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File image of Minister Michael McGrath. Sasko Lazarov

New Covid measures would lift if Omicron risks don't meet 'worst fears', Minister says

The government agreed a number of new measures on hospitality and household visits on Friday.

LAST UPDATE | 5 Dec 2021

MINISTER MICHAEL MCGRATH has said the government would lift the “precautionary” restrictions announced on Friday if further clarity on the Omicron variant “does not meet our worst fears”.

Current evidence suggests this coronavirus variant has the potential to be more transmissible and resistant to vaccines, but as the strain has only been recently detected more research is needed.

Ireland and other countries around the world have implemented travel restrictions and domestic rules in an effort to contain the spread of the variant. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath described new restrictions announced by the government on Friday as “precautionary in nature”.

“We are coming into the Christmas period when inevitably there will be more socialisation,” he said.

“We’ll all want to meet with the people we love and our family and our friends and so on, and we do have a new emerging threat in relation to Omicron and we simply do not have answers to some pretty fundamental questions about what the impact of that will be.

“I expect that if the findings of all of the research that’s going on globally into Omicron find that it does not meet our worst fears, then we will be in a position to remove those restrictions based on public health advice over the period ahead quite quickly.”

It is too soon to say for sure whether Omicron is more transmissible than other variants, but early indications from tracking in South Africa suggest that it is. 

Speaking in Dublin about Omicron on Thursday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it may be two weeks before scientists have a clearer picture of three important factors relating to the variant: “how infectious it, how virulent and to what degree will the new variant escape vaccines.”

Martin told reporters in Clare today that it is really important that people take up the offer of vaccination because “we know now that the unvaccinated have a disproportionate impact on our health services, on our ICU beds.

“It’s as clear as daylight that you are taking real risks if you don’t get vaccinated in terms of your own personal health and the health of others,” said Martin. 

“So, vaccination is key but also the emergence of antivirals will be very important early in the new year in terms of helping to treat people more effectively than perhaps earlier in the pandemic.”

He added that the planned childhood vaccination programme should commence early in the new year.

From 7 December to 9 January, nightclubs will close, visits to private homes are recommended to be limited to a maximum of four households in total, many indoor events are limited to 50% capacity and indoor hospitality will maintain its midnight closing time with further social distancing measures in place. 

NPHET and government 

McGrath said it is “vitally important” to maintain the government’s “good working relationship” with public health experts on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). 

It follows recent reports including in yesterday’s Irish Independent that said tensions are growing between members of NPHET and the government. The newspaper reported that NPHET members must now seek approval from the government press office before appearing in the media. 

“I believe, in general, the public trusts our public health advisors and that relationship between government and Nphet has been at the heart of our approach to managing this pandemic,” McGrath said. 

I fully support the decisions that we have made. We engaged with NPHET on Friday and they explained very clearly the rationale and the logic behind the recommendations.

Speaking to RTÉ radio this afternoon, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said members of NPHET “will continue to have the ability to comment on what is going on with this disease”.

“We’re only looking to ensure that for all who are commenting on this disease and helping us in our efforts that we’ve the same framework in place,” Donohoe said. 

The minister added that the government will decide in the next few days about the possibility of raising the €5,000 weekly cap on financial support for bigger businesses impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. 

Sinn Féin has accused the government of “mixed messaging” on the new Covid regulations, after the Tánaiste said that tightening restrictions at the current time was “peculiar”.

In an interview with the Business Post, Leo Varadkar said: “I think it is peculiar that we are tightening restrictions at a time when things are improving, from cases, ICU figures, and hospitalisations.”

However, the Tánaiste also said that he understood why the decisions were being made due to fears after last Christmas resulted in an upsurge of virus cases. 

Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell told RTÉ that the irony of Government complaints about leaks would not be lost on anyone, when it “had been plagued by leaks”.

She said: “The reality is that this kind of mixed messaging is of benefit to no-one.

It adds to the concerns of the general public, of businesses that are trying to stay open, of people who are wondering if they are going to have a job next week.

“It is incredibly frustrating for the general public.

“Having mixed messages now is not helpful to businesses or to those people who are going to work to try and earn a living.”

Additional reporting by Adam Daly and Press Association.  

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    Mute ianglen
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:32 AM

    At this stage , this offer (however well intentioned) is unhelpful to the whole sorry situation.

    386
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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:52 AM

    @ianglen: well the situation is that the American people voted for him. They are tired of the same old politics mostly sneaky liberal ones, that have bags of snakes and offered them nothing . Who in your opinion has been the best president of the untied states of America?

    74
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    Mute Leoideate
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:25 AM

    @Philip Brady: kennedy

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:27 AM

    @Philip Brady: as you’re the one that mentioned snakes.Can you tell us what do you make of Trump cutting funding by 22% to the National Health Institute and then making this “generous” offer?

