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File image: Keith Quinn pictured in 2014 Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Former League of Ireland footballer who was caught moving €2.7 million in heroin is jailed

The court heard that Quinn had “a very significant gambling problem”.

A FORMER PROFESSIONAL footballer who was caught moving over €2.7 million of heroin has been jailed for four years.

Keith Quinn (32) received a package containing the heroin at his place of work in an industrial estate in west Dublin. Soon afterwards he met with another man and then delivered the package to a nearby address.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Quinn, who was previously a professional footballer with Sheffield United and several League of Ireland clubs, had “a very significant gambling problem” and that there was “a hold over him” due to debts he had accrued.

Quinn of Monastery Gate Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on 5 August 2020.

He has four previous convictions for minor road traffic offences.

Alan Quinn (41), the accused’s older brother and a former footballer for the Irish national team, gave evidence before the court that his brother had a good upbringing and none of the family has any convictions.

Quinn said he did not condone what his brother did, but he does not think his brother “is a bad lad”. He said his brother is not a drug dealer and he deserves a second chance.

Passing sentence today, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Quinn to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment.

Judge Codd suspended the final three-and-a-half years of the sentence on strict conditions including that he undergo residential treatment for gambling addiction, if deemed appropriate by the Probation Service.

‘Do nothing until I get there’

Detective Garda Liam Aherne told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that in August 2020, police authorities in the UK became suspicious of a package travelling through the UK which had been sent from the Netherlands and had a final destination in Ireland.

Garda Aherne said UK police opened the package and determined that it contained heroin before contacting gardaí. An operation was put in place to continue the delivery and on the date in question, a detective dressed in a UPS uniform delivered the package to the accused’s work address in the Dublin industrial estate.

The package, which was had the name “Keith” on the address label, was given to Quinn who sent a photo of it to his co-accused. He received a text back saying “Do nothing until I get there”.

Quinn put the package in his car and drove alongside the co-accused in a separate car to another part of the industrial estate. Quinn entered a premises on his own and then came out without the package.

He and his co-accused were arrested shortly thereafter and the package was recovered. The total value of the heroin was €2,769,130.

In an interview with gardaí, Quinn claimed that he knew “nothing suspicious” about the package and that he thought it might contain medicine for his daughter. He told gardaí that he had a gambling problem and had split up with the mother of his child because of this.

Quinn told gardaí that sending the photo of the package to his co-accused was something he would do on a routine basis. Berry told the court that it was the prosecution’s case that there was “a pattern of communication” between the two.

Detective Aherne agreed with Michael O’Higgins SC, defending, that his client had 14 siblings and that he is the youngest member of the family. His siblings include former Ireland international footballers Alan Quinn and Stephen Quinn (35).

The detective agreed with counsel that his client was signed to the Sheffield United academy and was given a professional contract at the age of 18, but he returned to Ireland following the death of his mother.

Aherne agreed that Quinn is “deeply ashamed” of his actions and that his involvement was out of “stupidity” rather than “inherent badness”.

The detective agreed with counsel that his client displayed a “very marked reluctance” to discuss the people who got him involved in the offence and that he was in fear. He agreed that Quinn appears to have a significant problem with gambling.

‘very bad judgement’

O’Higgins said the drugs are not his client’s and that he was a “conduit”. He said his client’s employment in a logistics organisation was “very appropriate” to allow him to be “targeted” by others.

Counsel said his client has “a very significant gambling problem”, that there was “a hold over him” due to debts he had accrued and that there was no material gain. He said his client was guilty not just of the crime, but also of “very bad judgement”.

Passing sentence, Judge Codd said it was “quite clear the accused was a cog in the distribution of the drugs”. She said that while he was not benefiting financially, he breached the trust of his employer by using his place of work.

She said that while Quinn did not know what was in the package, “clearly the circumstances were enough to give rise to suspicions”.

She said his involvement was in the lower level and appears to have been due to his being in the throes of a gambling addiction.

Judge Codd set a headline sentence of twelve-and-a-half years. She said she would have set it higher if he had not been under duress and was personally profiting from the offence.

