We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
OFFICERS COULD HAVE been killed or injured in an explosion near the border in Co Fermanagh this morning, the PSNI has said.
The explosion happened near to the Cavan to Clones road – a route which crosses the border between the Republic and the North multiple times. Police believe it was a deliberate attempt to murder officers.
Politicians on both sides of the border have condemned the development, which has been labelled by the PSNI’s most senior officer as “sinister”.
There have been no reports of injuries and an investigation is underway. Police have said they believe dissident republicans were responsible.
“At around 10.35 am this morning Police officers at the scene have reported an explosion in the area of the Cavan Road at its junction with the Wattlebridge Road,” PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said.
Police had received a report that a suspect device had been left in the area of Wattle Bridge on Saturday evening. The area was secured by police and a full clearance operation began on Sunday morning.
“The initial report received by police indicated that a device had been left on the Wattlebridge Road however the explosion occurred on the main A3 Cavan Road.”
Martin said that while the investigation was at an early stage he believed whoever perpetrated the bombing had attempted to lure police and army bomb squad officers to the area to murder them.
“Although this device was intended to kill police and army personnel the fact that it was placed on a main road the result could well have been devastating for anyone in the immediate vicinity.
This attack was indiscriminate and reckless and, whilst there is no doubt in my mind that police responding to this call were the target, the reality is that anyone could have been caught up in the explosion. We are extremely fortunate that the actions of officers who were first on scene meant that there was not serious injury or death.
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne described it a “sinister development” and expressed his thanks to police and army officers for securing the area.
Simon Byrne / TwitterThe bomb attack in Fermanagh this morning is a sinister development. A clear and deliberate attempt to murder @PoliceServiceNI officers. I strongly condemn these actions and express my sincere thanks to both the Officers and Army personnel for their work in securing the area. https://t.co/ewQDuJ0Dzj
— Office of the Chief Constable (@ChiefConPSNI) August 19, 2019
‘Despicable act’
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he strongly condemned the actions of those responsible for the bomb, “which could have had devastating consequences”.
“There is never any justification to use violence to achieve political aims. The people of Ireland, North and South, had their say on this issue when they voted overwhelmingly and emphatically for the Good Friday Agreement.
It is a considerable relief that no PSNI officers were seriously injured or killed when this bomb went off. We should be in no doubt that this device was intended to inflict maximum harm. I encourage anyone who has information on this incident to provide it to the PSNI, so that those responsible can be brought to justice and future attacks prevented.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan described it as a “despicable act perpetrated by persons with no regard for law, order or democratic principles”.
Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney also condemned it. “Terrorism and bombing has no support, no place and no justification ever,” Coveney tweeted.
Health Minister Simon Harris said the events as “deeply concerning”, stating:
It’s disgusting and despicable to hear as we do from the PSNI that a notice would be sent in, an alert would be sent in which actually effectively lured police officers and members of the army and to a very dangerous situation. Thankfully, no life was lost. But I share the views of I’m sure everybody on the island of Ireland, that this action is despicable. And it’s regressive. And it’s a throwback to a narrative that no one in this country wants to go back to.
And I do think it should remind all of us of the fragility of peace, and the importance of continuing to nurture the peace process, the obligation on everybody. And the absolute necessity to make sure we do not return to a hard border on this island.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One Communications minister Richard Bruton said the development underlined the importance of overcoming the current political vacuum in the North.
DUP leader and former First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted that her thoughts were with the officers who escaped injury in Wattle Bridge.
“A reminder of the bravery of our security forces. The threat from republican terrorists still exists. It’s time they left the stage & allowed everyone to move on. This was a clear attempt to kill,” Foster said.
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew said the attack was “totally wrong”, adding:
“Those responsible for this incident have nothing to offer society and need to end these actions immediately.
Anyone with information on this should bring it forward to the PSNI.
Arlene Foster / TwitterMy thoughts are with the police officers / ATOs who escaped injury in Wattle Bridge. A reminder of the bravery of our security forces. The threat from republican terrorists still exists. It’s time they left the stage & allowed everyone to move on.This was a clear attempt to kill.
