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California governer Gavin Newsom has faced criticism for the state's response to the wildfires, fanned by Trump and his allies across social media. Alamy Stock Photo

'I'll fill the hydrants myself': LA resident confronts California Governor over wildfires response

Ten people have died in the series of wildfires, driven by ferocious winds, that have raged through the Los Angeles area, ravaging communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, forcing more than 179,000 people to leave their homes.

A WOMAN FROM the fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles has offered to “fill up the hydrants myself” as she confronted California Governor Gavin Newsom over his response to the disaster.

Rachel Darvish, a lawyer who has lived in the Palisades all her life, was forced to flee her home along with many thousands of others because of the devastating flames.

Out-of-control wildfires are continuing to rip across parts of Los Angeles, leading to at least 10 deaths and the destruction of over 10,000 structures, as well as evacuation orders for nearly 180,000 residents across the city.

Despite the efforts of over 1,400 firefighters, the biggest blazes remain totally uncontained – with weather conditions and the underlying impact of climate change expected to continue fanning the flames for days to come.

In the video, LA-based mother Darvish approached Newsom, saying that her daughter’s school had burned down due to wildfires.

She demanded to know what action Newsom was taking in the battle against the blaze, and asked to join the phone call to President Biden that the governor was trying to make at the time.

Darvish questioned why fire hydrants in the Palisades ran out of water while firefighters were tackling the huge blazes. She told the governor that she would “fill up hydrants myself” and asked Newsom if he would do the same. “I would do whatever I can,” Newsom replied.

A spokesperson for Newsom has since told US media that the governor got through to Biden after speaking to the affected Darvish, with the US president announcing that the federal government would cover 100% of costs for the response to the Los Angeles wildfires for at least 6 months.

The spokesperson also told reporters that they later spoke with Darvish to connect her with recovery services and other information.

Government response

Governor Gavin Newsom has addressed the public several times in recent days, saying that the state and national government are “throwing everything at our disposal” to tackle the wildfires. 

Newsom has also overseen the deployment of the National Guard service members in affected areas “to protect communities in the days to come”.

Los Angeles officials and Newsom continue to receive criticism from local residents and political figures such as President-elect Donald Trump over the preparation and response to the wildfires.

In a social media post yesterday, Trump took aim at Los Angeles Mayor Bass and Gavin Newsom – both Democrats – for what he described as “gross incompetence” in dealing with the fires.

“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!,” he wrote, misspelling the governor’s name in an apparent jab.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has also faced questions about her leadership during the ongoing wildfires, which are still spread across Los Angeles.

los-angeles-city-fire-captain-frank-lima-greets-los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-as-she-joins-california-governor-gavin-newsom-right-and-senator-alex-padilla-d-calif-while-surveying-damage-during-t Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass pictured with city Fire Captain Frank Lima and Gavin Newsom while surveying damage during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Bass was away from the city on a planned diplomatic trip to Ghana when the Palisades Fire first erupted on Monday, and has been hit by critics for her leadership during the disaster.

Rick Carusoa, a Republican mayoral opponent to Bass in the 2022 elections, has accused her of “abandoning her post” in an interview with Politico.

The mayor, who did post a warning about the windstorm on social media Monday, declined to respond to a reporter earlier this week when why she did not return to the city “fast enough”.

On her return two days ago, Bass was confronted at the airport by a Sky News reporter, who asked if she owed Angelenos an apology for her absence during the fires.

Bass refused to answer as the reporter followed her down the gangway.

At a press conference yesterday, Bass stated that her “number one focus” was to “save lives and save homes”.

“When that is done, when lives have been saved and homes have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, and what didn’t work, and to correct or to hold accountable any body, department, individual, etc.,” Bass said.

“But my focus right now is on the lives and on the homes.”

‘Constant contact’

According to US media, it is unclear when Bass was informed about the fires and decided to return to California.

Bass had left Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson as mayor pro tempore in her absence.

At a news conference Wednesday morning, Harris-Dawson acknowledged the work of the first responders doing “heroic work in the face of grave danger.”

“Last night was one of the most devastating and terrifying nights that we’ve seen in any part of our city, at any part of our history,” he said.

a-person-walks-with-a-bicycle-amid-the-destruction-left-behind-by-the-palisades-fire-in-the-pacific-palisades-neighborhood-of-los-angeles-thursday-jan-9-2025-ap-photojae-c-hong A path of destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

On Wednesday night, Bass told reporters she had been in “constant contact” with local, federal, and county officials marshaling the response to the fires as she made her way back to the United States.

