining about your phone…you need to hear this……

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpUNA2nutbk

    1
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    Mute Miss Filed
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    Dec 6th 2013, 8:59 AM

    Um… perhaps either “between…and” or “from…to” ???!!!

    1
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