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Madonna accepts an award in new York in 2019. Alamy Stock Photo

Madonna recovering after the pop icon spent several days in intensive care

The pop star’s upcoming tour has been postposed after she was hospitalised with a ‘serious bacterial infection’.

MADONNA IS RECOVERING after falling ill with a “serious bacterial infection” that landed her in an intensive care unit for several days, her manager Guy Oseary said in a statement last night

“Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care,” he said. “A full recovery is expected.”

Oseary said the 64-year-old pop icon’s Celebrations tour, due to start 15 July in Vancouver, Canada, was postponed until further notice.

The New York Post’s Page Six website said the pop star was taken to a hospital in the city after becoming unwell.

Her global, nearly sold-out tour was billed as paying homage to Madonna’s more than four-decade long career, and according to her website boasted 84 concert dates.

Stops in the United States were to include Detroit, Chicago, Miami and New York, the city where her storied rise to superstardom began.

She was then slated to continue in Europe, with dates in over a dozen cities including London, Barcelona and Paris but none in Ireland. 

The Grammy-winning megastar behind classics including “Like a Virgin” has asserted incalculable influence over her stellar career as one of music’s top stars.

In his statement on social media, her manager vowed to provide more information when available, including a new start date for the tour and for rescheduled shows.

In 2020 Madonna underwent hip replacement surgery following an injury sustained on her “Madame X” tour.

© – AFP 2023

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    Mute Mark Lillis
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:12 AM

    No great loss, stopped reading his drivel years ago.

    1166
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:41 PM

    I stopped reading the Irish Times 2 years ago. It’s not the newspaper it once was.

    419
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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:57 PM

    The IT has gone to complete shit. Anytime I look at the debate or columnists sections it’s normally restricted to the Church or feminism.

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    Mute Pat Lonergan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:29 PM

    Careful now or you to will receive a letter!!!

    91
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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    Mar 28th 2014, 9:20 PM

    I’m devastated, in tears as we speak and can’t console myself!

    60
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    Mute Continent Simian
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:12 AM

    Jon Waughters is a homophone.

    719
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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:07 PM

    That misspelling juat saved you €85,000.

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    Mute Seán Gallagher
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:14 PM

    I see what you did there.

    I lolled.

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    Mute Cillian Murphy
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:28 PM

    Or is he homolone?

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:01 PM

    Fobohone.

    55
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    Mute Riocard Ó Tiarnaigh
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    Mar 29th 2014, 12:33 AM

    Pógmothóin (lol)

    57
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    Mute Bluemist
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:20 AM

    He wrote rubbish anyway

    545
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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:46 AM

    He is rubbish anyway,.

    313
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    Mute Alien8
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:21 AM

    He’s leaving to work full time on the old libel business, much more lucrative. And in the evenings writing ‘songs’ for RTE talent shows.

    509
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    Mute Damian O'Brien
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:15 AM

    Pity it wasn’t Breda O’Brien who left.

    502
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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:43 AM

    I’m sure if/when she does, she won’t just disappear, she will make it seem like she was the victim being ‘forced’ out.

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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:46 AM

    I wouldn’t care, as long as she was out.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:14 AM

    maybe he can write for Alive , he’ll be happy and for the rest of us he will be like a tree falling in an empty forest…

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    Mute Miss Filed
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    Mar 29th 2014, 11:32 AM

    or one hand clapping

    13
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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:21 AM

    A major improvement for the Times (his departure).

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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:04 PM

    I think you are wrong Joseph , The Irish Times needs people like John Waters , it is well supplied with liberal lefties , Waters is a great writer , without him the paper has lost an alternative to its liberal left agenda , which seems incapable of accepting anything other than obedience to its particular view of the world .

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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:08 PM

    Waters is a mediocre writer at best.

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    Mute John Everyman
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:13 PM

    Liberal lefties!

    I do love that phrase! What the hell does it mean? People who support a centrally planned yet free market economy?

    228
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    Mute Ian Mc Nally
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:16 PM

    No but the ability to put together a constructive sentence or argument that makes sense is always a plus when writing for a national news paper

    113
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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:17 PM

    @mike: ” …which seems incapable of accepting anything other than obedience to its particular view of the world .”

    Sounds like you’re describing Waters beloved catholic church there mike…

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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:29 PM

    Spot on about the Catholic Church , but all Churches / Religions will fight their own corner , my point is simply that a national newspaper should be conscious of other views in society , John Waters offered a view other than the liberal one , it seems to me that we have gone from a place where conservatism resisted liberalism to a new one where liberals will not tolerate anything except their agenda , and that can only cause trouble .

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:40 PM

    Mike you make a valid point about the spectrum of opinions. My opinion of Waters is that he is an over paid troll.

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    Mute Simon Burke
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:01 PM

    I agree with Mike Cantwell. The point really isnt what Waters was saying. The point is its an alternative view that should have an airing. Media, in general, does not have a shortage of left leaning columnists. Particularly the IT. It might be because we have a small population and therefore a small number of journalists but we only ever seem to hear the same angle on every issue. Its boring.

    Same goes for radio. Switch on Newstalk, RTE Radio 1, Last Word, etc its all the same view point.

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:12 PM

    Agree with you Mike, he is a good writer, and one with an interesting perspective on any topic he covers.

    Don’t always agree with him but he deserves respect, as a quality scribe!

    ITs loss IMHO.

    Should be snapped up quickly by competitors.

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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:17 PM

    If anything Waters was a liability to the centre-right cause. Intelligent editorial balance should give food for thought to all comers. I always felt that if you weren’t lined up with Waters’ agenda there was very little in there of interest. Perhaps his departure will leave space for somebody else with a more engaging style.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:32 PM

    You, Sir, are a fool. Furthermore, I am now heartily sick of the way that fascists, religious zealots and supporters of the “free market” have turned the terms ‘liberal’ and ‘populist’ into dirty words. Look at their real meaning and effect and eschew the lazy, buzzword pigeonholing of people which takes place quite deliberately in order to negate the truth of what they are saying.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:49 PM

    Sorry, that reply was for Mr. Cantwell. It would really help if, when you reply to a comment, the reply appeared immediately under same – otherwise the reply can appear random or directed at another poster.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:55 PM

    Do you think they should have racist and sexist columnists to in case the need should arise to be fair and balanced about those issues?

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    Mute Robin Hilliard
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:03 PM

    I don’t think it’s useful for a national newspaper to “balance” informed, thoughtful opinion and accurate, unbiased news with poorly-written tripe of the sort that Waters produced by the barrel.

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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:57 PM

    Thank you for your comment Sheik !

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    Mute CMac59
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:15 PM

    There are few, if any, socialists in Ireland. For instance the Labour party and the trade unions do not enact socialism. They claim to but it only lip service.

    The world is all neo-con and that includes the “liberal lefties” who really are neither liberal in the true sense nor are they left, accepting the left in politics is socialism,

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    Mute John Ward
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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:18 PM

    @Joseph O’Regan:
    Are you trying to muddy the Waters?