— Arlene Foster DBE PC #ProudofNI. (@ArleneFosterUK) August 19, 2019
SDLP Fermanagh councillor Adam Gannon condemned the incident, and said those responsible must be caught.
“Murdering or maiming police officers achieves no goals and it is a crime that has no support in Fermanagh. No one here wants to see members of our community killed in their name. Those responsible are criminals threatening our community and they have to be caught,” Gannon said.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Julian Smith tweeted that he was “following developments in County Fermanagh closely”.
I commend the bravery of police and others working to keep us safe.
Gardaí said the PSNI had sought the assistance of An Garda Síochána with road closures as they dealt with the security alert.
- With reporting from Daragh Brophy
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Here’s the start of the slide. When I seen this I tried to remember one add I seen on Facebook and I honestly can’t remember one.
True and basically that’s their only real source of income ! They have a terrible search engine too. I bet you that they will introduce a Facebook pro account with a yearly subscription with some extra useless frills in order to compensate
I have adverised on Facebook, waste of money ( for me at least). But then I should have trusted my instinct seeing as I have never clicked on a FB ad.
Is it a bit strange that this is announced just before the share offering?
Not at all strange I reckon. They will reduce the price of the shares now, from the original stated price ($34-38 per share), and that will act as an incentive for more people to buy the shares in anticipation of the next big thing from Facebook. This ‘next big thing’ will then boost the shares value; then the punter would make a profit. Of course, that won’t happen, as the bubble appears to be bursting.
PS all of what I said, is just speculation. That’s what I think will happen :-)
The next big fine from Facebook?
Implosion
Thing, not fine
That headline is an out and out lie… I read the press release. They clearly stated that it was NOT saying their ads were ineffective that it was part of a general review of how advertising dollars were being spent by the company and how they might be gain a greater per $1 return
Am I reading the journal or the daily mail here
I had a look at reports from a few other media organisations and none of them report the claim that Facebook ads don’t work.
Could the author confirm if she made that bit up / was misled / knows some extra information the others don’t know?
This type of reporting could be considered defamatory if the claim is unfounded.
Hi James, Andrew.
Looking into this now. Thanks for your comments
Emer
Have you got a link, I clicked on both links and they both seem pretty clear. But I know there’s a bit of laziness (not to mention s**t stirring from time to time ) done by thejournal so ill approach with caution.
Facebook ads work but they are not even remotely as effective as other online ad formats. You receive a much greater return on investment from Google Ads that on Facebook. I’ve done a lot of online campaigns for businesses over the laalst 3 years and I find Facebook ones a money pit.
Jeez lads relax, I’d say of all the companies in the world, Facebook certainly doesn’t need private people defending it so vehemently!
Diarmaid, I’m more concerned about fair and accurate reporting to be honest. I want to know I can trust a media outlet to only report the truth. I have no interest in reading fabrication.
Obviously, mistakes can be made but I’m sure the Journal doesn’t want to get a bad reputation, and doesn’t want to be done for defamation.
It’s hardly defamation to point out that spending money on Facebook Ads is not the best thing to do with it, given the dire conversion rates (even just to get likes never mind sales) and the expense involved.
Fagan, the article has since been amended. It originally made a much stronger, untrue allegation.
Thats what you call a zukerpunch!
Passing fad, be worth nothing in 10 years. Remember Bebo?
While the website might eventually fade into obscurity, I suspect the idea behind it will continue to grow.
Marketeers have always wanted information on consumers’ habits. Previously handing people questionnaires on the street was the best they could get. Now millions of consumers happily give detailed information on their likes, dislikes, locations, actions and friends. Gold-dust like this won’t be let slip away.
We’re looking at a dot com crash 2.0 in the near future. Just look at the over inflated price of 1billion for instagram
Facebook is a totally unproven medium where the ads actually are very small and too plentiful and contrary to belief very expensive. On top of that it exploded in value all of a sudden. If ever there was a bubble Facebook is certainly residing in it!
