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Nuala O'Loan, then-NI's Police Ombudsman, giving an update on her report into the Omagh bombing in December 2001 Alamy Stock Photo

Nuala O'Loan 'badly shaken' after her teenage son was beaten up in 2002, State Papers show

The then-Police Ombudsman for NI also told officials that unioists did not take her seriously because she was a Catholic woman, newly released records reveal.

NUALA O’LOAN, THEN-Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, said her family members may have needed increased security after her teenage son was beaten up in 2002, newly released documents show.

State records released this month show that O’Loan raised concerns about her family’s safety during a meeting with British and Irish officials in February 2002.

She also told them that senior members of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) did not take her seriously because she was both Catholic and a woman.

In 1999, O’Loan became the first Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland and continued in this role until 2007. Prior to this she was a solicitor and law lecturer at the University of Ulster.

In general, State Papers – official documents from Government departments and the President’s Office – are declassified and released to the public 30 years after the fact.

However, some records are released before or after that timeframe for various reasons. For example, records related to the peace process in Northern Ireland are now typically released after 20 years.

‘Badly shaken’

In the records released this month, O’Loan raised a number of concerns with officials from the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat during a meeting in Belfast on 5 February 2002.

In a briefing document written the day after the meeting, it was noted that O’Loan said she was “reasonably happy with her personal security situation at present”, but “badly shaken” by a recent attack on her son.

The file notes: “She had been badly shaken, however, by a second attack by youths on her 15-year-old son in Ballymena last Saturday evening. Although he had not been seriously hurt, she realised that she would have to consider taking increased security precautions both for herself and her family.”

paris-france-24th-feb-2024-nuala-oloan-baroness-oloan-member-of-the-house-of-lords-speaking-at-the-iwd2024-conference-in-paris-on-the-eve-of-international-womens-day-march-8-dozens-of-inf Baroness Nuala O'Loan pictured speaking in Paris in February 2024 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The five sons of O’Loan and her husband Declan O’Loan, a politician with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), were subjected to violence and intimidation over the years.

Four years after the 2002 meeting, another of her sons, Damian (then 23), was badly beaten in a suspected sectarian attack in Ardoyne in July 2006. There were fears he might die at the time, but he survived.

O’Loan later revealed she considered leaving her role as police ombudsman due to concerns over her family’s safety, but they supported her work.

‘Catholic and a woman’

At the time of the meeting in February 2002, O’Loan was looking into the police’s handling of the Omagh bombing in 1998.

She told officials at the meeting that she “had been at the receiving end of some considerable abuse” from four members of the policing authority board earlier that day – namely John Taylor and Fred Cobain of the UUP, and Ian Paisley Jr and Sammy Wilson of the DUP.

In the case of Taylor (Lord Kilclooney in the British House of Lords) in particular, she felt “the real objections to her proposals and her role as Ombudsman was that she was both a Catholic and a woman”.

ulster-unionist-party-deputy-leader-john-taylor-speaks-to-the-media-during-a-break-from-the-northern-ireland-assembly-meeting-at-parliament-buildings-stormont-belfast-northern-ireland-monday-nove The UUP's John Taylor pictured in 1999 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“None of the criticism, however, had dealt with the core aspects of her report where she believed her factually-based arguments were unassailable. Instead they had concentrated on political and personality issues,” the file notes.

“Furthermore, she believed that the (few) questions raised by the nationalist members of the Board did little to counteract the weight of the attack on her by the unionist members.

“She appeared disappointed by the performance of the SDLP members who seemed to have permitted the anti-Agreement unionists to dominate the proceedings.”

O’Loan said she made it clear to the board that she had no intention of backing down from the recommendations in her report, in particular she felt an outside police officer had to be appointed to oversee an independent investigation into the police service’s handling of the Omagh bombing.

The following officials are listed as attending the 5 February meeting with O’Loan: Ray Bassett, Bob Browne and Niall Holohan. O’Loan had requested the meeting, pointing out that her office had been a “very lonely” location over the past two months, the file notes.

In 2009, O’Loan she was appointed to the British House of Lords and consequently became Baroness O’Loan. She is also a columnist with The Irish Catholic.

State Papers reference number: 2022/49/22

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4 Comments
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    Mute Paddy Mac
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    May 30th 2014, 10:25 AM

    I’d say the coverage will be unreal and the customer service second to none, said the sarcastic priest.

    238
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    Mute Pat Nolan
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    May 30th 2014, 10:26 AM

    Paddy Wackery

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    Mute Bobby
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    May 30th 2014, 11:42 AM

    Some of you are obsessed with customer service, can’t remember the last time I had to call them.

