Ned O’Keeffe arrested

April 27, 2012 in Fianna Fail by Anthony | 3 comments

Former Fianna Fáil TD Ned O’Keeffe has been arrested on suspicion of using a false invoice to claim for mobile phone expenses while he was a member of the Dáil.

The arrest of a politician in Ireland is an extremely rare event despite the fact that corruption is endemic throughout the body politic.

This arrest will be nothing less than revolutionary if it marks the beginning of a new phase of real law enforcement targeting those who wield power and influence.

I am not, however, holding my breath.

If the Gardai decide there’s some substance to the allegations a file will be sent to the DPP.

Judging from past experience that file will remain on a shelf for years unspecified.

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Garda Ombudsman: Rape threat, what rape threat?

April 25, 2012 in Gardai, Government by Anthony | 2 comments

The Garda Ombudsman has recommended disciplinary action be taken against one of five Gardai whose comments about two female Corrib gas protesters were recorded after the women were arrested.

A Garda Sergeant used the word rape but told investigators he heard the word used at the scene while the women were being arrested.

Obviously, the Garda Ombudsman has accepted this ridiculous claim.

Is the Sgt. claiming that this is the first time he’s heard the word ‘rape’ and, like a schoolboy hearing a dirty word for the first time, can’t wait to tell everyone he knows a grown up word?

The Sgt. in question has since (very conveniently) retired and so cannot be the subject of disciplinary proceedings.

So once again we witness a state official bounding across the two-foot high accountability fence into the carefree, well-paid land of retirement.

His departure is greeted with a huge sigh of relief by all those highly paid officials who labour day and night to maintain the farce of accountability in Ireland.

That the good name and credibility of the Gardai is once again seriously damaged by this ‘investigation’ doesn’t seem to bother the Garda Ombudsman in the slightest.

Matt Cooper broadcast a detailed analysis of the video recording on The Last Word today (24th).

Sgt. A: Who is them two lassies, do you know the two of them?

Garda B: I don’t know the second one; the first one is with blond hair.

Garda C: She was up in the tractor earlier on.

Sgt. A: It would do no harm to get the second one’s name again.

Garda B: She’s some yank, I don’t know who the fuck she is.

Garda C: Is she a yank?

Garda B: It sounds like it, the accent anyway.

Garda D: Sounds like a yank or Canadian

Garda B: Well, whoever, we’ll get immigration fucking on her.

Sgt A: She refused to give her name and address and told she would be arrested.

Garda B: And deported.

Sgt. A: And raped

Garda B: I wouldn’t go that far yet. She was living down at that crusty camp, fuck’s sake you’d never know what you might get.

Sgt. A: Give me your name and address or I’ll rape you.

Garda C: Hold it there, give me your name and address, I’ll Facebook you.

Sgt. A: Or I’ll definitely rape you.

Garda C: Will you be my friend on Facebook?

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Tom McGurk: Confused about religious education

April 22, 2012 in Catholic Church, Media coverage, Religion by Anthony | 1 comment

Letter in today’s Sunday Business Post (Sub. reqd).

Most of the letters page (7 out of 10) was taken up with reaction to McGurk’s article (Teaching religion is of primary importance, SBP April 15) . Only one agreed with his ill informed views.

This strong anti- religious, anti-Catholilc response seems to be the norm in recent years – long may it last.

Sir,

The underlying message to be taken from Tom McGurk’s article on religious education in schools is that any withdrawal of Christian religious teaching will damage the moral and ethical formation of children.

This narrow view suggests that the moral and ethical standards of billions of non-Christians and non-believers are, at best, inferior, and, at worst, irrelevant.

Human morality is a natural, evolutionary aspect of all humanity, not the invention of any one particular god.

If parents want to indoctrinate their children into a particular religion, they should do so themselves with the support of their particular church.
The State should play no part in religious indoctrination.

Your etc.,
Anthony Sheridan
Cobh

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Catholic militant, Senator Mullen, gets his answer

April 20, 2012 in Catholic Church, Religion by Anthony | 6 comments

I was in the process of responding to an article by catholic militant Senator Rónán Mullen in which he spouts his usual intolerant demand that taxpayers should pay to have children indoctrinated into the superstitions of his particular religion when I read the following excellent letter.

Mr. Peregrine says pretty much what I had in mind.

Sir,

The debate that has been carried out in this paper through the articles by John Waters, Senator Ronan Mullen and Paul Rowe and the letters submitted by readers has exposed a very ugly side to our little country.

Those who argue for secularism (a separation of church and state) have variously been accused of being unthinking monkeys and incapable of teaching morality or dealing with bereavement.

These are the type of articles one might expect to find in state papers in the theocracies that Mary O’Dowd (Letters April 18th) believes we should look towards for guidance.

A bit of clarity needs to be introduced to this debate to wash away the mud that is being slung about.

The State has a responsibility to provide an education for every child in this State, however, this does not mean that the State has an obligation to provide a particular religious education for every citizen.

