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Sitdown Sunday: The strange religious congregation that took over a small US town

Settle down in a comfy chair with some of the week’s best longreads.

IT’S A DAY of rest, and you may be in the mood for a quiet corner and a comfy chair.

We’ve hand-picked some of the week’s best reads for you to savour.

1. ‘The Perfect Church’

silhouetteofcrosssymbolofchristianfaithinsideasacred Shutterstock Shutterstock

A religious sect which believed that if you didn’t sin, you would live forever took over a small town in Illinois. Former members alleged physical abuse, isolation and worshipping its pastor as a deity. What happened next? Guthrie Scrimgeour takes a deep dive into ‘The Perfect Church’.

(Rolling Stone, approx 26 mins reading time)

A wealthy woman, she loaned money generously — several in the room were in debt to her. Others looked to a self-published book of Rose’s teachings for spiritual guidance. She had served as the officiant at many of their weddings, and had even arranged the marriages of several couples in the audience. Some congregants had completely cut off communication with their own parents or grandparents because their families wouldn’t match their devotion to Rose and the church. Although Rose had been more than 80 years old, her death was completely unexpected. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Because Rose could not die. It had been explained to Morris and the other children in the church over and over again. This was essential to their beliefs, separating them from the other Pentecostal churches in surrounding rural Illinois — if you were without sin, you would live forever. Rose was, of course, without sin. It was understood that at some point during the service Rose was supposed to rise from the dead. So they waited.

2. Saudi Arabia’s deadly trade

A powerful investigation into the horrific exploitation, abuse and in some cases, murder, of East African women working as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, and the people who profit off them. 

(The New York Times, approx 14 mins reading time)

While the departure terminal hums with anticipation, the arrivals area is where hope meets grim reality. Hollow-cheeked women return, often ground down by unpaid wages, beatings, starvation and sexual assault. Some are broke. Others are in coffins. At least 274 Kenyan workers, mostly women, have died in Saudi Arabia in the past five years — an extraordinary figure for a young work force doing jobs that, in most countries, are considered extremely safe. At least 55 Kenyan workers died last year, twice as many as the previous year. Autopsy reports are vague and contradictory. They describe women with evidence of trauma, including burns and electric shocks, all labeled natural deaths. One woman’s cause of death was simply “brain dead.” An untold number of Ugandans have died, too, but their government releases no data.

3. Crying a river

young-blonde-woman-sitting-on-the-bed-at-home-watching-a-movie-from-laptop-depressed-and-worry-for-distress-crying-angry-and-afraid-sad-expression Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

We all have a cry every now and then, but some people cry more than others. As a self-confessed constant weeper, Lynn Enright set out to find out why that is. 

(Elle, approx 5 mins reading time)

OK, so I must take some responsibility for my daughter’s proneness to tears… But why do I cry? Why do any of us cry? Humans are unique in shedding emotional tears: other animals yowl and yelp but those wet sobs, that’s only us. ‘The reason why humans cry is that we feel a strong need for support or comfort from others,’ says Dr Vingerhoets. ‘That’s also how it starts, of course: as infants, we cry when we feel a strong need for food or for physical contact or warmth. But as we grow older, it’s also true that we cry because we feel a strong need for comfort – in essence, the reason we cry is not different: we want to make contact with others. When people see others in tears, that has an impact on their feelings of empathy and their willingness to provide support.’

4. Adolescence

The four-part Netflix series starring Stephen Graham is being hailed by critics as some of the best television in decades. Michael Hogan writes about why it is so powerful. 

(The Guardian, approx 8 mins reading time)

Each episode of Adolescence is shot in the same seamless style, without a single edit. It’s not only a stunning technical accomplishment – exactly how does it flow from overhead crane shot to in-your-face closeup, from corridor to car interior to play park, without us seeing the joins? – but it lends an immersive, unflinching immediacy to proceedings. The camera never leaves the action. Neither can we. It’s no flashy gimmick but a way of ratcheting up the thrumming real-time tension. Rarely has a state secondary school been so vividly portrayed as in episode two. It’s Grange Hill with smartphones and security lanyards. When Bascombe and his sidekick DS Misha Frank (Faye Marsay) complain about the stink, noise and claustrophobic chaos, the audience feel it too.