    48
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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:28 AM

    *wants to cut funding next year by 22%

    20
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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:45 AM

    @Francis Mc Carthy: sorry Francis after our last encounter I won’t be engaging with you.

    16
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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:54 AM

    @Philip Brady: you just made my day and I will tell you why ..I just love it when a person puts up a ridiculous post that has absolutely got nothing to do with the article, & then comes back crying like a baby when a person asks them a simple question,that is about the article :-) You are so adorable :-)

    48
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    Mute Kenny Hyslop
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:19 AM

    @Philip Brady: What exactly do you think this article is about you moron?

    41
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    Mute Rowe
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    Jul 4th 2017, 2:25 PM

    @Peedur Dante:

    Hi Francis :)

    2
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    Mute Rowe
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    Jul 4th 2017, 2:26 PM

    @Francis Mc Carthy:

    Hi Peeeeedur:)

    3
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 4th 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Francis Mc Carthy: seen this one yet? Americans Say Civility Has Worsened Under Trump; Trust In Institutions Down http://n.pr/2us1PJx

    8
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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 5:20 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: First time seeing that Dave.Had a little chuckle at the tiny amount of Republicans who trust the media..

    4
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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 5:23 PM

    @Rowe: You still smarting from the fact that I threw at you regards Kate’s Law.Move on,let go,and get over it lad :-)

    5
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    Mute Leroy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 5:54 PM

    @Leoideate: Who mostly employed conservative policies…kennedy in 2017 would most definitely be a republican

    1
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    Mute Charles Williams
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:15 PM

    @ianglen: Sadly, both the child and Trump have severe brain damage.

    2
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    Mute B9xiRspG
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:22 AM

    Wow probably first time I had respect for the man.

    178
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    Mute Annie Citric
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:25 AM

    @B9xiRspG: Like he didn’t have an alternative agenda. Upcoming U.K. visit perhaps?

    213
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    Mute Jonny
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:31 AM

    @Annie Citric: It’s always about the agenda with you goons..

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    Mute Dublin Rover
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:33 AM

    @Jonny: That’s because it’s always about an agenda with him. He isn’t beneath using this awful situation for his own gain, he will win at any cost as his record shows.

    99
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    Mute The Dunes Of Inchy
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:43 AM

    The 22 million people that are about to lose their healthcare,will no doubt be “thrilled” to hear of this “wonderful” gesture of his..

    147
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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:07 AM

    @B9xiRspG: I wonder how many children die needlessly in his own country because of unaffordable healthcare.

    115
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    Mute Stephen
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:09 AM

    @Annie Citric: does it really matter if he has an agenda if the end result is the child gets the medical care that might save him?

    45
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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:14 AM

    @Stephen: The UK has some of the best children’s hospitals in the world. Do you think that all that could have been done hasn’t been done already?

    84
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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:23 AM

    @Stephen: Nothing is going to save that poor baby. I understand where the parents are coming from, but there comes a point when you just have to let him go with love.

    84
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    Mute EvieXVI
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:14 AM

    @Stephen: this baby can’t be saved – and Trump knows it. So yea it does matter – he’s using a tragedy to gain political points. That’s just wrong.

    57
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    Mute tk0CXKzL
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:49 AM

    @B9xiRspG: dont be fooled. he’s doing it for his own gain no doubt.

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    Mute The Thinker
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:18 AM

    @B9xiRspG: @come on. It’s not because of a kind heart that he’s doing it.

    17
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 4th 2017, 12:02 PM

    I really don’t care if he’s only doing it to sway public opinion if he actually does something

    12
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    Mute EvieXVI
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    Jul 4th 2017, 1:22 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Afraid even the mighty Trump isn’t a miracle worker.

    8
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 4th 2017, 2:20 PM

    @EvieXVI: I don’t know, he did manage to win an election

    12
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    Mute EvieXVI
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    Jul 4th 2017, 3:39 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Touché!

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    Mute Annie Citric
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    Jul 5th 2017, 8:04 AM

    @Stephen: I would not want to see this child denied, no. But cherry picking is not helpful to other UK families in need nor, as many others have said, the millions of those being denied health care in the US. My question is this: why now?

    1
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    Mute Mandy Seiler
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:46 AM

    Genuine question. Can some explain why this is a matter of the courts? Don’t they usually step in if parents refuse treatment? Although, i seem to recall a similar case a few years back when parents took their son to Spain for treatment. Still, the go-fund me has raised a good bit of money, it seems, the parents and doctors are willing to try. So what is the issue?

    61
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    Mute The Bob
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:58 AM

    @Mandy Seiler: If the child’s medical team disagree with the parents’ decision about what is the best course of action for a child they can go ask the courts to make a decision. Most of the time you hear about it is when the parents are refusing treatment that the medical team thinks is essential but in this case it was them thinking that the treatment and travel would harm the child with no chance of actually benefiting.