“I took the fastest route back which included being on a military plane which facilitated our communications. So, I was able to be on the phone the entire time of the flight,” Bass said, adding she also had phone access during her commercial flight “like most people do.”

“I was on the phone on the plane almost every hour of the flight. So, although I was not physically here, I was in contact with many of the individuals that are standing here throughout the entire time when my flight landed, immediately went to the fire zone and saw what happened in Pacific Palisades.”

Looting arrests

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna announced several measures yesterday to ramp up security in areas that have been evacuated because of devastating fires in the area.

More than 20 arrests have been made on suspicion of looting over the last few days.

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has officially requested the support of the California National Guard for both fires,” Luna said. “They will be assisting us with traffic control and critical infrastructure protection.

“Having additional resources, having the National Guard with us,” he added, “will help send a stronger message, keep people out of the impacted areas, so we don’t continuously victimize the people who have already been victimized.”

fire-crews-battle-the-kenneth-fire-in-the-west-hills-section-of-los-angeles-thursday-jan-9-2025-ap-photoethan-swope Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The sheriff also said the agency was working to implement a curfew that would run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. “within the specific impacted areas around the two fire areas,” he said, referring to the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton fire, the worst of the five blazes impacting the city.

He said he hoped to have it in place by this evening.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized that the curfew was not to punish residents but to keep the area safe.

Newsom also spoke out strongly against those taking advantage of affected areas.

“And to those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated,” the state governor said.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keego
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:44 PM

    Even god struggles to pay a Dublin rent ;)

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:10 PM

    @Basildon Joe: That explains a lot …

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:18 PM

    @Jack Hayes: Obnoxious git!

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:45 PM

    @Basildon Joe: Illiterate yob.

    23
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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:49 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: are you in your little underpants, grinding and gnashing your teeth, hands shaking? lol

    15
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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:04 PM

    @Dave G Doe: yes I especially like the part where he tells slaves to be happy with their lot

    20
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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:09 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: God is the greatest

    6
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    Mute Graham Bailey
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:23 PM

    @Dave G Doe: Estimates suggest that there are at least 100,000 different gods worshiped on earth today, so which one? Surely they can’t all be good?

    25
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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:40 PM

    @Meatball Martin: yes, all hail the mighty Odin. Now there’s a god who gets things done.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:52 PM

    @Basildon Joe: You like your fiction then?

    But to be fond of stories that glorify crimes against humanity is disturbing.

    8
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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:03 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: chuckling at your multiple accounts lol

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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:07 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Heat wave.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:24 PM

    @Meatball Martin: chuckle away, but I have one, and only one, account.

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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:26 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: another post ruined by you and Basildon Joe, I honestly pity you both, got nothing going on in your pathetic lives than to type absolute sh!te on here every waking hour

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    Mute daragh harmon
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:52 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: yeah nothing like sacrificing people. I suppose we are still doing it with the unborn.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 6:14 PM

    @daragh harmon: Jesus was sacrificed, wasn’t he? And he’s sacrificed again at every mass, and he body eaten and blood drank. Also, your god aborts more ‘unborns’ than humanity does.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 6:54 PM

    @daragh harmon: no one kills babies like God does tho

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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Jan 7th 2025, 9:17 PM

    @Basildon Joe: you’ve just proved my above comment….brain dead

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:46 PM

    Maybe Enoch and his god botherers should have saved this business rather than clogging up the court services

    151
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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:01 PM

    @Meatball Martin: Does your mammy wait for you there or does she drop you off and come back for you afterwards?

    38
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    Mute T S
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:04 PM

    @Dave G Doe: imagine being a gas-lighter so openly for all to see!

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    Mute A D
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:09 PM

    @Dave G Doe: That isn’t what happened.
    Unfortunately he is still being paid, despite being unemployable. (There is no way any Irish school will employ him.)

    26
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    Mute sean weir
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:15 PM

    @Meatball Martin: you couldn’t box your way outta a wet paper bag ,away you go with your talking shi##

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:15 PM

    @Basildon Joe: right eno

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:16 PM

    @Basildon Joe: it’s more than his hand you would shake

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:17 PM

    @Jason Memail: ah, babby is upset

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    Mute Injustice Cop
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:18 PM

    @Dave G Doe: That’s not why he was jailed.

