Media exploiting the murder of Jo Cox

media

By Anthony Sheridan

You have to hand it to mainstream/establishment Irish media. They never waste an opportunity to exploit a tragedy to promote their own narrow agenda’s.

Here’s how the brutal murder of Jo Cox was exploited in the Irish Examiner, Irish Times, and Irish Independent.

Irish Examiner: Linked the murder to ‘an unruly mob’ of water protesters protesting against Joan Burton.

Irish Times: Linked the murder to the ‘wildly scurrilous realm of online debate’.

Irish Independent: As always, linked the murder to Sinn Fein/IRA.

None of these links have anything whatsoever to do with the murder of Jo Cox.

Fergus Finlay: Still living in cave of shadows

 

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By Anthony Sheridan

The following quote, taken from today’s Irish Examiner, tells us that commentator Fergus Finlay has no credibility whatsoever when it comes to analysing current/political affairs.

I’ve met Noirín O’Sullivan a couple of times, and I have to say she strikes me as someone who is down-to-earth and entirely approachable. She simply has never seemed to me to be the sort of person whose instinct would be to circle the wagons when the force is criticised, but instead to seek to get to the bottom of the problem.

I tend to believe her when she says she has never had any interest in attacking the motivation of Garda whistle-blower Maurice McCabe, or in accusing him of malice.

Before retreating to the safety of his cave of shadows Mr. Finlay tells us that he’s not questioning the work of Irish Examiner journalist Michael Clifford who, Finlay admits, has raised questions of the most troubling kind.

But there is no way Finlay is going to actually analyse these troubling questions. To do so would risk having to deal with the appalling vista that our police force is riven by corruption, cover ups, incompetence, low morale and that at the core of all this dysfunctionality lies the corrupt nexus between policing and politics.

Instead, Finlay, safe in his cave, suggests that the most important issue, overriding all the corruption of recent decades, is the abolition of the bottom two points of the Haddington Road pay scale for junior Gardai.

Meanwhile, the corruption goes on and justice for the victims is as far away as ever.

Copy to:

Fergus Finlay

Broadcaster George Hook accuses politicians of tax evasion

 

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By Anthony Sheridan

On 11 May last Newstalk broadcaster George Hook made some very strong comments about a number of politicians in relation to the non-payment of water charges.

I believe Mr. Hook’s comments are in breach of the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs and, as a consequence, I have submitted a formal complaint to Newstalk (See full complaint below).

It is interesting to note that while Mr. Hook has no scruples whatsoever in accusing fellow citizens of being tax evaders he is very sensitive to those who make alleged nasty comments concerning his character.

Earlier this year Hook threatened to sue rugby player Johnny Sexton and the Irish Times for defamation over comments made about him (Hook) in an interview.

Ridiculously, Hook had alleged that comments made by Sexton in the interview meant that he (Hook) did not believe what he writes and broadcasts, and had generated controversy over player welfare, including Sexton’s, to further his career.

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George Hook

Finian McGrath

John Halligan

Paul Murphy

Social Democrats

 

 

Formal Complaint

19 May 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

I wish to lodge a formal complaint against the presenter of The Right Hook, George Hook, for a breach of sections 21 and 22 of the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs, which came into effect on 1 July 2013 under Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

On 11 May last Mr. Hook, while making comment on the issue of the non-payment of water charges by certain politicians, said:

We seem to be perfectly happy that a Cabinet minister can sit there and not pay his taxes. He is a tax evader; he is evading lawful taxation in the shape of the water charges. 

Meantime, across the aisle in the Opposition benches you have the leader of the Social Democrats, also says I haven’t paid any water charges…It is rumored that John Halligan will become a Junior Minister, another tax evader.  And one can only presume…that Paul Murphy hasn’t paid his water charges either. 

I think it is an absolute outrage to the ordinary people of Ireland more than half of whom have actually paid their water charges that people who think they can be Cabinet ministers, junior ministers, leaders of political parties, leaders of campaigns for the underprivileged can actually turn around and say; I’m not going to pay lawfully taxes that have been levied by the government.  It is an absolute outrage. 

Now Alan Kelly, of course, has demanded that Finian McGrath should consider his position.  I think he should, I think Alan Kelly is absolutely right. 

And then Finian McGrath, this is his defence.  Listen carefully to his defence.  I haven’t paid my water charges but accept the reality that if there are constitutional or legal challenges I will look at that. 

It’s incredible; this minister needs a constitutional or legal imperative to ask him to pay his taxes.  The rest of us just paid up…he doesn’t have a constitutional imperative or a legal imperative.  He has the imperative of integrity, honesty and an understanding of what it means to be a minister of government in a democracy. 

He should, quite simply, resign or pay up.  It’s very simple…and the rest of them should do likewise, those sitting on benches in the Opposition should do likewise.

It is clear that Mr. Hook is expressing the following opinions.

Minister McGrath TD is a tax evader.

The leader of the Social Democrats is a tax evader.

John Halligan TD is a tax evader.

Paul Murphy TD is, presumably, a tax evader.

That Minister McGrath does not have a constitutional or legal imperative to ask the Attorney General for advice on the issue.

That Alan Kelly TD is right in his demand that Minister McGrath should consider his position.

That it is an absolute outrage that a number of politicians should refuse to pay lawfully levied taxes.

That Minister McGrath should pay up or resign.

That those politicians in the Opposition who are refusing to pay the water charge should also resign.

Clearly, Mr. Hook is expressing opinions on a matter that is publicly controversial and of current public debate and is therefore in breach of the code.