A company that legally owns all the deep personal data given to it by its 900 million users and they still cant keep advertisers on board, what do you think they’re going to try sell next? Anyone who goes for the IPO at that price is insane, still huge question marks about its money making potential.
it just amazes me its taken this long for any company to cop on. how many users of Facebook actually take a blind bit of notice to the rather annoying advert on their personal space?, few if any I believe. I reckon GM’s move is only the beginning, facebook, like groupon are way over valued & I sense another bubble bursting with this 100 billion valuation, absolute madness.
I always believed Facebook had great advertising potential. But the very first poster made me also realise I don’t remember a single specific ad on Facebook. YouTube on the other hand, I remember plenty. Video just had a way bigger impact. It always demands your attention. They play before what you want to see. They may need to shift advertising style on Facebook. But will people put up with it more invasive ads on there?
Wait till it goes public and we’ll see how long the shareholders share Mark Zuckerberg’s “vision” for Facebook. If they don’t get the return they are expecting year on year, he’ll be gone, with Facebook following in his footsteps as it will become so commercialised, people will turn away from it in droves.
not so, he has cleverly created a scenario that he retains more voting rights than any group or individual share holding.
Not really, considering he’s retaining over 57.3% of voting rights as his are Class B shares compared with the Class A shares that are being offered and therefore ten-fold of the voting rights.
Its the dot.com bubble for Facebook generation, over valued with no real revenue stream
People are goldfish where economics are concerned, Governments depend on that fact.
Facebook ads are the perfect way to go for many start up and SMEs
They are the worst format for an SME. Google AdWords have a much greater conversion rate and are significantly cheaper. Facebook can be good for branding but have poor conversion to sales.
The value of Facebook, like Twitter & Instagram is based primarily on perception IMHO. Perception is by it’s nature fleeting which could make FB et.al a very bad long term investment.
Dead right mark. Good short term investment though I would say alot of the politicians in the states will make a fortune with all the pre IPO stock they got in return for relaxing privacy protection for Facebook. It’s a bad long term investment, can see zuckerburg retiring in a year or two and hanging up his Facebook hat and putting on a investment firm hat instead.
Is it just me or do adds not work in general?
The only adds that seem to have some slight effect on me are the ones for food.
But even then it just makes me a tad peckish – not wanting to go out and buy that specific product.
I honestly can’t understand how people would be influenced by advertisements on TV, the internet or anywhere else.
Whoa everybody – looks like we got ourselves a ‘Thinker’
Aranthos, brand awareness is huge, most people that go into a shop, any type of shop will generally go for the safe option, if you have seen the brand name , either subtly, or in a more obvious way you will be more inclined to go for that product.
While alot of people hunt for value, most people just go with whats handiest and known.
In fact, most people dont even know why they are purchasing a particular product, as arrogant as that sounds, its actually true.
Never have clicked on a Facebook add, never will! The app on Iphone is so crap these days clicking on adds is the the last thing on my mind ….!!
You don’t have to click on ads for them to be effective. Display ads can often be charged on a Cost-per-thousand-impressions basis, indicating that someone seeing the ad can be effective enough, even without clicking.
looks like the “wheels” are falling off Facebook….
Facebook is for kids, kids aint interested in ads.
Most face book users are between 25-40. The fact that it is not for Kids is what has made it so long lasting. Myspace and Bebo were for kids, they were dropped when people left teenage years behind.
GM’s marketing manager should be asked why they choosed FB to advertise cars seeing that FB’s target audience is 15-25 yr olds who probably dont buy cars !
Brand awareness, same as why banks here, go all out to get students signed up. They are still continuing to spend 30mn on content for Facebook.
He will also be the toast of GM for making their brand a global talking story this month, every time the IPO is mentioned, General Motors page will be mentioned.
I reckon they’ll get a good few likes on the page as a result of all this.
There customer base is China, don’t need us.
have your say