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    Mute Sean Mac Gabhann
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    May 30th 2014, 4:37 PM

    I can’t stand 3. Worst shower I ever had to deal with in my life.

    28
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    Mute Daddy De La Noche
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    May 30th 2014, 5:43 PM

    If you were getting terrible network coverage in an area that’s on their map as a good area and then their customer service didn’t care, then you would be worried about their customer service, I think this is a terrible move, they should have used Vodafone or Meteor’s infrastructure, nothing good will come of a Three partnership, mark my words

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    Mute Martin Churchill
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    May 30th 2014, 7:43 PM

    Been with 3 for 4 yrs not a problem

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    Mute Rúairí O’ Sullivan
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    May 30th 2014, 10:24 AM

    Maybe UPC should sort their customer service first! They’ve gone from the very best to one of the worst!

    102
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    Mute Ian McG
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    May 30th 2014, 10:28 AM

    @Ruairi: When were they ever the very best? They were still awful when they were ntl and Cablelink before that!

    I’m stuck with them as I live in an apartment but their digibox and channel line-up is very poor vs Sky. Their broadband is excellent though but that’s about all they have going for them.

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    Mute Tony Cox
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    May 30th 2014, 10:43 AM

    its only gonna get worse. Three’s customer service is based overseas and is answered by some poor sods in Punjab earning 150 Rupees an hour (€1.85 an hour).

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    Mute Tinker Taylor
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    May 30th 2014, 10:50 AM

    Ian, I have UPC and find them very good. You’re right about the NTL days but I have never hit a brick wall with their customer service since they became UPC. Certainly better than Eircom(unists) and Sky

    53
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    Mute brian magee
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    May 30th 2014, 11:05 AM

    Ruairi,

    when was the last time you called their customer service?

    they changed a number of years ago and are actually very good.

    easily accessible by phone, email, twitter and boards.ie

    43
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    Mute Keith Boland
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    May 30th 2014, 11:07 AM

    Last 3 mths they continue to overcharge me & exspect me to pay & I’m talking overcharging €30 they are incompdent fools

    13
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 30th 2014, 10:23 AM

    Let me guess. They’ll sell “bundles” that give you your home phone, mobile, Internet, TV and cat food in one package, so it’ll be even more difficult to switch providers.

    99
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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 10:42 AM

    Yes, and they’ll hold a gun to your head and force you to subscribe to it.

    87
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 30th 2014, 11:15 AM

    A lack of competition and options is effectively a gun to your head if you want to partake in the 21st century.

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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 11:24 AM

    There is a lot of competition, don’t be ridiculous.

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    May 30th 2014, 11:56 AM

    I think the technical term for such bundles is a fourplay.

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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    May 30th 2014, 12:22 PM

    For a small market the competition is fierce.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 30th 2014, 12:23 PM

    Cpm, there is one Cable TV provider in most cities in Ireland.. One.

    16
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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 12:30 PM

    “Cpm, there is one Cable TV provider in most cities in Ireland.. One.”

    You were talking about bundles a minute ago, now it’s just cable TV?

    I think you’re losing track of your argument in an effort to have the last word.

    19
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    Mute Éamonn Mac Eochaidh
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    May 30th 2014, 12:49 PM

    @Jeremy Osborne: Actually the entire point is that the competition is NOT fierce ENOUGH – Ireland’s mobile networks have amongst the highest Average Revenues per User in the EU – which is why the European Commission is now forcing 3 to open it’s network to TWO more competitors.

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    Mute PicassoRepublic
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    May 30th 2014, 1:52 PM

    @ Ben Gunn – its referred to as Quadplay. Fixed Telephony, Broadband, Cellular and TV.

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    May 30th 2014, 2:24 PM

    @ Picasso….. I know, I know, but please allow me a little attempt at schoolboy humour on a friday afternoon.

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    Mute John Kelly
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    May 30th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Such negativity. I see UPC’s entry into the mobile market as a positive for UPC customers. I am with UPC 7 years and I have phoned them on at least thirty occasions and the customer service staff have always been helpful to me.

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    Mute winding_down
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    May 30th 2014, 1:37 PM

    30 times in 7 years? Why would anybody need to call them every 2.8 months!?

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    Mute John Kelly
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    May 30th 2014, 5:28 PM

    Moving house, reporting faults, general enquiries and a load of calls trying to convince them to give me a Cisco 3925 so i could bridge it and use my own Router. I got the 3925 in the end :)

    And at all times the staff were courteous and helpful.

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    Mute Thesedublin
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    May 30th 2014, 12:44 PM

    after buying O2. three should use their customer service

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    Mute Hung Xi
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    May 30th 2014, 1:31 PM

    That will hardly happen. They will go with whatever is cheapest.