    14
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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:19 PM

    @sean weir: chuckling at your angry and frustrated comments lol

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:30 PM

    @Meatball Martin: I am neither angry or frustrated,just a pity that you have taken over the comment section with your half dozen bs accounts.
    Oh well I suppose that is what happens when you don’t work and sit at home in your bedroom all day ,must be a blessing for you after getting kicked of X .
    You can maybe try for that job stacking shelves in your Dunn’s

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:35 PM

    @sean weir: ah, you are lol

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:57 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: maybe Allah and da lads will buy the lease

    13
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    Mute Brian D'Arcy
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:13 PM

    @Pork Hunt: Winner of the saddest comment of the day but you did have a lot of competition, from yourself I’d imagine.

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    Mute Dman
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:31 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: what does this comment even mean???????

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    Mute Shimo F
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:50 PM

    @Dave G Doe: no it wont

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:02 PM

    @Brian D’Arcy: surprised U could pull Ur head out of Ur jam roll it’s so swollen

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    Mute Paul whitehead
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:28 PM

    @Dave G Doe: what’s that got to do with Veritas?

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    Mute Paul whitehead
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:31 PM

    @Meatball Martin: TROLL ALERT

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    Mute A D
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    Jan 7th 2025, 6:44 PM

    @A D: Enoch Burke showed up outside the school again today.
    When asked by the media, he said “It’s not the first day I have been out in the cold. I am not protesting, I am reporting for work.”
    I suppose his father is driving him several hours to get there, and collect him. It’s obvious the fines need to be increased.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:05 PM

    @A D: isn’t his father in prison because he refused to accept a suspended sentence and chose to do the time instead?

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:08 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: Not his type of Christianity, he is an evangelist, much more Old Testament Fire and Brimstone type pf guy!

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:11 PM

    @A D: Nope, Daddy is in Mountjoy at the moment for assaulting a Garda in the court! He got two months!

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    Mute RIP
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:55 PM

    Another little bit of what Was a Great City centre, gone

    113
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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:18 PM

    @RIP: a Catholic book store that no one wanted or needed. I’m sure we’ll recover.

    138
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    Mute Marvin Dollery
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:21 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: You can just order your “religion of peace” brainwashing scripture online instead. Sorted.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:22 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: you speak for everyone? How cute

    29
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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:28 PM

    @Meatball Martin: well, it would hardly have gone out of business if it was wanted, would it?

    45
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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:28 PM

    @Marvin Dollery: you lot are just completely obsessed with Muslims

    19
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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:30 PM

    @Soundy Sound: technology

    4
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    Mute Marvin Dollery
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:32 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: No, you lot are. So much so you want Ireland filled with them. Then it’s game over. Women should worry about weak men like you ever getting power or say.

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    Mute Colm Molloy
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:39 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick:
    I hope you won’t find yourself in the same situation

    17
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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:04 PM

    @Colm Molloy: i wont be opening a catholic book store any time soon don’t worry, that would be a braindead business move

    17
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    Mute pat lally
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:26 PM

    @Meatball Martin: no, he just speaks for the majority

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    Mute Niall McEntee
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    Jan 16th 2025, 11:48 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: speak for yourself. I loved to visit that shop and did so regularly.

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    Mute Gerard Kennelly
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    Jan 17th 2025, 1:59 AM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: . the last good book I read was ‘Black Flies’ by Shannon Burke

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    Mute Thomas Sheridan
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:58 PM

    Another opening for a dodgy vape shop/barber/ nail saloon. Maybe even a coffee shop

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:59 PM

    @Thomas Sheridan: what’s dodgy about vape shops?

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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:00 PM

    @Thomas Sheridan: or another nice cafe like Tang a few doors down? must be hard being so miserable all the time

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    Mute Marvin Dollery
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:02 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: Somewhere for bellends to take coffee cup pics for their insta page. How exciting.

    29
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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:08 PM

    @Marvin Dollery: horrible people

    8
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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:19 PM

    @Marvin Dollery: no its a place you eat nice food and drink things. What is wrong with you lot? So much frustration and anger in you.

    14
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    Mute Niall English
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:06 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: which are already 10 a penny in most towns. paying 4 or 5 euro to someone to mix beans with hot water. of which the farmer is earning a fraction of 1 cent for providing said beans.

    15
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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:16 PM

    @Niall English: cafes are popular. who’d have thunk it?

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:03 PM

    Any remaining book stores’ fiction departments will be more than plenty.

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    Mute Injustice Cop
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:20 PM

    @Jack Hayes: bitter man.

    35
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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:02 PM

    @Injustice Cop: Which part of what Jack wrote is wrong?

