Author Archives: Aaron McAllorum

Tottenham-Hotspur-Logo-Wallpaper-Background

On Tuesday  the Guardian reported that three men, Gary Whybrow, Sam Parsons and Peter Ditchman are to appear before magistrates on 4 February charged or allegedly using the word “Yid”.

Last night Tottenham Hotspur F.C. issued a statement:

The Club conducted sentiment research on the use of the Y word amongst our supporters during October last year. We received 11,500 responses and should like to thank fans for the many well-considered and sincere expression of views.

The Club took the decision, with legal advice, not to issue the findings of the research whilst the cases against our fans were progressing so as not to  prejudice the proceedings in any way, and in light of yesterday’s developments, this remains the position.

You decide.

Tottenham Hotspurs FC

Footbal Fans Charged Over Yid Chants (The Guardian)

Previously: The Y-Word

Image: HD Wallfan

Ciaran

[Cork-born European Indoor 3,000m Bronze medallist Ciaran Ó Lionáird, 25, from Cork]

Ciaran Ó Lionáird writes:

“On my layover in JFK [to a training camp in Florida], I got a bit busy on Twitter in response to a feature article on fellow Irish athlete Colin Griffin in the Irish Examiner [on Saturday]. Let me preface this by saying I have a lot of respect for Colin. Anybody who knows him will agree he’s a guy who has the intellect and reasoning ability to form thoughtful and coherent dialogue relative to his sport and also think on a relative scale about the career of an athlete and what comes afterward.

I spoke out in response to the article as I felt the presence of a recurring theme in features on Irish athletes recently. Granted, there have been positive news stories too and in my haste in getting a message into 140 characters, I perhaps over-generalised in my criticism of the media for bringing a negative agenda into Irish athlete interviews. Now, with the space of this medium, I can hopefully expand a little on my thoughts and explain why I feel the way I do on this.

I am totally in favor of athletes speaking out against what they perceive as unjust. Funding and grants have always been a contentious issue as they form the backbone of an athletes preparation. Cuts to funding can leave an athlete scrambling to re-budget and the year-to-year changes make it difficult to follow-through on the 3-4 year plans necessary to build the continuity and consistency necessary to perform at a World level.

I feel that journalists sometimes play on the emotions of the athletes in order to get a quick and easy jab in at Irish Athletics. Such an act in isolation may not really do a whole deal but when it occurs again and again, it portrays the athletes as moaners and presents them as fighting not just against the system but against each other too. That certainly isn’t the case in real life but the general non-athletics fan can pick up a paper and take a glance and think “ok here we go again”.

“For the journos, it’s an easy sell. For athletes, I feel that it weakens our position in the long term as it prevents us from coming together and forming a consistent message to bring to AAI [Athletics Association of Ireland] with our concerns. Isolated attacks and digs on Twitter do not help our cause I believe.Continue reading →

wilson

[Former garda John Wilson]

“We started to discover clusters,” he says. “Myself and the other man. We started seeing the same names coming up again and again on the Pulse [Garda computer] system and we realised that certain people were being looked after; that people with connections in Irish society, from judges to politicians to celebrities, were having their points quashed and that this was happening in every town in the country.”
Wilson, along with his colleague, brought a sample of their findings to an individual within the force called the Confidential Recipient, who was responsible for dealing with internal complaints.
“…But when nothing happened we decided to bring the information to an Independent TD, Clare Daly and to use that old vernacular expression – that’s when the shit really hit the fan.”

Garda whistleblower John Wilson speaking with Robert Mulhern of The Irish Post this week.

Mr Mulhern has made  a radio documentary about Mr Wilson, called The Garda Who Limped. It will be broadcast tomorrow [Saturday] on RTÉ Radio 1 at 2pm.

It can also be listened to here.

Is Garda whistleblower simply ‘a rat’ or Ireland’s answer to Edward Snowden? (Irish Post)

Previously: Keeping A Lid On The Box Of Evidence

Early Profiling

Penalty Points Weirdness

Meanwhile At INM

The Penalty Points Whistleblower

Thanks Robert Mulhern

 

Donegal

 

Then Rena Donaghey took herself away.

Donegal County Council’s budget has been passed this evening after the deciding vote fell to martyr Mayor Ian McGarvey. Tied at 14/14, Councillor Rena Donaghey left the meeting without casting her vote leaving it to McGarvey to adopt the County Council’s budget.

Since she’s gone, they can do whatever they want.

Listen here

Highland Radio

Earlier: Meanwhile, In Donegal