    92
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    Mute Liam Whelan
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:31 AM

    @Mandy Seiler: the doctors aren’t willing to try anymore. That’s the problem.

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    Mute Jeanniejampots
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    Jul 4th 2017, 2:04 PM

    @Liam Whelan: or the doctors feel that the proposed treatment and prolonging his life, such as it is, is cruel and unnecessary torture for the little fella. Doctors in Great Ormond St try to save lives everyday. For them to go this far means that they truely believe any further treatment is not in his best interests.

    41
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    Mute
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:58 AM

    I would do anything for child adult but life is only worth it if you can live it. I worked in a care home people spending years living on tubes vents etc what life is that these were people of all ages who had been involved in accidents. Pumped up with pain killers. As sad as is modern medicine should not keep this poor child alive nature took him along time ago. Let him rest.

    67
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    Mute Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:55 AM

    The media in America will go to town on this story, considering he is likely to place health care in America beyond the reach of millions

    32
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:02 AM

    @Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: take it out of their hands first and then put it out if reach

    11
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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:53 AM

    Dump is just using this poor baby and his family to garner sympathy. He doesn’t actual give a damn about people who can’t afford their own care in cases like this, as proven by policies and attempted legislations on his part.

    42
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    Mute shay o'brien
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:11 AM

    The media would have hidden this good deed also if not for his twitter.

    24
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    Mute EvieXVI
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:32 AM

    @shay o’brien: there is no good deed!! He has done nothing and can do nothing! It’s a twisted publicity stunt that is just giving false hope to a desperate couple.

    57
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    Mute Carmel Donaldson
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    Jul 4th 2017, 1:08 PM

    Would he make this offer to a baby from a Muslim family?

    18
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    Mute Al O'Saurus
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:28 AM

    Have to say – where are all the Trump haters now? Back to the woodwork with you.

    48
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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:42 AM

    Where is Trumplethinskin’s concern for the millions of American babies and children who’ll suffer under his zeal to take their affordable health care?

    115
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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:46 AM

    @Al O’Saurus: However well intentioned this is another just another Trump tweet that he has put little thought into.

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    Mute Clíodhna Ztoical
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:32 AM

    @Al O’Saurus: it’s a meaningless tweet and all he’s done is fan the flames of ignorance. Twitter is nothing but stupid people condemning the NHS and talking about ‘death panels’ with zero information about this case. There is no saving Charlie, he has incurable condition and his doctors state he is in pain and should not be made to suffer any more. I’m sorry for the parents, no one wants to see their child suffer but they are prolonging their childs suffering for them not him. The treatment the parents are taking about isn’t for the condition he has and the doctor who runs it has stated he doubts it will make any difference. Under an American health insurance system the plug would have been pulled along time ago or the parents would be bankrupting themselves to cover just basic treatment never mind experimental treatments.

    51
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    Mute Tip Top
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:52 AM

    @Clíodhna Ztoical: Comment of the day, well said.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jul 4th 2017, 4:26 PM

    @Clíodhna Ztoical: Well said. I don’t expect the parents to accept it, but they have done everything they could for their sick child, and no one could or can do more now.

    3
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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:28 AM

    Irresponsible arsehole to make such an offer. To give hope where there is none will only cause further pain.

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    Mute Void bringer
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    Jul 4th 2017, 10:45 AM

    @Liam Byrne: Well why don’t you say that to the parent’s, who hold for hope for their baby everyday?

    39
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 4th 2017, 1:47 PM

    @Void bringer: it’s false hope and that’s not fair on them

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    Mute Void bringer
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    Jul 4th 2017, 2:35 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: The whole thing hasn’t been fair on them or Charlie.

    As a parent I can understand they will fight every breath to see their child live.
    As for this ‘experimental treatment’…I dunno who knows.

    6
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    Mute Dave Hogan
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    Jul 4th 2017, 9:10 AM

    Way to go donald next stop the yemen.

    19
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:29 AM

    Apparently in a post the family are saying there is no evidence the child is not brain damaged and this wasn’t submitted at the court cases. Perhaps this is being reviewed now ?? They don’t say anything more substantive than that.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jul 4th 2017, 8:29 AM

    @Catherine Sims: sorry new evidence that should have said .

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    Mute Giovanni Casermaggio
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:11 AM

    He surprised me…

    5
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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Jul 4th 2017, 11:39 AM

    Welcome to 1984. Death by soulless beurocracy.

    13
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    Mute Dee Mann
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    Jul 6th 2017, 9:42 AM

    Fair play to TRUMP he’s damn if he does and damn if he doesn’t, he can’t win it came from a good place, there is a lot worst leaders out there then him, give him a break for some it’s so easy to hate him……… you would wonder were their minds are at

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