    And which part is bitter?

    Would it not be far more true that it is you who is bitter that your religion of lies, misery and evil is being discarded by society, and that you will no longer be able to control people and commit evil with impunity?

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:01 PM

    @Injustice Cop: So you don’t understand the meaning of the word ‘bitter’. Get better soon.

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    Mute Ted Daly
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:49 PM

    @Jack Hayes: funny

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    Mute Injustice Cop
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:26 PM

    @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: No, it would not be far more true that I am bitter for pointing out a disrespect comment that can easily be interpreted as being from a bitter person. You think religion has the monopoly on evil? Risible and quite puerile commentary from, what appears to be an ingénue. Good luck to you!

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    Mute Injustice Cop
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:27 PM

    @Jack Hayes: have you ever heard the expression “be better not bitter”? I wish you well Jack.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:46 PM

    Lol this will rile up a few angry atheists

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:55 PM

    @Meatball Martin: I’m not angry, in fact I’m a bit said. Religious faith gives piece and support to many, that that is fine for them. Even as an Atheist I believe Jesus existed and wrote important pacifist teachings, that accepted the marginalised and downtrodden, which is all the more remarkable given the context of the time, a brutal Roman occupation. People are welcome to their beliefs once they don’t force it on others, or indeed use to to conquer land and minds.

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    Mute FFS This
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    Jan 7th 2025, 1:56 PM

    @Meatball Martin: Why would someone that is Atheist get riled up? It’s not as if they use the store.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:11 PM

    @Meatball Martin: The usual flawed logic from Meathead Martin.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:15 PM

    @Enoch Kochwomble: heh heh

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:16 PM

    @Jack Hayes: yup

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:20 PM

    @Enoch Kochwomble: lol

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:23 PM

    @FFS This: they are angry because other people aren’t

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:59 PM

    @David Jordan: Actually,not only is there no evidence that Jesus existed, there is growing that there was never any such character.

    But that would only continue the tradition of lying in the Bible and the Church’s teachings in general.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:08 PM

    @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: chuckling at your anger and frustration lol

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:25 PM

    @Meatball Martin: What is there for me to be frustrated about?

    The continuing rejection of evil is a cause for celebration, if anything, and certainly not a source of anger.

    Perhaps some relief too.

    For as time goes on there will be less and less evil, less and less abuse sourced in this religion that worships evil, in our world.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:30 PM

    @David Jordan: jesus wrote nothing, he would most have been illiterate had he existed, for which there is no proof. There is also nothing in his teachings startingly original either.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:35 PM

    @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: There’s independent evidence that a person, called Jesus by his early followers after his execution, did indeed exist. We find Jesus (not named as Jesus, but identified as a charismatic Jewish religious leader) mentioned by several Roman writers. Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger and Suetonius.

    While some accounts were certainly embellished by early christians (Josephus), most secular scholars agree these contemporary and near contemporary accounts give credence to the existence of an important jewish religious leader who was executed by the Romans around 30 – 35 AD, that christians would call Jesus. He was not the only Messiha.

    One of the most prominent other Messiahs, not long after Jesus, was Simon bar Kokhba, who led the Bar Kokhba revolt (135 AD). His death led to the ultimate schism between Jewish Christians and Jews (up to about 100 AD, Jewish Christian were permitted to pay in synagogues, as they were considered to be a sect within Judaism, but their decision to accru members who were not Jewish by doing away with Jewish Mosaic law, led to friction and opposition).

    It is fascinating to see that in the first couple of decades after Jesus’ death, his followers mostly stuck to recruiting other Jews, but after that did not work out a few disciples broke ranks and started recruiting non-Jews. This led to arguments within the early Jewish Christian sect, and in 48-50 AD, in Council of Jerusalem, they decided to end the requirement for Mosaic law, circumcision, and officially open their sect to non-Jews.

    But it wasn’t until c. 135 AD (around the time of the death of Simon bar Kokhba) that Christians were fully seperate from Judaism, an official document was published and read in Synagogues excommunicating them. This separation also consolidated Jewish identity, since identity is often only defined by self-identity, but knowing who you are not.

    It is actually fascinating to read about how the decisions they made were practical and logical, not directed by religious revelation or direction, but they just changed the rules to suit themselves as they needed more members. And that’s why they got kicked out of synagogues, too much prostalysing and opening up to non-Jews. So we have Christianity, not a sect that remained within judaism, once popular but withered and died.