    20
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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 6:26 PM

    I won’t interfere there John, he is doing an excellent job there himself.

    14
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    Mute john mc carthy
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    Mar 29th 2014, 6:20 AM

    Agree we need diverse voices. Ok waters can be obsessive sef indulgent but his alternative viewpoint is necessary to represent hidden middle ireland

    8
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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Mar 30th 2014, 3:51 PM

    self-induldgent hidden middle Ireland needs to be educated, challenged and stimulated, not pandered to and molly-coddled.

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    Mute Brendan Kennedy
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:59 AM

    He can finally focus on his true life’s calling, the immeasurably heterosexual pursuit of writing insufferable Eurovision songs.

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    Mute Martin Bishop
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:14 AM

    Woohooo!
    Great news,

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    Mute Ross Casey
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:58 PM

    Why?

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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:02 PM

    If instead of hating gays he spouted stuff about hating black people nobody would be paying any attention to him, he’d be considered a middle-ages lunatic.

    Instead he rages against the LGBT and that’s somehow ok and criticising him akin to fascism and inciting to hatred.

    98
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    Mute Paul Fanshawe
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Good riddance to him. He reached an all time philosophical, theological scientific and journalistic low point when, during the Eucharistic Congress, he attempted to prove that it was possible simultaneously to believe and not believe in the power of a priest to change bread and wine into flesh and blood.

    173
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:50 AM

    Yay holy cannibalism!

    87
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    Mute Robin Hilliard
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:03 PM

    “Theophagy” is the word you’re looking for :)

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    Mute Paul Fanshawe
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:16 PM

    Holy cow, Robin, you’re dead right; just looked it up in the dictionary. It’s defined as “the sacramental eating of a god”. Full marks.

    33
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    Mute John Ward
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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:24 PM

    @Paul Fanshawe:
    His proof is unsubstantiated!

    17
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    Mute Liam
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:18 AM

    Well his form of ‘contribution’ will always be well received over at the Irish Catholic.

    130
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:18 AM

    The well dried up a long time ago.

    127
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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:25 AM

    That well has been full of BS for even longer.

    119
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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:24 AM

    And good riddance. Just seeing his face gives me a bad mood. With a lot of luck we might never hear from him again. Unfortunately I know it won’t be so easy.

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    Mute John Jobs
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:14 AM

    WooHoo!!

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    Mute Robespierre
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:03 PM

    Actually the deputy editor, Fintan O’Toole who has had columnar spats with waters (waters always the more tetchy) wrote a slap down column on the rights and responsibilities of a principal contributing opinion writer and criticised the decision to sue.

    This was inevitable. I do not however want the Irish times to become the guardian. We need a range of views including those diametrically opposite to maintain textured debate.

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    Mute Miss Filed
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    Mar 29th 2014, 11:36 AM

    The IT could never aspire to the level of quality achieved by The Guardian! We wish!

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    Mute Robespierre
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    Mar 31st 2014, 11:37 AM

    I disagree, I think the Irish Times is an absolutely outstanding newspaper. So is the Guardian.

    The Guardian reflects the UK’s political divide however in a way that the Irish Times does not.

    I think the IT manages to reflect society well and seeks to be balanced and objective in its coverage.

    It definitely has an editorial angle but it is not one that is yoked to or against specific political parties. The Guardian is a Labour paper. Full stop.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:43 AM

    Good riddance to egregious rubbish.

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    Mute John Flood
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:56 AM

    At least he will be able to pick up a job in Fossett’s Circus…I reckon a talking sphincter would attract the crowds!!

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    Mute Snorre Sturleson
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:37 PM

    Or Indeed Jess Franco might wish to have a remake of El Ojete De Lulú with a male lead star

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:46 PM

    “John Waters goes into official huff – says he’s staying in his bedroom and nobody is to disturb him, not even to tell him that dinner’s ready.”

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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:24 AM

    Good

    69
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    Mute Marian Durkin
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:12 AM

    Wasn’t a fan off Waters, I thought be came across arrogant in this writing and on debated he had on tv. But in saying that he did have a good career. I wish him the best of luck.

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    Mute Don Pleas
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:16 AM

    What?

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    Mute Richard boyle
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:17 AM

    He’ll be looking to see his column in the Mirror soon I guess

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:25 AM

    Kevin maybe because we can’t all agree on everything and everyone is entitled to their opinion and to express that opinion. I would rarely if ever find myself in agreement with this man, but I respect his right to free speech.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:29 AM

    There is a difference between free speech and hate speech

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    Mute Dave Gorman
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:33 AM

    Dermot,but John Waters doesn’t respect freedom of speech otherwise he wouldn’t have sued?

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:33 AM

    Daily mail probably

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Maybe not Dave but I, and I hope most people, do.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Wayne can you give me an example of his hate speech?

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    Mute Marian Durkin
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:40 AM

    @Kevin, I do hear what your saying. Waters made my blood boil in his writing but I just think that was the point of him; it kinda got the brain going. One of those that when he came on tv your eyes rolled. But you cannot take away the long career he had. Either you like him or not if your commenting on him and his work….positive or negative then he was doing his job right.

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    Mute Dáithí G É Ó Murchú
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:47 AM

    Well said, the bottom line ‘I don’t like what you say but I’ll die defending your right to say it’

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:49 AM

    That’s easy Dermot as a state we have a specific legislation that Defines and deals with it see below

    Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989, proscribes words or behaviours which are “threatening, abusive or insulting and are intended or, having regard to all the circumstances, are likely to stir up hatred” against “a group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, membership of the travelling community or sexual orientation

    John waters Aug 2009
    “This is really a kind of satire on marriage which is being conducted by the gay lobby. It’s not that they want to get married; they want to destroy the institution of marriage because they’re envious of it and they feel really, that it’s an affront to their equality… This is the interesting thing, when they were fighting for civil unions and I raised the question that what they really wanted was marriage, but that what they were really wanting was adoption and they all denied it, ‘that’s complete paranoia. We have no interest in marriage at all, this is about our civil-rights’…But the next day they got out of bed and started to campaign for marriage.”
    “This is really an attempt to discredit an institution, the nominative institution on which society and human civilization is founded. If you do that there will be consequences, and one of them is that marriage will become a nothing.”

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    Mute Marian Durkin
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:50 AM

    Hey, that journalism for yeah.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:57 AM

    Wayne that’s a man expressing an opinion, one I personally fundamentally disagree with, but it’s not a hateful rant in my opinion.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:01 PM

    So you don’t think his words are insulting or likely to stir up hatred as defined by the legislation quoted? He is insinuating all sorts of strange things about LGBT an an agenda to destroy marriage etc??

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:08 PM

    Certainly it could be classed as insulting, even offensive, but I personally wouldn’t class it as hate speech.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:16 PM

    Dermot you may not but the law clearly does therefore it is hate speech as defined by the Law of the state

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    Mute Colm O'Leary
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:17 PM

    I would hope even the daily mail has SOME standards!….