5. Pssst!

woman-whispering-gossip-in-friends-ear-at-workplace-in-office Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Gossip might actually be good for us. You didn’t hear that from me – but from Kelsey McKinney, a US journalist and podcast host who explores our fascination with other people’s lives and sets out to change how we view gossipping in her new book.

(The New Yorker, approx 17 mins reading time)

Gossip is amusing, even salacious, yes, but she wants to show that it is serious, too. Alongside discussions of TMZ, “Mean Girls,” and the “Real Housewives” franchise, we get sprinklings of science: citations of philosophers, anthropologists, neuroscientists, ethicists, and one senior lecturer in “the propagation of narratives and cognitive bias” at the University of Winchester. Studies are described, the neocortex invoked. McKinney’s big point is that gossip is a fundamentally human behavior, and she does not tire of making it. “While other species can communicate with one another, none can weave tales the way we can,” she tells us, lest we credit dolphins as nature’s true raconteurs. That distinction may not last long. McKinney reports that she asked ChatGPT to dish dirt, only to be turned down. “I understand your curiosity, but I must reiterate that I’m here to provide respectful and informative assistance,” the program primly informed her. When I recently tried the same trick, ChatGPT was over its qualms. “I love a little bit of gossip!” it announced. Artificial intelligence is gaining on us. At least we’ll go down talking shit.

6. ICE

Canadian actress and entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney was held by US immigration officials for two weeks in multiple detention centres which are privately run for profit. She tells the story of what she experienced, and the stories of other women she met while detained. 

(The Guardian, approx 17 mins reading time)

I restarted the visa process and returned to the same immigration office at the San Diego border, since they had processed my visa before and I was familiar with it. Hours passed, with many confused opinions about my case. The officer I spoke to was kind but told me that, due to my previous issues, I needed to apply for my visa through the consulate. I told her I hadn’t been aware I needed to apply that way, but had no problem doing it. Then she said something strange: “You didn’t do anything wrong. You are not in trouble, you are not a criminal.” I remember thinking: Why would she say that? Of course I’m not a criminal! She then told me they had to send me back to Canada. That didn’t concern me; I assumed I would simply book a flight home.

But as I sat searching for flights, a man approached me. “Come with me,” he said. There was no explanation, no warning. He led me to a room, took my belongings from my hands and ordered me to put my hands against the wall. A woman immediately began patting me down. The commands came rapid-fire, one after another, too fast to process. They took my shoes and pulled out my shoelaces. “What are you doing? What is happening?” I asked. “You are being detained.” “I don’t understand. What does that mean? For how long?” “I don’t know.” That would be the response to nearly every question I would ask over the next two weeks: “I don’t know.”

…AND A CLASSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES…

robot-dog-pet-on-light-blue-background-with-human-hand-giving-bone Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Is it possible to love a robot dog as much as a real one? Meghan O’Gieblyn writes about consciousness and emotions. 

(The Guardian, approx 19 mins reading time)

The dog was heavier than it looked. I lifted it out of the pod, placed it on the floor, and found the tiny power button on the back of its neck. The limbs came to life first. It stood, stretched, and yawned. Its eyes blinked open – pixelated, blue – and looked into mine. He shook his head, as though sloughing off a long sleep, then crouched, shoving his hindquarters in the air, and barked. I tentatively scratched his forehead. His ears lifted, his pupils dilated, and he cocked his head, leaning into my hand. When I stopped, he nuzzled my palm, urging me to go on. I had not expected him to be so lifelike. The videos I’d watched online had not accounted for this responsiveness, an eagerness for touch that I had only ever witnessed in living things. When I petted him across the long sensor strip of his back, I could feel a gentle mechanical purr beneath the surface.

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23 Comments
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    Mute Stephen Moran
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:18 PM

    Retailers “fuming”. I see what you did there Aoife, nice work.

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    Mute B2
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:55 PM

    Ha

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    Mute joe stodge
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:34 PM

    There will always be a black market for cheap tobacco, no retailers action group or government minister will end this. If they keep raising the price of tobacco the market will only grow larger.

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    Mute Ink Tonic
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    Apr 21st 2013, 4:49 PM

    They should put Garda Resources into preventing the illegal tobacco trade instead of chasing young lads for 10 spots of hash.