She said she took into account by way of mitigation his guilty plea, his expression of remorse and shame, his personal circumstances, his lack of previous convictions for offences of this nature, his good work history and his pro-social family.

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    Mute Keith Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:06 AM

    Brilliant stuff Christine – looking forward to seeing how this pans out over the coming hours/days :)

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    Mute Damien Dineen
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    Mar 28th 2016, 2:11 PM

    This is a brilliant read! Thanks guys!

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 2:48 PM

    Thanks Damien, much appreciated.

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    Mute An Observer
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:10 PM

    Policeman has just been shot outside Dublin Castle. This is getting serious. I’m going down to the GPO, my brother works there as a messenger,he might know what’s going on in the city.

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    Mute domas1507
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:01 PM

    Me and my sister are heading to the Jacobs factory. Heard all the shops close by are vacant. We haven’t eaten in a few days . Mam told us to stay away bu she’s looking after our little brother now and I don’t think she will be angry when we bring back food. She looks so sad recently. We really can’t wait to put a smile on her face. I’ll let ye know how we get on

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    Mute domas1507
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:20 PM

    We’re standing on bishop’s street now. The shops aren’t vacant they are all smashed up. There is food we could never imagine eating just sitting there. Come on Mary let’s get it. “That’s stealing christy, mam will kill us for doing that”. Look if we don’t take it someone else will,and look at all that bread and cakes. Jesus we could eat for a week on that stuff. I know it’s missus murphys shop but she’s always been good to us and I think if it’s going to be taken shed like us to have it. You wait here Mary I’ll go and get it yiu just let me know if anyone comes ok? “OK christy but be careful the army are everywhere “. I’ll be grand , just imagine the feed we are going to have tonight

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    Mute domas1507
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:32 PM

    Mary here. Here come christy now . I’ve beverage seen such a smile on his face . Look at all that food he has . He was right we will eat for a week on what’s in his arms. …why has he stopped running? “Chrisy get up your after dropping all the food” “CHRISTY ….CHRISTY … CHRISTY”. he’s not moving. I have to go and see what’s wrong . I’m coming christy … Jesus what’s that pain … I can’t stand . Mam is going to be really angry with us now I think

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    Mute Beano
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:31 PM

    I really hope the rebels help achieve freedom. Can you imagine if in 100 years time we have streets full of British shops, buy British goods, support British football teams and watch British TV….what a travesty that will be! ;)

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    Mute Noah Wilson
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:39 PM

    And a bunch of Tories running the country.

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    Mute An Observer
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:11 PM

    I was just talking to one of the rebel fighters, I found a pistol on the ground and I’m joining them. I see what they are trying to achieve,I couldn’t before but she made me see it has to stop. I want my grandchildren to live as Irish citizens and in control of their own destiny. Shots are being fired now, this is madness. I’ve never used a gun before but if anyone believes in a free Ireland, join us. This is our chance.

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    Mute monkeysocks
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:35 AM

    Bugger….I was all set to go

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:48 AM

    Great idea , this will be interesting . well done TheJournal. !

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    Mute Lucy Legacy
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    Mar 28th 2016, 2:11 PM

    What a great idea Christine and the Journal. On bus into town and half expecting to hold witness

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 2:48 PM

    Thanks Lucy, appreciate that. Be careful out there :)

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    Mute An Observer
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:50 PM

    Christine, a man named Pearse read out a Proclamation outside the GPO over 40 minutes ago. He was declaring Ireland a Republic,whatever that is. People don’t know what’s going on, my brother was evacuated from the GPO but I can’t find him. Now Davy’s pub at Portobello has been stormed.

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:17 PM

    Be careful if you go out looking for your brother. There are British troops around Sackville Street trying to get close to the GPO and there’s a good bit of gunfire between the two sides right now. You might want to leave it for a while and see if he can make it home by himself.

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    Mute Ciarán
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:22 PM

    I’ve just spoken to your brother, He said meet him down by the five lamps.