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:18 PM

    So why has the law of the state not prosecuted him?

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:25 PM

    Perhaps nobody made a complaint perhaps like what happened with religious institutions and child abuse some people appear to be above the laws of the land who knows but you have agreed his statement is “insulting” and on that basis and the clear and concise definition of hate speech in Irish law this and many other comments he has made is Hate speech

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    Mute CMac59
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:31 PM

    Wayne

    It was not hate speech. The proof is Waters was not, and cannot be, sued for the piece as it does not constitute hate speech.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:39 PM

    He can not be sued,as the legislation only allows for Criminal prosecution instigated by the state and there is no legislation for civil prosecution. But don’t let facts get in your way!!

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:02 PM

    Dermot, I respect his right to free speech just about as much as he respects the rights of others. By their actions shall ye know them.

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    Mute Pat Ward
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    Mar 29th 2014, 11:17 AM

    By your interpretation you are using ‘hate speech’ at the moment.

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    Mute padser123
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:11 AM

    A dose of the yips’ John?

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    Mute Blacksod63.
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:41 AM

    No great loss. Kathy Sheridan is like a breath of fresh air. Lovely writer

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    Mute kingstown
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:53 PM

    Seems the Iona & Irish Catholic readers are thumb bombing the comment page.

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    Mute Clodagh Carroll
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:49 PM

    Yep, all 13 of them. Sad.

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    Mute Ciaran Behan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:11 AM

    Let’s hope all phones are off the hook.

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    Mute CMac59
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:25 AM

    I did not agree with everything Waters said or how he wrote and expressed himself.

    But that he has gone, in all probability due to the fallout from the slander Rory O’Neill made against him which is unfair.
    The GLBT fascists got their man. This should now alert all fair minded people to how this nasty lobby work.

    Like all extremists they are a danger to society. For all Water’s faults he knew what he was; he could give it and take it, unlike his GLBT detractors.
    And Water’s was slandered. I note O’Neill did not repeat it out of RTE’s studio as he would have had to pay the damages himself. Therefore O’Neill knew what he said was wrong.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:34 AM

    I guess it’s a slow day for you and your mates at the Iona Institute!!!!

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:39 AM

    “I did not agree with everything Waters said or how he wrote and expressed himself.”

    Clearly, you did agree with what he said when you follow this statement with “The GLBT fascists got their man. This should now alert all fair minded people to how this nasty lobby work.”

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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:43 AM

    CMac59, he brought a case against a fellow journalist and the irish times,

    He deserves everything thats happened,

    All Waters and Iona wanted was money from RTE, they had no interest in the right to reply. Infact they rejected the option of the right to reply.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:44 AM

    Nobody made him stop writing so nobody ‘got their man’. Rory O’Neill was not wrong. Waters got above the average annual salary in the form of a pay off, for having the truth spoken about him. He’s a greedy fool that writes a load of BS, unpopular BS at that. He won’t be missed

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    Mute Richard boyle
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:02 PM

    CMac , I’ve always admired your ability to be personally affronted by broad social trends , conflating gays and peados backfired now got to other insults

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:03 PM

    Chris Judge

    Water’s wrot eof marriage as the union of a man with an woman. Civil marriage covers state marriage. In religious terms all mainstream faith groups adhere to marriage as open to the creation of children, with the provision not all couples can have children. That is tradition.

    There was a concerted witch hunt against Waters and indeed O’Brien and Iona. There traditional views were not taken as genuine but genuine they indeed are. and the GLBT lobby knew that but still intended taking waters and others down.

    That is bully boy tactics. O’Neill never repeated the slander as he would have had to pay damages himself. So he cost RTE the 80,000e.

    I notice the terms of abuse made against t he Catholic Church among others by the GLBT lobby. And yes it is a form of fascism. The Church and state have their faults but so too do extreme groups.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:04 PM

    Go away back into the arms of the Iona institute. You say you didn’t agree with everything waters wrote. Was it not right wing enough or homophobic enough for your catholic sensitivities? You and Waters are not even worthy of contempt. you are total twazocks

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    Mute Emilio
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:10 PM

    CMac59, your writing is so unnecessarily absurd that I am thinking that you are John Waters himself.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:13 PM

    Emillo

    What you wrote about Waters and iona prove my point. An utter intolerance of somebody’s genuinely held beliefs.

    A fascist is someone who adopts an extreme viewpoint and libels or slanders other people while claiming to be fair minded themselves when they are anything bit.

    And its related to the concept of traditional society that children are for married couples, the couple being a man and woman. The agenda has been thought out and a planned campaign mapped out.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:27 PM

    Cmac,

    He also wrote that the ‘gays’ are just looking to turn marriage into a ‘satire’. Ridiculous conclusion which was fed from pure homophobia on his part – You cannot deny this. I don’t care how the religious groups define marriage, nobody is going to force any religious institution to carry out a same sex marriage – We are talking about civil marriage and any point people bring up how the bible or some religious leader define marriage is pointless and unrelated.

    O’Neill was in his right to say what he did, having previously defined his view on what homophobia is. It was honest opinion and not defamation (slander doesn’t exist within Irish law, btw.)

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:36 PM

    Martin Bishop

    I worked in HR for years. Believe me in every workplace people take offense to the most minor of issues. His spat with a fellow columnist is nothing in the scheme of things that occur in the workplace.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:44 PM

    You criticise what somebody has written about Waters but not what Waters has written about others. You also allude to taking offence with things as something that happens all the time and therefore is a non issue. Waters took offence to being called homophobic, which he doubtlessly is, yet he got litigious and walked away with 40,000. You fail to criticise that.

    Your bias is clear for all to see. You have double standards

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:47 PM

    Chris

    If Rory O’Neill believed what he said on RTE he would have repeated it in the Abbey. He did not; he stayed well away from the sentiments he expressed just 48 hours before.

    Civil marriage is a right and if you let Waters et al get to you on that score it reflects your own insecurity and it allows those who detract the value and progress of civil marriage hit your achilles heel. If I were GLBT I certainly would not want a religious marriage given what the church believe, and does so sincerely. It would not matter a jot to me. I certainly would not want their “blessing”. Waters sincerely marriage is the union of a man with a woman and is open to procreation. If his conclusion is that marriage become a “satire” if gays are let marry that is his problem.

    You right I should have written defamation.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:53 PM

    CMAC
    Who exactly is this “gay lobby” you speak of?
    Who are their members?
    Where are they based?
    Who is their leader?
    What exactly is this ” gay agenda” you speak of also?

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:56 PM

    Ailbhe O’Nolan,

    i don’t accept tat if something happens all the time it is OK. Waters style is to be thougt provoking and hard hitting. If others do it to him he has taken it, as he should.

    Rory O’Neill went too far in what he said, as RTE knew hence the settlement. If others want to have letters sent to waters from their solicitor they are free to do so.But it has not happened in the matter sunder discussion as Waters did not compromise himself;O’Neill had (that illustrates waters caution as an author over the years).