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    Mute Kenneth Bambrick
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:32 PM

    Fair play to whoever brings them in, a lot cheaper to buy them that way, than in shops.. 10euro for twenty smokes, keep up good work smugglers.

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    Mute Mick Walsh
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:16 PM

    I would imagine you are joking K, the smugglers don’t smuggle and sell out of altruism. The money they get (Not earn) is ploughed back into other smuggling operations such as more tobacco and hard drugs. In the mean time taxpayers like you and me are contributing to hospitals to help those with tobacco and drug related injuries while the smugglers don’t pay a cent towards it. By the way I hate smoking, the tobacco industry, drug smugglers and the present government and kids that are allowed cry endlessly on airplanes.

    14
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    Mute Barry Aston
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:27 PM

    God bless them missing out on profit that comes from a product that kills people. Sympathy should be short for the retailers.

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    Mute colm connolly
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:41 PM

    Ya sure the retailers make a profit on the cigs, but think of how much they lose from people not picking up a few more bits when in there shop to buy fags, and as bad as all fags are the cheap ones are pure nasty and are a lot more toxic

    42
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    Mute joe o shea
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:42 PM

    So government plan is to have each cigarette a euro (so 20 euro for packet) to try and increase tax take but this is only going to see increase trade in illegal blackmarket cigarretes or more people quitting

    73
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:56 PM

    Hopefully the latter of the two!

    33
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    Mute Derek Boyle
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:16 PM

    lf the goverment really cared about anyones health they would just ban them instead of increasing tax.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:31 PM

    Come off it Derek – that’s a ridiculous solution which never works and never has for anything to which it has been applied.

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    Mute Derek Boyle
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    Apr 21st 2013, 4:37 PM

    @Tony, l smoke myself, its the hypocrisy of the goverment to increase the cost and at the same time suggesting its increased as a measure to force people to give up due to cost. When ofc the reality is the goverment does not care less if you smoke or don’t, at the end of the day its one of the biggest influx’s of tax to the coffers.

    If everyone in Ireland stopped smoking tomorrow l doubt the goverment would say well done great stuff nobody smokes, you can be sure they would be trying to figure out how to recoup the 2 billion in duty and tax’s that just disappeared.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 21st 2013, 5:28 PM

    Regardless – banning them is no kind of solution as history shows.

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    Mute martobaby
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:26 PM

    Can’t understand why cigarette smuggling has been allowed to continue for so long ? You can buy a pack of 20 in very well know places for €5 ..

    71
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    Mute Charlie Melia
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    Apr 21st 2013, 5:52 PM

    Since its so well known then you’ll have no problem telling us where….. It may be the case but why do people need to regurgitate what government or vested interests like the retailers associations tell you….. Why not ask the question why there is a thriving market for this black market product? Could it be that neither the vested interest or the government have a clue how to deal with it? ….. The one thing that stood out to me was the €500 million of which €460 million goes to the revenue….. Meaning only €40 million of it is actually being used productively in the economy anyway, So €40 million is all thats lost to society… The €460 million would have disappeared into the Revenue black hole that is minding the banks and paying civil service pensions…. The loss to decent people and society isnt really that great. €40 million is a lot of money but a small price to pay when you realise the other €460 million isnt feeding fat cats……

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:43 PM

    I love how tabacco retailers (drug dealers) and government (protection racketeers) go on about how dangerous smuggled cigarettes are, most are just normal cigarettes without the taxes (protection money) payed on them.
    The state and tabacco industry, partners in lung cancer.

    68
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:34 PM

    The state and the drinks industry – partners in domestic violence? partners in heart disease?

    17
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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:44 PM

    They’re making money off it aren’t they? What annoys me is that they go on about raising taxes on cigarettes and crack down on smuggling and pretend its for the good of people’s health and not the bottom line. At least be honest about it.

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    Mute plato
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:55 PM

    €20 a pack , sure why not just ban them altogether, just like America did with alcohol during prohibition. Cos that worked out really well, no crime lords or criminal gangs developed there. The fact is criminal gangs are now making big money selling illegal/counterfeit / smuggled cigarettes. Raising the price of a packet of legal cigarettes to €20 is NOT going to address this problem.