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    Mute An Observer
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:24 PM

    Me Ma is looking for us both, she s going around the city. I think my brother is sending messages to other rebels in the Jacobs factory…

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    Mute Welshhibby
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    Mar 28th 2016, 3:37 PM

    I hear there were Boos and jeers when he read it out. This seems very unpopular.

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    Mute An Observer
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:47 AM

    I don’t see how these fellas are going to change anything. Not against the might of the British. Sure what advantages will we have by being separate anyway?

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    Mute Socrates Is Alive
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:49 PM

    Brilliant idea! I’m refreshing every few minutes. My poor battery

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Mar 28th 2016, 3:40 PM

    Well done Christine and Co. Fascinating reading. I didn’t realise that there was a Finn and a Swede taking pot shots from the GPO as well. Great to read the minute by minute account though. Maybe the rebels will win this time.

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:48 PM

    Thanks Sean, appreciate it. The story of the Finn and the Swede is so interesting. They were both in the GPO all week. It seems the Swedish man made it home soon after the Rising, but the Finnish man was kept prisoner in Kilmainham afterwards. You can read more about it here, if you’re interested: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/ordic-rebels-%E2%80%93-the-swede-and-finn-who-fought-in-the-gpo-1916-1230007-Dec2013/

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Mar 28th 2016, 7:25 PM

    Thanks for that. Really interesting side story. A close relative was in the GPO fighting. I should imagine that they crossed paths at some stage. I’ll never know though. He was imprisoned in Wales though but was released at Christmas along with the others in Frongoch.

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    Mute For Connolly
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    Mar 28th 2016, 3:30 PM

    Just seeing this article now. Brilliant stuff Christine!

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:49 PM

    Thanks very much. There’ll be a good bit of stuff about your namesake to come over the week!

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    Mute I Pee Freely
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:40 AM

    But it wasn’t a hundred years ago today it was was only ninety-nine years and eleven months.

    20
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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:54 AM

    We had this discussion a lot about whether to do this on the actual date of the anniversary or on the date when all the State commemorations are taking place. In the end, we decided to go with the latter. We will of course still be doing a series of articles on the actual dates (24th April – 29th April) but this liveblog will be following events from when they began on Easter Monday 1916.

    Anyone got any thoughts on this, feel free to throw me a mail. I’m christine@thejournal.ie.

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    Mute Jason
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:03 AM

    How about a bit of coverage for events outside Dublin?

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    Mute OU812
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:04 AM

    If you made a decision to follow events the events of Easter Monday, you’d be doing them on April 24th.

    This is NOT the centenary.

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    Mute Pat Mangan
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:17 AM

    In 1916, was the day chosen because it was April 24th or because it was Easter Monday? Go for it Journal.

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    Mute I Pee Freely
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:20 AM

    Hi Christine some very valid points there can we discuss this further over dinner perhaps?

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    Mute Ciarán
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:21 AM

    Well it took place in Dublin, Why don’t you tell us what’s going on outside of Dublin?

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:21 AM

    @Jason: You can see all of our coverage here (including some events from around the country yesterday in the liveblog, and there’ll likely be some later today too): http://www.thejournal.ie/1916/news/

    @OU812 I understand where you’re coming from on this, and as I said above, it was something we talked about a lot – but since all of the main commemorations are taking place this week, we decided to run the liveblog now to coincide with Easter Monday.

    @Pat Mangan: Thanks, much appreciated!

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    Mute Jason
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:24 AM

    Ciaran, Enniscorthy rose too; it’s why the state are holding a full ceremony here today. Enniscorthy rose and didn’t surrender until may 1st.

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:25 AM

    @I Pee Freely: Let me get through today’s liveblog first :)

    39
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    Mute Gene Parmesan
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:20 PM

    Well Christine…tis a work of fiction. I can clearly see trams working in those pictures.

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    Mute The IMF are here
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:25 PM

    Out of curiosity, when did the State or indeed its people decide to commemorate Easter Monday’s rising every Easter Sunday?

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    Mute Ciarán
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:07 PM

    I call for a joint blog so, For the comrades of Enniscorthy to be included and be remembered for there brave stand with the Men and woman of the Dublin Rising. Their story is seldom told. Go Raibh Maith agat.