    As the law does not consider Waters homophobic it would be hard to win a case claiming he is so.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:58 PM

    Cmac,

    He pretty much did repeat what he said on the Abbey Stage – He said every one of us is a bit homophobic and I assume he includes Iona et All in that.

    That speech was a week or two after the initial interview, not 48hrs.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:03 PM

    CMac59. Where did you find this

    “A fascist is someone who adopts an extreme viewpoint and libels or slanders other people while claiming to be fair minded themselves when they are anything bit.”

    definition of fascism?

    In the Iona Bunch fecktionary?

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:05 PM

    Cmac, please explain how correctly describing Waters comments as homophobic is worse than incorrectly accusing gay people of trying to ruin marriage and steal babies?

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:06 PM

    “A fascist in someone who adopts an extreme viewpoint and libels and slanders other people while claiming to be fair minded themselves when they are anything bit [sic].”

    What a strange and erroneous definition of a fascist. For the record, fascism is extreme authoritarian nationalism. You can’t alter the meaning of well defined terms to suit your agenda.

    For someone who doesn’t agree with everything Waters has to say, you’re adept at regurgitating his main talking points.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:23 PM

    CMax59

    You can’t keep using the defense of genuinely ‘held beliefs’ every time you feel the need to treat other people as second-class citizens. It’s the 21st century, not the middle ages…

    Yes, we are intolerant of your bigoted views, whether they are informed my the bible, Levictus, or you interpreted them off the back of a cornflake box, is immaterial… your prejudice and irrational hatred is still prejudice and irrational hatred. I’m sure most non-bigoted Christians cringe every time people like you hide behind Religion and religious teachings in order to cloak your inherent prejudice and intolerance…

    Cop the hell on and get a grip on yourself… The bible is not meant to be taken literally you moron…
    And furthermore, it’s an insult when right wing Christian homophobes start pretending they care about children, the Catholic church used and abused hundreds of thousands of children for decades..
    Don’t insult people by claiming your homophobic, irrational hatred of gay people has anything to do with children… it’s putrid hatred like yours which damages everyone, including children…

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:23 PM

    So what if his comments were homophobic? Have we not seen the comments beneath any Journal articles on Immigrants, travellers, the Church, or this one on John Waters.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:31 PM

    CMax59

    You state that Waters & Iona view as marriage “is tradition”.

    So are any of these other traditions still worth having?
    Bar on married women working, Slavery, or dare I say Crucifixion?

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:32 PM

    “it’s putrid hatred like yours which damages everyone, including children…”

    Where has Cmax shown a putrid hatred in his comments? I didn’t see it.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:35 PM

    As long as you don’t want to see it, there is no point telling you.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:48 PM

    CMax59

    I’m dyslexia and even I find your spelling beyond poor, perhaps try using spell check before putting your unintellectual argument

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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:53 PM

    @Sam Aritan..

    P..s off!…

    You’re just as bad, you’re both bigots and should be ashamed of yourselves..
    I sincerely hope you have no kids, it would be awful if they had to be exposed to such intolerant prejudice..

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:01 PM

    Ah, I see. You can’t show me where he has shown a “putrid hatred” so you resort to name calling.

    The only bigotry on display is yours.

    Play the ball, not the man Frank.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:22 PM

    @Sam Aritan,

    I don’t have any respect or time for people like you, you’re an ignorant, homophobic, troll and you make inane comments on ever article that is remotely related to LGBT issues. It is obvious to me, and most sane people that you have a serious problem. You really should go and get help for it…

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:24 PM

    @Sam Aritan..

    And by the way.. you can shove your vile Iona Institute up your back passage…

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:34 PM

    Oh “you’re an ignorant, homophobic, troll” – there you go again. More name calling.

    Considering I’m a staunchly atheist, bisexual, soon to marry another bisexual, stay at home father, I got a good giggle out of your post.

    What is clear is you don’t agree with Frank, or even if you question Frank, he resorts to personal abuse as he cannot defend his own watery posts. All bluster and no substance Frank. Anger management, lad. Anger management.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:37 PM

    Well, from past articles it seems you just come on to comment in order to inflame and stir it up, so yeah people like you piss me off.. couldn’t care less whether you were bi-sexual or not, if you are, then I find it strange why you consistently defend homophobes like Cmax59… Just doesn’t add up…

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:38 PM

    @CMac
    Some factual corrections:

    Firstly, Panti’s Noble Call in the Abbey was 3 weeks after her appearance on the Saturday Show, not “less than 48 hours”.
    Secondly, you can’t say the law doesn’t consider Waters homophobic, as there has been no court case of any description. Waters and the Iona 5 have threatened Panti with legal action, but so far they haven’t acted on that threat. That speaks volumes of how good they think their chances are.

    Also, holding prejudiced or bigoted, beliefs doesn’t suddenly become okay just because those beliefs are “genuinely held”. That’s a poor defence for justifying discrimination and it wouldn’t hold any water (no pun intended) with discrimination against any other minority. There’s no reason that it should be a credible defence for discrimination against gay men and women.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:47 PM

    You sound pretty extreme yourself, cmac

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:50 PM

    IONA are homophobes and fascists

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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:54 PM

    I’m not defending him, I’m wary of everyone that has any kind of an opposing view labelled homophobe. I’m also wary of people shutting down debate, and of the Journal not having columnists against gay marriage.

    The reasons for that are directly related to the upcoming referendum and the backlash at both the children’s referendum, and Seanad debate. Both were expected to be landslides but one was defeated, and the other a close call directly as a result of a lack of debate. Though not a referendum issue, public support for suicidal ideation during the abortion debate dropped a massive 25% or thereabouts in the 6 month run up to legislation being passed. It was at levels 6 months prior similar to LGBT marriage support now. Voter volatility is high and any predictions on referendums have been wildly inaccurate in recent years.

    The biggest threat to gay marriage is the lack of debate. This constant shouting down of anyone that expresses an alternative view is only going to lead to damage in the polling booth.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:04 PM

    @Sam Aritan,

    I agree with some of what you said there, but to be honest I don’t think that by challenging homophobic attitudes on news/social media forums this is going to negatively affect the same-sex marriage debate or the results of the debate. Nobody has shut down debate. The Iona crowd, Waters et all, have been using this red herring as a faux argument. It’s simply not true that challenging homophobic attitudes shuts down debate. I would think that most intelligent, sane, reasonable people have already made up their own minds on the issues.
    I haven’t seen a lack of debate at all, and also David Quinn, Patricia, Casey, Breda O’Brien, Ronan Mullen, Lucinda Creighton and their right wing Christian brethren have, and continue to have a very loud, influential and widespread media platforms, in which to wield their ant-gay marriage opinions and views. Minor skirmishes from ordinary citizens on social news/media, facebook or twitter have very little sway compared to national broadsheets and newspaper columns…

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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:14 PM

    @ Sam

    I’d agree that we shouldn’t place too much faith in opinion polls, but I’d disagree that opponents are shouted down or branded as homophobic or what not. There have been plenty of debates on radio or TV where pro-equality campaigners have managed to counter the arguments of Iona and their like quite effectively; all without calling them any names.