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    Mute Padraic Reid
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:07 PM

    And your solution is?

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    Mute Joe Sixtwo
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:37 PM

    Successive government created this mess with their greed, easy target and soft money. State sponsored drug pusher only now the amount of tax that the government are demanding made a nice little niche for international organised criminals to set up shop here.
    Funny now they are doing the same with booze. Their way of tackling the drink problem is…..wait for it put extra tax on it and (a real stroke of genius this one) close the off licenses an hour early and restrict sales on Sundays. Ban Sales on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
    Economics and Governance of the lost and those who haven’t got a clue. Moonshine and mountain dew our new/revived industries.

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    Mute Brian D. Brady
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:22 PM

    Will they be discussing how a reduction in cigarette sales will be good for the Nation’s Health.

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    Mute Ocean Wave
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:36 PM

    Typical Govt BS.Die healthy.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:25 PM

    As I suggested in a previous thread. Offer a bounty to anyone that gives info to the Customs or Garda about Smuggling and or Selling illegal tobacco. The bigger the haul the bigger the bounty. And when convicted give them the same sentences as you would get for serious tax evasion.

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    Mute Shane King
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:36 PM

    So you want the public to rat out the people that they buy fags off for €5 instead of 9.50 I doubt they will get many tip offs

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    Mute David Hammond
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:03 PM

    I don’t think tip offs are necessary. All a customs and excise official has to do is walk down Moore Street any day of the week. There is just an unwillingness to prosecute people

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    Mute Shane King
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:06 PM

    I’ve seen adverts for them on supermarket notice boards

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    Mute Padraic Reid
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:06 PM

    You consider reporting a crime as ‘ratting’. Crime can only exist when clowns like you display such a selfish inane attitude. You and your type make me sick.

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    Mute David Hammond
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:10 PM

    It’s similar to certain shops, restaurants and pubs in Dublin city centre that sell alcohol after off licence hours and even on Good Friday. There are a steam of taxis pulled up to these places in the early hours. Unless the Gardi are asleep they know about them. They are just unwilling to do anything about it. Kind of suits me to be honest.

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    Mute Padraic Reid
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:21 PM

    My comment was meant for Shane King. Mick Jordan’s idea is a good one.

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    Mute Shane King
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:30 PM

    Aww padraic did I touch a nerve??were you ripped off by a little old lady on moore street.I’m sure that the gardai and customs can use there time better than busting somebody selling a few boxes of fats,there not selling dime bags of crack to school kids,now I hope this comment dosnt make you sick again hope you feel better pal :-)

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    Mute Damien Byrne
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:45 PM

    No its just they never get a real fine, and if they get a small one they refuse to pay it and because of over crowding won’t be locked up.

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    Mute Robert Ferguson
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:18 PM

    Cant blame anyone who smokes paying half price for cigs i would if i smoked,plus all customs rubbish about rat poison in cheap cigs lot of bull same as dye in fuel wrecks engines more scare mongrr tactics,so like the drinkers whomslip drink into pubs in temple bar good luck hope you never get caught.

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    Mute Toby Parker
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:27 PM

    Well I hope that the black market grows and grows and grows.

    We are being overcharged on nearly everything and at least I would have the satisfaction that this corrupt Govt are getting nothing from me on the products that I buy.

    And I don’t consider those involved in the black market criminals, the real criminals are those that got voted in under false pretenses and are growing fat off everyone elses backs.

    38
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    Mute Dympna Tapley
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:01 PM

    I for one will be buying these cigarettes if another cent is added to the list of a packet of cigarettes!

    33
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    Mute Paul Brophy
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:25 PM

    Smuggled, bootlegged or counterfeit?

    32
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    Mute Hilary McDuffy
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:52 PM

    As long as the price keeps rising and the greedy Government keep taking their big lump sum of tax from which is the ONLY enjoyment some people have left in this Country there will always be illegal cigarettes, and alcohol, No retailer group government hit squad or Gardai can do about it, Just look at the good job their doing stopping the drug traders !!!

    31
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    Mute philip farrelly
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:58 PM

    Don t smoke myself, too mean. Is it possible for someone to grow their own tobacco for personal use in ireland? Or legal?