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    Mute Lazlo Saint Pierre
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:37 PM

    Hi Christine, The text in the article is almost unreadable in “night mode”, a lighter colour is needed.Thx.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Mar 28th 2016, 6:02 PM

    Yes but most of us will be at work that day.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Mar 28th 2016, 6:59 PM

    Jeez,
    From reading the comments above you can see one of the reasons why the Rising was doomed to failure.

    Lads, its only makey-uppey, it isn’t really happening so suspend disbelief for a while and just go with it ffs.

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:26 PM

    It was mad to go digging trenches in the Green, they should have taken Dublin Castle instead.

    18
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    Mute Jason
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:53 AM

    Enniscorthy is the place to be today. Full state service and air corps flyover. Community based events. Weather great, gonna be a great day for an old historic and proud town.

    17
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    Mute Ciadhra
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    Mar 28th 2016, 1:28 PM

    Ah Jason you’re ahead of our time.

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    Mute Dermot Bohan
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    Mar 28th 2016, 2:52 PM

    Great idea.

    16
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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 28th 2016, 2:59 PM

    Thanks Dermot, much appreciated. Solid surname you’ve got there by the way :)

    23
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    Mute Ghandi
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    Mar 28th 2016, 3:33 PM

    Mayhem! I’m gonna cycle into town via the backstreets now and help myself to that cutlery in Clery’s that I couldn’t afford yesterday. WOOHOO!

    14
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    Mute Ian Begley
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:59 PM

    Balls, I slept it out! Next time around I’ll be there, lads.

    12
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    Mute An Observer
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:29 PM

    I’m still looking for me brother. Mr Doyle from Great Britain street says that he saw him running from the British soldiers at Kingsbridge Railway station. I hope he’s alright, he was carrying messages for the Rebels. If they catch him,he’s in for it. I made my way back to the GPO, one of the soldiers left me in through the boarded up window so I can wait for him. The mood is so tense now. The Rebels know the Lancers are going to want revenge for the killings outside.

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    Mute Garry J
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:44 PM

    This is great stuff, proud Irishman following along here from Canada

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    Mute Martin O Donnell
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    Mar 28th 2016, 4:42 PM

    Great stuff

    6
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    Mute NiallD
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    Mar 28th 2016, 11:51 AM

    They took the GPO at 11.45. Think that’s import.

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    Mute Supremo
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    Mar 28th 2016, 12:10 PM

    They were freedom or resistance fighters

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    Mute Patricia Ryan
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    Mar 28th 2016, 8:55 PM

    Have been following this all day… Just fantastic. Looking forward to tomorrow’s updates. Safe home……

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    Mute Trevor Weafer
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    Mar 29th 2016, 2:41 PM

    Really gives a sense of what went on back then. Thanks for the live blog Christine.

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    Mute Ghandi
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    Mar 28th 2016, 5:03 PM

    Bumped into The O’Rahilly there across from Rotunda. He’s late to the party as usual. Muttered something about an alarm clock before congratulating me on my haul from Clery’s front window.

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    Mute Alec Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2016, 10:42 PM

    The man shot at 12.13 in GPO was John Kealy who was married to my mother’s first cousin. His brother-in-law Charles Donnelly was also in the group in the GPO . Charles Donnellys father and my grandfather were brother’s. John Kealy was the Volunteers first death.

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    Mute Pat O'Connell
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    Mar 29th 2016, 12:32 PM

    Very enjoyable.

    No mention of the “first shot of the rising” which is claimed to have been fired in County Laois late on Easter Sunday night/Monday morning as the local Volunteers participated in the demolition of a section of the railway line at a location near Colt.

    This was to prevent British military reinforcements from reaching Dublin via Waterford after the Rising had started.

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    Mute Seán O'Ceallaghan
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    Mar 28th 2016, 6:19 PM

    The awkward moment when people forget we invited the English over in the first place.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Mar 28th 2016, 8:34 PM

    No the king of Leinster did

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    Mute Happy Dude
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    Mar 28th 2016, 6:20 PM

    These terrorists must be stopped. #prayfordublin

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