    It’s a common tactic of opponents to play the victim card when they have no other arguments. A representative of Catholic Comment tried that on a Late Late Show debate a few years ago by saying she was always called a bigot, etc, only to have it pointed out to her that no one called her that during the course of the programme. Susan Phillips tried a version of it a few weeks back by equating not agreeing with her opinion with silencing her. And it’s Iona’s latest tactic now.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:48 PM

    Maggie may

    As I have nothing to do with Iona I have, alas, nowhere to go.

    I regard them and you are equally incapable of understanding that people hold sincere views contrary to what you and Iona represent.

    But Iona are not bitter in how they express themselves and that comes from, I suspect, the way the were brought up and their belief system. Why do GLBT people hate Christianity? I am at a loss to understand such an attitude.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:00 PM

    Brian

    It was the Monday after the Saturday if i recall correctly. It was mot 3 weeks by any means.

    The Abbey address was interesting as O’Neill was so moderate after his immoderate outburst. If he held his opinion as sincerely as he did he would have called Waters a homophobic but he did not (as he would have had to pay defamation and not RTE).

    He called himself self-loathing -I thought that unnecessary- but perhaps he projects that opinion of himself onto others, I don’t know but it was an odd sentiment I thought.

    If I were Iona I would let Rory O’Neill continue on as any legal action, justified or not, would be too adverse to Iona et al. That I believe was the objective of O’Neill et al.

    Nobody is discriminating against GLBT; it is illegal to do so and would serve no purpose. People who have sexual preferences of any kind are entitled to do so but just don’t put it in the public domain, we don’t want to know.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:06 PM

    Ian T Boyle

    Sorry about the typos but some of my keys on the keyboard fell off after I dropped my computer a few months ago. It is irritating to the eye and makes reading a chore. I am getting a new laptop so that will correct the typos – if not the sentiments. I am sorry if people feel I come across as extreme as it is not my intention.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:13 PM

    Carcu Sidub

    Tradition or the status quo people find it challenging when systems are changed more so wen it is a radical change (I am not saying whether it is right or wrong) but as with change in the workplace user resistance occurs. People have been used to old ways. And again proper that it it is both illegal and immoral to discriminate against people on race, colour, religious or sexual orientation grounds inter alia.On the postings here some people have no problem making very adverse and unfounded comments against the church and others. It is a two way street.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:26 PM

    Cmac
    I noticed you never answered any of my questions put to you earlier in the day.
    Mr.O’Neills Abbey speech was on the Saturday,one week after the RTE show, so you are incorrect in saying it was Monday.

    His speech told of how gay people experience homophobia, and oppression and yes self loathing is a common trait that most gay people feel at some stage so its not an odd sentiment at all.

    It wasn’t about Mr Waters at all.

    You said Mr O Neill had an objective with/towards Iona , he simply pointed out in a very articulate manner what its like to be gay in Ireland and be subjected to homophobia , subtle or otherwise.
    You own homophobia just shone through with your “people who have sexual preferences of any kind are entitled to do so but just dont put it in the public domain, we dont want to know”.
    If thats not homophobia I dont know what is .
    ” Im not homophobic but they should keep it to themselves” ect ect
    Cmac
    Its quite obvious you simply don’t get it.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:54 PM

    CMac, I’m afraid you’re still wrong on the dates. Panti’s Saturday Night interview was on the 11th January and Noble Call was on 1st February, 3 weeks later to the day. You can check for yourself on this article which has both dates – http://www.thejournal.ie/panti-abbey-theatre-speech-1296471-Feb2014/.

    You are however correct that legal proceedings would be adverse to Iona and Waters – they would lose. Iona’s David Quinn was outraged that RTE took 12 days to agree to pay them off. Yet, nearly 3 months later there isn’t a whisper about them bringing Panti to court. They know they would lose.

    By the way, there is still plenty of discrimination in Ireland against gay and lesbian people. Just because it’s illegal doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. And in some cases, the discrimination is legal, but that doesn’t make it just or right (e.g. Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts, or the bar on marriage for same sex couples).

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    Mar 28th 2014, 6:27 PM

    Ok Cmac, where to start..
    1. Rory didn’t call John Waters homophobic, he said some column writers were mean and nasty about gays – Brendan O Connor then said that he didn’t think John Waters was homophobic and Rory said that the problem was with the word homophobia, perhaps you should hear the interview before you make accusations like that.
    2. No court has ruled that defamation occurred.
    3. No one is arguing for religious marriage equality – they want access to civil marriage and civil marriage only.
    4. Appealing to tradition is logical fallacy, just because something has always been done a certain way does not mean that it is the best or only way.
    5. John Waters has chosen to stop writing, he was not silenced. Rory O Neill’s interview was removed from the RTE site, if anyone was silenced it was Rory, and it backfired.
    6. Even if we are to take the definition of homophobia as an “irrational fear” Waters assertions that gay marriage was a “satire on marriage” that gay people wanted to “destroy” it – these are irrational fears. Of gay people being treated as equal citizens.
    Can you think of any other circumstance where a gay person should be denied or excluded from state benefits or tax burdens? If not, why should the civil contract of marriage be any different? Unless you take issue with homosexual relationships, in which case you are indeed homophobic.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 7:30 PM

    Lets be clear:

    Rory O’Neill appeared on the Saturday Night show on the 11th January. Panti made her appearance on the Abbey Stage on the 1st February, after the last performance of The Risen People. In those 3 weeks anyone who follows twitter or other social media will remember that there was an ongoing build up to that appearance including a risible apology by RTE and an unprecedented number of complaints to RTE about that apology.

    I’m not sure why you’re trying to misrepresent the sequence of events but if you actually listened to the interview with Rory you’ll notice that he was very considered in laying out the reasons for his opinion as to why certain commentators had written opinions that could be regarded as homophobic. I remember thinking it was a real debate opener. How ironic that the litigants then accused Rory and RTE of ‘shutting down debate’ when they got the lawyers in.

    Unfortunately our Defamation law means that mere offence can be considered defamation. In my opinion Iona and John Waters decided to use the letter of the law to defeat the spirit of the law and I’m very pleased it backfired but they, sadly, will never ever get that it did.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 7:51 PM

    Ailbhe

    Waters never wrote what you claim he did. Some people read his opinion pieces and summed up the contents as you summarized it. Now, whatever Waters may have said he did not say what you quoted. His views were purposefully misrepresented. We have seen a lot of spin and Waters had his opinions misquoted.

    Dislike him for his conservative nature, consider him lacking a progressive bone in his body, feel free to dislike his association with the Iona Institute but let it be based on fact and not spin.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 7:56 PM

    Catherine Allen,

    I stand corrected. Your dates are correct and mine are not. It was not done on purpose.