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:30 PM

    From a horticultural point of view, it wouldn’t be worth your while trying to grow it here for your own use, the heating, lighting, space and fertilizer costs would be prohibitive and then you need even more heating to dry the leaves for use. Even with economies of scale, farmers don’t grow it here.

    18
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    Mute Jamie Boland
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:42 PM

    If the excessive tax on tobacco in Ireland was lowered by 2 euro and only rose with inflation, the public would be willing to pay the extra to the retail industry rather than fund crime on Moore st.

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    Mute Ocean Wave
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:39 PM

    CRIME?The Govt.are the criminals

    18
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    Mute Richard Fennelly
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:57 PM

    Capital cigarettes that are in the picture are a great smoke best on the black market

    19
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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:22 PM

    Just had a young lad call to my door 1/2 hour ago asking me do I want to buy cigarettes he was no more than 13
    I don’t smoke but it’s the chance they’re willing to take I cud have been anyone .

    17
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    Mute Patricia Ann McCarthy Moore
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:51 PM

    Long may they fume. The so called black market is simply free market Capitalism. The retailers and publicans can’t bear it when people start their own business.

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    Mute Michael Fagan
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:45 PM

    Those who buy smuggled cigaretter should also be fined, as should those found in possession of them

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    Mute bettyswollox69
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    Apr 21st 2013, 4:37 PM

    F&;%k the government, they have taxed the bollox out of everyone so I can’t blame people for using their brains and shopping Around,as we’re all told to do when it suits them to use that chestnut, and while I’m at it, f&;%k the retailers as well, they make a fortune marking stuff up to the point of ridiculousness, if they’re that pissed off they should tell the government to do one, F off with your tax increases, yis have enough ye greedy fatheads….

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    Mute Abi Onassis
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    Jul 24th 2013, 5:30 AM

    The government are making out smoking is the biggest evil ..more evil than hard core drugs …social engineering at its worse. The government do not represent the voice of its electorate, they punish their electorate and socially engineer a campaign to make social habits the irish and brits enjoiy as being evil..apparently having a drink and cig is evil these days..oh really? I can think of worse pollution like nuclear waste and trident scrapped and this so called fracking for gas that will cause earthquakes and how about car emissions? and inner city pollution? i could go on but you get my drift

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    Mute Abi Onassis
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    Jul 24th 2013, 5:16 AM

    At any given point, smokers have an addiction, its not something you villify the purchaser of ,as being worse than crack or heroin head, its not something to exploit with higher and ever increasing extortionate taxes, someone said if government don`t want smoking then ban cigarette sales in shops.

    I agree we don`t sell heroin in shops, and heroin is less addictive than nicotine.

    But as it was sociably acceptable to smoke until around ten years ago, then the government just cannot alter a social habit that is now known to kill as being the fault of the smoker ie addict..anymore than it can ban food sales to obese people who die from obesity related illness and are addicted to sugar rushes

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    Mute Philip
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:41 PM

    Ok so they say that retailers are losing €40million, why don’t the retailers go to government with €20million which they can spend on gardai resources dealing with the issue

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    Mute Joe Sixtwo
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    Apr 21st 2013, 1:46 PM

    Why should they ?

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:39 PM

    “Here’s €20m out of our tax paying pocket so that you can fund the people you’re trying to take wages from in order to allow them to do their job – which they can’t because you’ve not put the resources in place and so the Gardai have to prioritise everything they do”

    Makes a lot of sense…

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    Mute Shaun Kenzy
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    Apr 21st 2013, 2:16 PM

    I blame customs, you can waltz through Dublin airport and you wouldn’t see any customs.. Drinking tae I’d say… They don’t care

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    Mute Padraic Reid
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    Apr 21st 2013, 3:07 PM

    Is it just the waltz that makes them disappear? Would the same thing happen if you were doing the foxtrot?

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    Mute Julian Dowling
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    Apr 21st 2013, 6:03 PM

    500m lost 460m of that belongs to the exchequer. Retailers make a couple cent for every pack they sell, it’s not the retailers that are fuming its the government. How is it that they are legal to smoke but you can’t grow the plant yourself? Greed shown by this government and it’s predecessors is absolutely disgusting, they are supposed to be on our side.

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