John Waters and Senator Mullen’s arguments about the merits of a Catholic education and the hazards of atheism are irrelevant.

They can educate their own children however they see fit.

The argument should remain focused on whether the State should fund denominational primary schooling or provide non- denominational education and allow parents to indoctrinate their children outside the classroom.

If the State chooses to continue funding denominational education then it must provide schooling for all children be they the children of Catholic, Jedi or Jewish parents.

A Mormon child on Inis Meain would need and should be entitled to his/her own school if the current system were to be continued.

The current fudge means that most non-Catholic children are forced to attend Catholic schools and have to sit out while preparations are made for the various sacraments and rituals that are such a large part of the Catholic primary school curriculum.

In a non- denominational system no child would be forced to exclude themselves from the class and all children could receive indoctrination from their parents after school or in their various churches, mosques or temples.

This argument has been framed as one about freedom for religion to distract from the basic constitutional right of freedom from religion.

Nowhere has it been argued that parents should be denied the right to educate their children in whatever “ethos” they choose to subscribe to.

What “secularists” have been arguing for is a right to have their child educated free from any religious indoctrination.

Yours, etc,

Andrew Peregrine
Alen Park Drive,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.

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Mahon Tribunal fallout

April 20, 2012 in Mahon Tribunal, The State by Anthony | 1 comment

Letter in today’s Irish Times.

A chara,

I refer to Anthony Sheridan’s letter (April 18th) in which he seems annoyed about the lack of progress by Fine Gael in its investigation regarding Olivia Mitchell TD.

He can imagine how I feel whereby in the Clondalkin area another elected Fine Gael politician, Cllr Therese Ridge has had findings by the Mahon tribunal made against her and yet Fine Gael has now appointed her to the executive of the Local Authorities Members’ Association (Home News, April 14th).

Is mise,

Paul Doran
Monastery Walk,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22

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Battle for INM reaches end game

April 19, 2012 in Corporate, Fine Gael, Media coverage by Anthony | 1 comment

It looks like the battle for control of Independent news and media (INM) is reaching its end game.

This morning an anonymous buyer bought 13 million shares in the group.

RTE business editor, David Murphy, said the buyer couldn’t be Dermot Desmond, Denis O’Brien or the O’Reilly’s because they would have to notify the Irish Stock Exchange of any such purchase.

All I can say is – bless his innocence.

If Denis O’Brien and his pal Dermot Desmond win the battle the first casualty, apart from the current CEO Gavin O’Reilly, is likely to be the Editor of the Sunday Independent Anne Harris.

Harris wrote a trenchant article recently drawing attention to the dangers for press freedom if Denis O’Brien gains control. She expressed particular worry about O’Brien’s close relationship to Fine Gael.

The reason all this matters to the Sunday Independent is that we may be about to lose one of the most important tools of transparency – press freedom.

Take a government with an obscene majority, allow a media mogul who has influence – O’Brien makes no secret of his desire for influence – with the dominant party and before long it may not be just an appearance of the dictatorial.

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Comedy: Nobody does it better than Fianna Fail

April 19, 2012 in Albert Reynolds, Fianna Fail by Anthony | No comments

Just came across this hilarious article in The Journal in which Ógra Fianna Fáil calls for the expulsion of Albert Reynolds from the party.

Ógra president Eamon Quinlan said:

We feel it necessary to maintain the integrity of Fianna Fáil that actions which bring the party into disrepute have consequences.

In fairness, it would be difficult to surpass such high quality comedy.

The article reminds us that Reynolds was unable to give evidence to the tribunal because he suffers from memory loss.

This is also hilarious as everybody knows that memory loss is the default mental condition of all Irish politicians.

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Ireland: The land of never ending inquiries

April 19, 2012 in Fine Gael, Mahon Tribunal by Anthony | 1 comment

Letter in today’s Irish Times

Sir,

For 15 years we listened to politicians refuse to comment on those under investigation by the Mahon tribunal on the grounds that such comment could undermine the work of the tribunal.

Now, after Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell was found to have acted inappropriately by accepting £500 from Frank Dunlop, we’re told by Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton that any comment could undermine the work of the recently established Fine Gael internal inquiry.

The Minister tells us that the inquiry will make recommendations, which, no doubt, will be forwarded to a committee for further consideration before being forwarded to a sub-committee before being . . . quietly forgotten.

Yours, etc,

Anthony Sheridan
Cobh

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Sensational news: Corruption Act enforced in Ireland

April 18, 2012 in The State by Anthony | 4 comments

I see a former Garda has been charged in connection with passing on confidential State information.

Daniel Tarrant is being charged under section 8 of the Corruption Act of ‘corruptly obtaining a gift, consideration or advantage’.

Rumours that a civil servant was overcome by dust inhalation while reading up on this law have been denied.

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Hogan’s overwhelming majority

April 18, 2012 in Government by Anthony | No comments

On Newstalk this morning Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan described the 56% of those who paid the property tax as an overwhelming majority.

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