    Nevertheless my statement that he did not repeat the defamation at the Abbey; that means R O’Neill knew if he said at the Abbey what he said on RTE he would be personally liable for defamation damages and he studiously avoided such defamation.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 8:15 PM

    His statement at the Abbey was a call for empathy and tolerance, it was not meant to be a clarification of previous statements made although he defended himself on that front. As to ‘studiously avoiding’ defaming the people mentioned on the Saturday Night show, he stated that in his ‘gay opinion’ these people had written material and made claims that he felt were homophobic so he hardly avoided the issue that brought the defamation claims against him.

    Of course he chose his language very carefully because he had 5 or 6 solicitors letters to worry about! And that’s what I have an objection to: that’s the real shut down of debate in this case, not the accusation of homophobia.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 8:35 PM

    Cmac,
    You don’t believe that John Waters called gay marriage a satire on marriage and that they only wanted to destroy it because they were envious of it, or that he has some mad conspiracy theories about children being taken from their parents for gay people to adopt?
    Here, let him tell you himself
    http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/02/09/its-not-even-gay-marriage-im-opposed-to-its-the-idea-of-gay-adoption/

    Now, here’s Rory’s comments, care to point out where HE defamed Waters?
    http://touch.dailymotion.com/video/x19q67h_rory-oneill-the-saturday-night-show-11-1-2014_gaylesbian

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 9:02 PM

    CMac, on one hand you claim Panti intentionally defamed Iona on RTE because she knew Iona wouldn’t sue as any action would be “adverse” to them. And on the other you’re claiming she didn’t defame them in the Abbey because she knew she could be sued for defamation.

    Which is it?

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 9:28 PM

    Cmac I never said he wrote it. He said it. The transcripts of the interview have been seen by many. Why the denial Cmac?

    You defend his.words as honestly held opinion, yet Rory O’Neills honestly held.opinion went to far? I’ll ask again, how I’d what Rory O’Neill said worse than the tripe, the vile sensationalist accusations that have dripped from Waters mouth and pen? (Honestly held opinion there Cmac)

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 9:46 PM

    Oh shocking grammer and typing! I do apologise.

    Anyway, Cmac, you have defended Waters and suggested Rory O’Neill went too far. Please outline how exactly what Rory said, where he clarified his use of the word homophobia yet did not direct it at anybody, is worse than Mr. Waters accusing ALL gay people of trying to destroy what they are jealous of i.e. civil marriage and treating children as a commodity, to be stolen from their fathers?

    O’Neills interview pales by comparison to the sensationalist lies Mr. Waters spills.

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    Mute CMac59
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:07 PM

    Brian

    Extreme comments against Iona’s Waters etc as RTE would ave to pay.

    At the Abbey a more measured tone no extreme comments as Rory O’Neill would have had to apy ; or, as one commentator noted, he had solicitor letters to worry about.Also, wisely he adopted a moderate aproach.

    He should have had the approach when on RTE.

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    Mute Shanti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:18 PM

    Cmac,
    Which extreme comments did Rory make? Please clarify, and use direct quotes.

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:38 PM

    “or that he has some mad conspiracy theories about children being taken from their parents for gay people to adopt?”

    He said unmarried fathers, not parents afaik

    Nothing mad about it. It’s a reality. Happens everyday Shanti.

    Where Water’s fcuked up was using the word “gay”. There was no need for that. Water’s mistake has, and continues to be, using the word ”gay” or LGBT.

    But he’s totally accurate when he says children are routinely taken for adoption against the will of the father. No conspiracy there. The fact he mentioned taken from unmarried fathers – and then given to gay couples was his mistake. That was just silly and needless on his behalf. But it’s also true.

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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Edit – “But it’s also true” – Will be true, when gay adoption becomes a reality.

    Personally I’ve no problem with gay adoption. But I don’t see how Water’s is incorrect when he says children (babies) will be taken against the will of the father and given up for adoption by the mother to couples (gay or otherwise).

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    Mute Shanti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:47 PM

    I meant that the conspiracy theory was that this was somehow exclusive to gay people. As though it was part of some scheme or plan on their behalf to take children from their fathers. That’s really paranoid when as you say, this is an issue with (some) adoptions in general and is not the fault nor the desire of gay people.

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:51 PM

    Sam, Waters said GAY couples will take children from their fathers. The whole debate is re his homophobia. Are you desperately trying to divert the course of the debate? Seems like it.

    Waters is homophobic, he sensationalist accusation about the LGBT community. Yet he walks away with tens of thousands. He is a greedy homophobic attention seeker. Good riddance to him.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:54 PM

    Cmac, you have a poor grasp of defamation laws. Regardless of the medium, if I defame someone, then I’m liable. Whether I do that in print, in broadcast media or in public, I’m still liable. Defaming someone on the national broadcaster doesn’t give me immunity.

    There were no extreme comments from Panti in the Abbey because there were no extreme comments in the original interview. Calling someone mean and horrible isn’t defamation. Saying that you think a homophobe is someone who opposes equality and thinks gay people should be treated less than everyone else, isn’t extreme.

    I really wish Iona’s supporters would stop making Iona out to be the victims here. Iona were only interested in the money and it blew up in their faces. The sooner their supporters realise that that’s what motivated Iona, the better.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:06 PM

    Sam, there are very few domestic adoptions in Ireland, approximately 50 per year. That’s less than one a week, so children are not routinely put up for adoption against their fathers will, and it certainly doesn’t happen every day.

    You’ll get no argument from me that the rights of unmarried fathers needs to be improved, but that’s got nothing to do LGBT rights. Allowing gay couples to marry or adopt jointly won’t increase the number of children being put up for adoption, or being taken from unmarried fathers. One must question why Waters chose to conflate the issues, and based on his other comments, I think it’s a fair assumption that he was engaging in scaremongering.

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:09 PM

    ” Are you desperately trying to divert the course of the debate? Seems like it.”

    No. In every state/country whereby LGBT adoption has been legalised there has been a huge demand on adoption agencies. If you research it, instead of finger pointing at me, you’ll find I’m right on that one.There are now adoption droughts everywhere LGBT adoption has been legalised.

    But, crucially. in some they have actually changed the law resultantly. In fact they’ve changed the wording of the law and removed the term mother and father, and replaced it with parent. Such changes have a huge impact whether you like it or not.

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:11 PM

    @Brian

    “One must question why Waters chose to conflate the issues”

    Absolutely. That’s my issue with him too.

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    Mute Shanti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:45 PM

    Sam, I’m having difficulty finding evidence of this sudden drought in adoptees you speak of. I see some things about there being a shortage of white babies, but not because of LGBT adoption. I also see a lot about older kids being desperately in need of parents, and shortages in adoptive parents.
    It would help if I could see where you are getting this from because perhaps searching “adoption shortage” and “adoption shortage due to Marriage equality” was not sufficient.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:57 PM

    Sam, an adoption drought is a good thing, isn’t it? It means that children are being placed quickly with suitable families and aren’t left in long term care.

