Yearly Archives: 2014

photo-726-1050

Children made homeless by the recent bombing in Gaza

Free Saturday?

Rachel Ray writes:

“I’m sure you’ve all seen the pictures and read the news about the atrocities being committed in Gaza. Over 200 children have been killed to date, thousands more injured and made homeless. I am planning to gather a collection of teddy bears to leave outside the Israeli embassy [Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin] in form of a peaceful protest this weekend. Ideally enough to represent those children who have died. If you are interested in getting involved or have a bear you know wouldn’t mind being given up please either drop your bear to the Collection points (see link below]) or come along on Saturday and place your bear there yourself.  Children and  all other dolls/toys/rabbits welcome. The Plan is to put them out on Saturday at 3pm.“

Teddy Bear’s Silent memorial (Facebook)

Pic: New York Times

Saturday Update:

10525888_10152362130803650_7349250335530494954_n

Outside the Israeli Embassy this afternoon.

90340717Former Irish Independent journalist Gemma O’Doherty at her Employment Appeals Tribunal in May.

You may recall how Gemma O’Doherty appeared before the Employment Appeals Tribunal on May 9 last when she took an unfair dismissal case against Independent News and Media.

The case was adjourned pending written submissions and on a decision on whether it should be postponed until after the conclusion of a defamation case – that Ms O’Doherty is taking against group editor-in-chief Stephen Rae and the Irish Independent.

Further to this, The Phoenix magazine, on shelves now, reports:

“There is now serious concern at INM and especially the Indo at what evidence O’Doherty is likely to bring forward at the EAT [Employment Appeals Tribunal] and the High Court whenever hearings take place. Group managing editor, [Stephen] Rae, has told the board that the situation is under control but that does not explain why O’Doherty has resisted efforts, including substantial compensation and a generous contract, to drop her case.”

“It is not just penalty points being wiped out for the ex-commissioner and the Indo editor that O’Doherty will be focusing on in her evidence. It is the deep, complex relationship between the Gardaí and INM editorial, especially the Indo, that will come under scrutiny at any High Court or EAT hearings. This will involve not only the Anglo tapes but also the coverage of the various Garda controversies like the GSOC bugging allegations, whistleblowers and so on.”

Gulp.

Previously: Going To Work

Are You A Journalist?

Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

enda

July 2: Taoiseach insists the promise that water charges will average €240-a-year “will not change”.

water

July 31:  Most Irish families will have to pay at least 20% more for water than the Government claimed less than three months ago with the average cost for a household of two adults and two children coming in at €278.

Thanks Barry the Hatchet

Meanwhile…

whitehag

 



Fight!

*spills tay*

White Hag Brewery

It’s an honour to work for the state,
And while the pay ain’t always great,
Generations have found,
Their jobs safe and sound,
And you know that the cash won’t be late.

John Moynes

ofMichael O’Flynn

Last night, Cork property developer Michael O’Flynn was interviewed by Paschal Sheehy on the Six One News about losing control of his business to Blackstone, a US company which had purchased Mr O’Flynn’s loans from NAMA.

He said the following:

I was shocked. My intention was absolutely to work collaboratively with Blackstone. It has always been my policy, whoever local authorities, State agencies, the IDA. Whether you borrow a million, ten million or 1.8 billion it’s always about did you borrow responsibly? And I can tell you Paschal we have always borrowed responsibly. Of course we have had situations where there has been an extraordinary collapse in price, in value and no more than a householder who bought a house and is in negative equity. Like, are they responsible for the negative equity that they find themselves in? We have done our business right. We have always tried to do our business in a proper fashion, we will continue to do so.

Watch here.

Meanwhile…

chopperhouse

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxZ8eSNFyWw&start=656&end=942]

Michael O’Flynn featured in RTÉ’s Prime Time documentary ‘Carry On Regardless’ in December 2010 about the lifestyle of Irish property developers in NAMA, where he was filmed flying by helicopter with his family to Down Royal from his Cork home to watch his racehorse finish third.

Mr O’Flynn also received a reported €50,000 from Lucinda Creighton in a defamation case in the High Court in 2012, part of which he donated to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

Fair play though, in fairness.

Screen Shot 2014-07-31 at 12.16.48

A visualisation of Earth’s first geologic eon – four billion years ago – named after the Greek god Hades on account of the ‘hellish’ cratered, magma-strewn conditions that prevailed when the first pre-biotic compounds formed.

likecool