    By the way, a lot of numerology (number 3, 7, 14, 40 etc.) and symbology in the the New Testament was written for Jews who would have understood the meaning of specific symbols. These symbols were incorporated into the NT when Jewish Christians were trying hard to convert other Jews from within Judaism. The meaning of this numerology were lost by the time Christianity got to Rome, early 2nd century, but they compensated with the Book of Revelations, that added a lot of symbology and hidden meaning about Emperor Nero (died 68 AD) that kept Roman citizens interested.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 6:51 PM

    @David Jordan: none of your “evidence” stands up to scrutiny. In a court of law, all the evidence for jesus would be disallowed as heresay. There were several Jewish teachers, indeed non Jewish too, but one of the criticisms by non Christian scholars of Christians was that these stories were allegorical and never meant to be taken literally. Even Josephus in his mention of Christians, described their beliefs as superstitious nonsense, albeit his mentions of the cult don’t stand up to scrutiny. Deification was common at the time, many Roman emperors were declared to be divine, including one contempory of Jesus whose name escapes me at the minute. This Emperor had an auspicious birth, raised the dead and there are contemporary references to his Gospel. I believe it’s all mythology.

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    Mute FFS This
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:12 PM

    @Meatball Martin: I don’t see that, where are you getting your misinformation from?

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:14 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: I am not claiming that Jesus was divine or supernatural, I’m merely pointing out there is reason to believe that there was a historical person who fits the description of a physical person no more supernatural than you or me, who likely founded an Jewish Christian (Nazarenes) sect in the early 1st century, when Judaism was was in turmoil due to Roman occupational and Greek Hellenisation. It’s just interesting to read how the geopolitics of the time and a few clever decisions made by the sect ensured Christianity ended up a dominant world religion.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:38 PM

    Even through some slime burps from the usual chatroom armpits, this has been a better read than the article. The problem with atheism tho is that it does owe part of its development to Christian theology

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    Mute Ian
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:58 PM

    @Meatball Martin: Atheists don’t give a flying fk about religious nonsense. The closure is a progressive sign that society is moving on from the church.

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    Mute Graham Bailey
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    Jan 8th 2025, 9:19 AM

    @Thesaltyurchin: Remember folks, go out and sin, or Jesus died for nothing…

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:13 PM

    Thankfully, we have Fianna Fail back in government, it is wise to keep the strong bond with the Church, as a staunchly Catholic nation, it is imperative that we hold on to wholesome family values

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:23 PM

    @Meatball Martin: what like shagging small boys and kidnapping women then selling their babies

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:24 PM

    @sean weir: enough about Sinn Fein, please

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:24 PM

    @Meatball Martin: Your ‘values’ (fear, hatred, mindless violence) are not Christian ones. You need to give up the oul’ multi-ID trolling.

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:02 PM

    @Meatball Martin: lol or the FG senator , Dr perv

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    Mute Paul whitehead
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:31 PM

    @Meatball Martin: TROLL ALERT

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    Mute Meh Meh
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:05 PM

    Let me get this straight, who wrote these “Religious” books? Certainly wasn’t a typing pool of Angels or Gods, it was busybody humans. And they certainly didn’t “channel the word of God”, maybe the other voices in their heads, not “God”. Good Riddance to fake industries like these, preying on the poor and gullible.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:15 PM

    @Meh Meh: In the beginning man created gods.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:21 PM

    Brenny has his usual multiple accounts out for this one lol

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:10 PM

    @Dave G Doe: I see he has the Dermot Blaine one out now lol

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    Mute Alex
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:20 PM

    Good news

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    Mute Clare Power
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:54 PM

    @Alex: well for stained people like yourself..yeah it is

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    Mute Ian
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:03 PM

    @Clare Power: poor little Clare. Did Alex hurt your feelings? Lmao

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    Mute Seanfhear míshásta
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:42 PM

    Good riddance.

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    Mute BadMomma T
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:14 PM

    About time! Hopefully the stop producing backward religion books for primary schools Alive-oh no

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:29 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: what Enoch proved is that if you are male and break a court order you will be jailed.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:33 PM

    @AnthonyK: no, if you accept that it is biologically impossible for a boy to become a girl, then you will be jailed

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:59 PM

    @Meatball Martin: he got jailed because he wouldn’t call a him a her. Absolutely bananas. If a non Christian did it no problem. Norma Foley washed her hands totally if it.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:05 PM

    @Pork Hunt: yes, but the anti Catholic bigots on here can’t accept that it’s not about religion, but everything to do with science, it’s a biological fact

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:09 PM

    @Dave G Doe: simps

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    Mute Alex
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:21 PM

    @Pork Hunt: I am not religious but I despise the woke trash.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:44 PM

    @Pork Hunt: he got jailed for disobeying a court order, which was put in place because of his behaviour. Which order he disobey again yesterday. Norma Foley couldn’t do anything as the hearing into his dismissal hasn’t yet taken place, why? because Burke keeps blocking it. She did keep paying his salary though, I wouldn’t have. He needs psychiatric help, he’s got a martyr complex.