    I have to ask what this has to do with children being put up for adoption without their father’s consent. That’s the point being made by Waters. Is there evidence that this happens more in countries that allow gay couples to adopt?

    In Ireland, the issue around unmarried fathers isn’t connected to letting gay couples adopt jointly. It’s that the Constitution gives the family formed through marriage greater status over other types of family. The Children’s referendum took some steps to balance that by putting children’s rights, not the parents’ rights, at the core of issues related to child welfare. That’s why Shatter’s Child & Family Relationship bill will give automatic guardianship to unmarried fathers. Changes to the adoption laws will also be required as a result of the Children’s referendum (married couples will also now be able to put children up for adoption), so that will be an opportunity for unmarried fathers to air their concerns with adoption laws.

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 29th 2014, 12:27 AM

    “Sam, an adoption drought is a good thing, isn’t it? It means that children are being placed quickly with suitable families and aren’t left in long term care.”

    Yes. Absolutely.

    “That’s the point being made by Waters. Is there evidence that this happens more in countries that allow gay couples to adopt?”

    That’s not the immediate issue Brian. But over the course of time – legally – it’s not so clear.

    For example what happens when a country’s central institution is desexed and the individuals within such an institution can morph back and forth between sex, gender, mother and father, husband and wife, boy and girl, son and daughter, male and female, heterosexual marriage, trans marriage, and same sex marriage?

    Dr Lydia Foy is on the verge of making that a reality (and best of luck to her, I support her)

    But if you put both those scenarios alone side by side, it can only lead to the further diminishment of fathers.

    But, will any of the above in any way change a mothers constitutional right to her own child? No, no way. It’s written in stone.

    Will it affect a fathers? Of course it will.

    “In Ireland, the issue around unmarried fathers isn’t connected to letting gay couples adopt jointly. It’s that the Constitution gives the family formed through marriage greater status over other types of family”

    I agree fully. All families should have constitutional protection (in an ideal world), and the primary reason I will vote yes in the upcoming referendum is to make damn sure that the children, in particular, of LGBT couples are protected in law. That’s the clincher for me.

    But we may have a few hundred LGBT marriages a year, yet we have 200,000 (CSO) unmarried fathers and multiples of that in terms of unmarried families. My concern is, and still is, they will be affected by a combination of gay marriage and a legal recognition of trans. I cannot see how it won’t have a major impact on unmarried families and unmarried fathers too.

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Mar 29th 2014, 8:57 AM

    Sam, fathers rights are not where they should be, granted. The new legislation on its way goes some way towards protecting them further while also allowing alternative parents to be protected too. It’s a legal mine field and as it all plays out, the law will need tweeking here and there to fully protect all parents and children.

    Waters has accused LGBT people of wanting to STEAL children from fathers. While fathers rights are in no way good enough, it is simply NOT the case that LGBT people want to steal children from biological fathers, no matter how you dress it up. LGBT people want to give children a safe, loving home. It’s the law that is the issue, not those that wish to adopt.

    Water’s accusations are inflammatory, sensationalist, homophobic and incredibly insulting, no matter what angle you look at it Sam. That’s the point being made, not that fathers rights are fine, they’re not, the point is Water’s claims are absurd.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 29th 2014, 9:08 AM

    “That’s not the immediate issue”

    That’s the heart of the issue. That’s the claim made by Waters, and now it’s the claim being made by you.

    What evidence is there from other countries that treating gay or transgender people as equals impinges on the rights of unmarried fathers?

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    Mute Aidan Clarke
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:11 PM

    This has kinda made my Friday, one less mullet in society.

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    Mute juuge
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:10 PM

    A clown of the highest order – How he got so much attention is beyond me.

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:10 PM

    good to hear it, the Irish Times gives far too many column inches to right wing conservative Christian commentators anyhow…

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    Mute Joe Conway
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:59 PM

    Says it all that he has been gone since January and nobody noticed.

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    Mute Ted Crilly
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:32 PM

    His fekin hair wrecks me head!

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    Mute Richard boyle
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:38 PM

    And his

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    Mute Pavel Shipilov
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:10 AM

    God bless him.

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    Mute Jaymie
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:09 PM

    I’d like to say something about him,but I’m afraid il get sued.so il say nothing

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    Mute Scaldychops
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:32 PM

    If I hate John Waters does that mean I’m hydrophobic?

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    Mute Mel Healy
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:07 PM

    I only bothered to read the tags at the top of this page…

    #GONE #HOMOPHOBIA #IRISH TIMES #JOHN WATERS

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:14 PM

    Yeah nice lump sum that he can live off while he considers his next move…

    It still shocks me that these awful people received payout money from RTE, even though they were all well known for their horrible bigoted views…

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    Mute james boylan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:59 AM

    Good news Friday.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:37 PM

    Well, he has a lump sum of money to live on for a while. Give him till the end of the year, he’ll be back. More’s the pity.

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    Mute Catherine Allen
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:16 PM

    When you threaten legal action against one of your own colleagues it creates a conflict of interest so one of you has to go. Turns out it was him. I won’t miss having to lie down in a darkened room after trying to de-code his ‘writing’ .

    Anyway, there’s always B O’B.

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    Mute Subliminal
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:11 PM

    I did agree with his fighting for men’s rights. But absolutely nothing else. Glad to see the back of him.

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    Mute Barry McLenehan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:22 AM

    This news isnt really a story just free PR for him. This should be given a “like” button and no more.

    I doubt we’ve seen the last of him, RTE will no doubt call on his views in the sense of “Balance” for a debate before long.

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:41 PM

    Well in fairness, Kathy Sinnott and Water’s almost singlehandedly beat the Government in the childrens referendum despite the Government machine and media favouring it.

    Water’s has his uses.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:59 PM

    Barry, it pains me to say this but, you are probably right. Aaaaaarrrrrghhhhhh.

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    Mute Pharmyco
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:30 PM

    Fantastic news. I’m going to buy a copy to celebrate.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:01 PM

    I heard that he applied for the Journal.

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    Mute Reg
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:06 PM

    For the second time today……good riddance.

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    Mute Patrick Doran
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:28 PM

    Watch him turn up at the Independent group,following in the footsteps of the stellar (ooogghh) Dan O’Brien.Watters Dan O’Brien and Eoghan Harris ,shoot me please.

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    Mute UndercoverGarda
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:36 PM

    I think Harris is a great columnist. The Sunday Independent as a whole resembles a bizarre politically obsessed Daily Mail.

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:24 PM

    Will nobody think of the children?

    How else can they learn to spot conservative right wing religious bigoted writing if not from newspapers?

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    Mute Richard boyle
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:37 PM

    At a school , protected by an “ethos” don’t forget BOBs day job :-(

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    Mute Paul Guckian
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:31 PM

    Delighted to hear he’s left.