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    Mute Billbond4
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    May 30th 2014, 10:48 AM

    Wonder will they bring in femtocells to boost indoor mobile coverage?

    15
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    Mute brian magee
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    May 30th 2014, 11:10 AM

    No, they are a MVNO, however they may integrate it with the UPC phone app. which lets you use your mobile as home phone over any broadband connection.

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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    May 30th 2014, 12:24 PM

    The could sell a booster that plugs into their modem.

    They’ve been around a while & would tie in well with the rest of their business.

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    Mute brian magee
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    May 30th 2014, 1:06 PM

    no need too, they have the hardware in place already just use the wifi signal.

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    Mute David McDermott
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    May 30th 2014, 10:29 AM

    Great so another price hike on the way!!! Ffs

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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 10:41 AM

    What?

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    Mute David McDermott
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    May 30th 2014, 10:43 AM

    Every time UPC get a bright new idea it means they increase the price on their packages for everybody to pay for it. In the last 2 years there has been around 3 or 4 price increases.

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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 10:47 AM

    I’ve just gone through 3 years of emails from them and there was one price increase.

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    Mute David McDermott
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    May 30th 2014, 10:56 AM

    I’m sure you did. My bill has gone from €63 to €75 in the last 2 years for same service.

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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 11:03 AM

    I did, yes. one email on 21st January this year about a price increase (a price increase of €5 and a self-service discount of €3, so a total increase of €2.

    Why don’t you switch to Freeview or Sky?

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    Mute David McDermott
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    May 30th 2014, 11:09 AM

    Yes that one of them which varied in different amounts depending on which package you were in. The largest increase was for people who were out of contract in order to force them to sign up for a new one. There have been many increases over the last 2 years including the one you just mentioned. There was also one last summer to pay for their on demand service.

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    Mute brian magee
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    May 30th 2014, 11:12 AM

    every time they raise prices is a change to contract, just ring customer care tell them your leaving because the price increase. they’ll put you through to customer retention department and offer you big discounts, if they don’t then move. (not many people end up moving)

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 30th 2014, 11:17 AM

    Freeview do broadband and phone service now?

    5
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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 11:21 AM

    “Freeview do broadband and phone service now?”

    UPC are the only providers of these services so, are they?

    6
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    Mute Declan ryan
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    May 30th 2014, 3:51 PM

    True brian iv done this a few times now ring saying im switching to sky. They put to on to loyalty line got good deals to stay each time. But after so long there channels are boring compare to what sky can offer. And for a better price

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    Mute Cpm
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    May 30th 2014, 5:02 PM

    I left Sky for a month and they offered me 75% off my bill for 9 months. Sweet deal.

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    Mute Jonathan Stapleton
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    May 30th 2014, 1:35 PM

    Id prefere it if they sorted out the issues with the Horizon Box of Sh#te..Bring back the dodgey boxes thems were the days.

    11
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    Mute Hung Xi
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    May 30th 2014, 12:35 PM

    I have no doubt that there will be an awful advertising campaign for this. That’s one area where they excel at. The TV ads from UPC make me change channel. I was with UPC once and never again. Three coverage is rubbish too. Both companies are welcome to each other.

    7
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    Mute Declan J Murtagh Sr.
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    May 30th 2014, 10:25 AM

    Dennis O Briens UPC

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    May 30th 2014, 4:42 PM

    uh…..no.

    1
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    Mute Rachaelle Delaney
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    May 30th 2014, 6:28 PM

    I hate the fact that we are stuck with upc because we are in an apartment. The horizon box is the worst product to ever be produced ,nothing but trouble with tv and broadband since getting it in

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    Mute Ronan Fitzgerald
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    May 30th 2014, 1:11 PM

    I wonder if they will tie in a data bundle for existing broad band customers, much like the horizon free wifi from other horizon boxes….

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    Mute Susan
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    May 30th 2014, 10:59 AM

    The guy to the right looks constipated ( main photo)

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    Mute Bobby
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    May 30th 2014, 12:47 PM

    You look like you just let off a sneaky fart ;)

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    Mute Pat Lonergan
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    May 30th 2014, 1:52 PM

    Brilliant 2 company’s know for their excellent customer service!,,,,,

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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    May 30th 2014, 6:01 PM

    The 3G/ 4G would be second to none, but the buttons/ design would be all over the show, with any incorrect entries leading to channel 100, adverts.

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    May 30th 2014, 4:40 PM

    Jayziz look at those yokes. Hold on to your wallets.

    1
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