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:05 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: he didn’t call the trans by the new name got kangaroo courted by school BOM and didn’t agree with procedure. Norma coulda stepped in and said cop on the lot of ya but was fine to stay mute and woke off

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:07 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: he got jailed because he ain’t woke, Brenny

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:20 PM

    @Meatball Martin: But it’s not biologically impossible for a physical male to become a physical female, and vice versa, is it?

    Whoever educated you failed you.

    Perhaps, on this evidence alone, you could take a case?

    On the other hand, your educators might cite your intelligence as a defense.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:21 PM

    @Pork Hunt: there was a hearing pending into his intolerant and uncaring refusal to agree to the request of a troubled teen, but before the hearing could happen, he verbally attacked the school principal at a social event, for which he was rightly fired. There are ongoing attempts to have a hearing into his sacking, but he keeps blocking it. And he keeps blocking it because he knows he will lose and his salary will stop. Even the evangelical groups in the US who originally supported him have run a mile. I blame the mother, poor lad needs mental help. This is 100% on him and his dysfunctional family.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:26 PM

    @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: so a male can become pregnant, have periods, and breast feed? I must have been asleep in class when they covered that chapter, ya clown lol

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 6:53 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: 100% lunatics

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:18 PM

    @Pork Hunt: Nothing to do with the child involved, he was told not to go to the school by the judge aka by court order and broke it.
    Nothing else. They are the facts. Clear and simply put.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:20 PM

    @Meatball Martin: No, loads of people believe that and there is no court order saying you cannot believe that.
    There is one saying that Enoch cannot go to the school!
    Facts, they really upset people at times.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:22 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: The entire family have one!

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:24 PM

    @Pork Hunt: There are procedures to follow and they were. The Ministers staff would have checked them to see everything was done correctly. If they were there is nothing that she can do. She too has to follow the rules and regulations and the procedures and protocols in the department.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 7th 2025, 7:36 PM

    @Meatball Martin: Repeating the same issue which has nothing to do with the court order changes nothing!

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    Mute Ian
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:00 PM

    @Meatball Martin: As usual, you’re wrong and a liar but you just can’t help yourself.

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    Mute Ian
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    Jan 7th 2025, 8:01 PM

    @Pork Hunt: You’re fkin wrong. He got jailed for breaking a court order.

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    Mute Tonya Hanly
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    Jan 7th 2025, 10:23 PM

    @Pork Hunt: nothing to do with that. He got jailed because he was asked to stay away from the school and refused to do so. Disobeying a court order is a crime. He didn’t lose his job because he didn’t adhere to a child’s pronouns. He lost his job because he assaulted his principal.

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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:21 PM

    @Pork Hunt: Imagine calling religion a subject

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    Mute Graham Bailey
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:28 PM

    @Jason Memail: It is. Subject to ridicule.

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    Mute Ted Daly
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:48 PM

    Lol. A good news story.

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:17 PM

    Can’t comment on the 20 cold asylum lads in Kildare , they are cold boohoo don’t have power like 40k others boohoo

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 6:52 PM

    @Pork Hunt: pretty low hanging fruit, even for you.

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    Mute Trump24
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    Jan 7th 2025, 5:04 PM

    Fantastic news all around

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    Mute Keith P
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    Jan 7th 2025, 4:44 PM

    DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!

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    Mute Shimo F
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:47 PM

    “Priests socks” that’s a shade of black so dark that it doesn’t allow light to escape.

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    Mute Meatball Martin
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    Jan 7th 2025, 3:34 PM

    Nude Nuns With Big Guns

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    Mute Ben dover
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    Jan 7th 2025, 2:32 PM

    That will make a lot of people cross.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Jan 8th 2025, 8:28 AM

    Another vape shop! Holy smoke!

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    Mute Mies Valkenburg
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    Jan 8th 2025, 9:44 AM

    Noooo! No more opium for the people. Not to worry, plenty of other options in that particular location.

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