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    Mute Conan Drumm
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:02 PM

    Fare thee well then Waters, John
    You did go on, and on and on
    from your pulpit high above
    ’til Panti’s galant little shove
    made you richer, gratis RTE,
    when we’d already had enough of ye.

    Enjoy retirement, Sunday Male -
    your Southside life inside the Pale,
    your mind a mess of Catholic pottage,
    your retreat a once plain Sligo cottage
    your food a fine old Wheatfield stew
    your song of nothing compares to U.

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    Mute John Swift
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:49 AM

    Hurray

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    Mute Gary Shaw
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:03 PM

    Dorm let the door gitnyounon the way out. The old ways of thinking aren’t appreciated in Ireland any more. Thankfully.

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    Mute Ellen Grogan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:27 PM

    Good, no great loss to humanity with his bitter attitude to women !

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    Mute Gearóid Breathnach
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:54 PM

    YAYYY

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    Mute Cyril Butler
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:19 PM

    In my blog about Lorna Byrne I praised the Irish Times for being the only paper not to fall for profit driven journalistic sensationalism by publishing stories about her. The Indo was the exact opposite. The Irish Times are the last standing real newspaper in Ireland. This is yet another reason to congratulate them.

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    Mute Louis Smith
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:31 PM

    A sad day for face palm memes

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    Mute Colm O'Leary
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:13 PM

    Good riddance!!!

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    Mute Matthias Baumann
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    Mar 28th 2014, 5:50 PM

    Nobody will miss this bigoted arrogant fool!
    He can write his nonsense now in the tabloids where he belongs or maybe grab a cosy consultancy job with the Iona Institute or Opus Dei….

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    Mute Louis Burke
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:26 PM

    Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio….

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    Mute Tom Newnewman
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:43 AM

    It will be found that Bullying always backfires, but can’t blame sincere people limiting public arena. J.Waters and others will do good elsewhere with the time saved not feeding trolls.

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:25 PM

    Tom

    If it were not for the “trolls” Waters & his ilk would have a lot less followers.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:21 PM

    Where’s my comment gone, Christine? All I said was that Waters has a lump sum of money to live on for a while. How exactly did that breach journal comment rules?

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:24 PM
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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:31 PM

    Thanks Chris! Maybe my phone is just playing silly bugg3rs.

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    Mute Terry McDonald
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:00 PM

    Oh no – Waters has left the Irish Times???

    I am crying as I write this.

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Now, if we can just stop him talking.

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    Mute Michael Farrelly
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:41 PM

    Couldn’t take the heat, hey John ?

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    Mute Straighttalker
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:10 PM

    Drivel and rubbish is all you Got from him , you would nearly have to do night classes to figure out what angle he was coming at.

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    Mute Stephen Devaney
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    Mar 28th 2014, 1:08 PM

    Not as clever as he thinks

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    Mute Tom Harpur
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    Mar 28th 2014, 3:05 PM

    Waters is now writing for the Irish catholic. ?
    Or a consultant with the Iona institute ? :-)

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    Mute Colin Foley
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:40 PM

    Too good a writer for the Irish Times, all broadsheets are sliding into glorified redtops lately.

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    Mute Sam Aritan
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:10 PM

    The broadsheets have become bland rags more interested in entertainment news than hard news. The IT gave up its paper of record status. There’s nothing left.

    It’s also true of the UK press. The Guardian has gone the same way.

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    Mute CMac59
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    Mar 28th 2014, 4:51 PM

    Sam

    Under Geraldine Kennedy and all who followed her as editor the Irish Times lost its former status. It is pro-government whether that is FF/PD pr FG/Labour or whatever may emerge after the next general election. It mirrors RTE in that respect.

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    Mute Paddy McGarr
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:57 PM

    YA SEE?! YA SEE? Hounded out of a job by the anti-homophobes. A further attack on the free speech and good names of ordinary decent crim, sorry, people. Luckily enough there is another “columnist” who can ably take over his slot in the Irish Times. http://ahundredandfortycharactersisusuallyenough.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/my-guest-column-for-fridays-irish-times/

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    Mute Skip Goose
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    Mar 28th 2014, 7:27 PM

    Who gives a fack????

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    Mute Mary Jane McKenna
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    Mar 29th 2014, 8:59 AM

    Glad to see the back of him. Arrogant self serving and pathetic.

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    Mute Fintan Rafferty
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    Mar 28th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Where are the quality journalists at the Irish Times get behind today’s demographic

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    Mute Louis Burke
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    Mar 28th 2014, 2:37 PM

    That’s not a sentence.

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    Mute Mitch
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    Mar 28th 2014, 12:01 PM

    Any why is this new worthy

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    Mute gary banner
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    Mar 29th 2014, 1:52 AM

    Big loss for any national newspaper , one of the few journalist that had integrity and intelligence & didn’t write on conventional populous topics. Irish times won’t be any loss they’ve been boring and crap in recent years.

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    Mute Goldberg
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    Mar 28th 2014, 7:55 PM

    A lot of the content in the it is syndicated from the guardian, telegraph, English times – you’d be better off buying them if your not too fussed about local news – plus they are cheaper

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    Mute Conan Drumm
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    Mar 28th 2014, 6:10 PM

    Fare thee well then Waters, John
    You did go on, and on and on
    from your pulpit high above
    ’til Panti’s galant little shove
    made you richer, gratis RTE,
    when we’d already tired of ye.

    Enjoy retirement, Sunday Male -
    your Southside life inside the Pale,
    your mind a mess of Catholic pottage,
    your retreat a once plain Sligo cottage
    your food a fine old Wheatfield stew
    your song of nothing compares to U.

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    Mute Range Rover P38
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    Mar 28th 2014, 10:10 PM

    Jaysus lads I thought he was great.

    Hahahahahahahahahahaha

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    Mute Timmytime
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    Mar 29th 2014, 1:48 PM

    Didn’t they get the name wrong, isn’t it Tom Humphries that’s stopped contributing?

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    Mute N o toole
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    Mar 28th 2014, 8:01 PM

    Boo hoo

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    Mute Kevin Ryan
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    Apr 24th 2014, 1:01 PM

    I am inclined to believe he must be doing something very good. You all cheered as Bertie was busy crushing our country, that for you all to be mocking and denigrating this writer must mean he is standing up for someone or something he believes in and is being put down for it.
    Amazing to see everyone so riled up by someone willing to think for themselves.
    Fair dues to him.
    For all you bully’s and cowards willing to kick someone from the safety of a mob, a word of warning, its only a matter of time before the mob rounds on you.

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    Mute William Southward
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    Apr 14th 2014, 8:10 AM

    John is correct, not maybe, but is. Read the article those of you who speak out “at” him. Most of it is hate. Nothing to do with Iona, most people don’t even know who they are? who are they?

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    Mute JosephConroy
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    Mar 29th 2014, 3:49 AM

    So, Irish Times paywall anyone? Sound of one hand clapping?

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