I include the relevant sections of the Act below for your convenience.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Sheridan

 

  1. A news presenter and/or a reporter in a news programme may not express his or her own view on matters that are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate.
  1. It is an important part of the role of a presenter of a current affairs programme to ensure that the audience has access to a wide variety of views on the subject of the programme or item; to facilitate the expression of contributors‘ opinions – sometimes by forceful questioning; and to reflect the views of those who cannot, or choose not to, participate in content. This being so, a presenter and/or a reporter on a current affairs programme shall not express his or her own views on matters that are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate such that a partisan position is advocated.

 

 

 

The cesspool that is Irish politics

 

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By Anthony Sheridan

Former Tanaiste Joan Burton has questioned the contradiction in statements made by the Garda Commissioner surrounding the Garda whistleblower.

Meanwhile, Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney has said people should take the Garda Commissioner at her word.

Here is an irrefutable fact.

If Burton were still in power she would be saying what Coveney is saying and if Coveney were in opposition he would be saying what Burton is saying.

Principles, integrity, honour, respect for democracy play no part whatsoever in the cesspool that is Irish politics.

 

 

Finian McGrath cashes in his principles

 

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By Anthony Sheridan

Independent TD and super junior Minister Finian McGrath is the first member of the current government to cash in his principles in exchange for political office.

McGrath told Brendan O’Conor that he didn’t pay water charges because he was opposed to them personally and was very annoyed with the incompetence and money wasted in setting up of the organisation.

Brendan O’Connor:  So everybody on the panel has paid except you and you’re a member of the Government.  What kind of mugs is that supposed to make us.  Are you not ashamed of yourself?

Finian McGrath:  I have major issues with the way the debate was handled.  I’m opposed to water charges personally.

O’Connor:  So, what happens if the Commission decides to keep Irish Water and the charges?

McGrath:  I will go wth the democratic wishes of Dail Eireann, absolutely, if the Dail votes in a particular way, yes, I’ll respect that mandate.

O’Connor:  So you’ll sell out your principles?

McGrath:  No, no, if the Dail votes in one particular way I’ll respect that mandate, yes.

O’Connor:  But it was the law to pay water charges and you chose to flout that.

McGrath:  I would say I was part of the civil disobedience campaign on a particular issue that I felt very strongly about but now we’re in a new space.

Yes, McGrath is indeed in a new space, it’s called political office/power.  And in common with every politician who is elected to Dail Eireann he must make a choice.

Will I, for my short-term interests, fall in with the rotten political system that has destroyed the country or will I risk my political career by seriously challenging that system in the long-term interests of the entire country?

All too predictably McGrath has opted for the traditional gombeen way of doing politics thus joining a long line of integrity free TDs who have betrayed their country.

Copy to:

Finian McGrath

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vincent Browne: Blind to what’s coming down the road

 

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By Anthony Sheridan

Vincent Browne caused a bit of a stir the other day with his claim that the country is suffering from the worst possible outcome of a general election.

From an establishment point of view this is an accurate assessment. The last thing the old regime parties of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour want is political instability and Browne, as an establishment journalist, is simply reflecting that fear.

From the point of view of those of us who are working to bring down the old corrupt regime, the regime that destroyed our country, the current political instability is great news.

Browne tells us that the first casualty of the election is ‘new politics’; this is hilarious.

There is no new politics emerging from within the old regime. The political system that has misruled our country since independence is hopelessly corrupt and beyond any possibility of redemption or reform.

The fractured outcome of the election is simply the latest and most dramatic indication that the old corrupt regime is crumbling.

The panicked scramble between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to glue together a patchwork government is nothing more than a stop-gap strategy to hold onto as much power for as long as possible within a political system that’s melting away into history.

And the relentless seeping away of political power from the old regime parties is not a new phenomenon. It has been going on since 1992 when Labour under Dick Spring betrayed its promise to tackle political corruption by going into coalition with the corrupt Haughey.

And Labour’s betrayal is nothing new either. For decades the party has been nothing more than a political prostitute selling its principles to the highest bidder in return for a ticket to plunder the states resources.

Inevitably Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will merge into single right wing party that will find itself under increasing pressure from what is the most dramatic political development since independence – the rise of genuine left wing politics led by ordinary people for the benefit of ordinary people.

This new political movement is visible in the water protests, in the increasing number of independents, in the formation of new parties like the Social Democrats and in the continuing rise of Sinn Fein

The inevitable outcome of this political turbulence will see the replacement of what is, effectively, a one party system comprised of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour, with a genuine Left/Right political divide which is the norm in functional democracies.

The major flaw in Browne’s analysis is his own position in the scheme of things. While he regularly castigates the corruption and injustices of the ruling regime he is, ultimately, a loyal member of that regime.

His analysis therefore will always be that of an insider; will always be that of someone who believes the current political system is sound and not in any serious danger of collapse.

He is, in common with most establishment journalists, blind to what’s coming down the road.

Copy to:

Vincent Browne

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour

 

 

Terry Prone: Water protesters are dumb

 

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By Anthony Sheridan

Terry Prone is a political advisor and PR guru so you would imagine she should be knowledgeable about current affairs.

Well, you would be mistaken.  Ms. Prone is just as ignorant about the real reasons behind the failed attempt to introduce a water tax as most other mainstream journalists.

Speaking on Denis O’Brien’s radio station to former Fine Gael politician and Denis O’Brien broadcaster, Ivan Yates, Ms. Prone first regurgitated the establishment line on the water tax.

Water is not free…system needs to be modernised, Irish Water didn’t communicate the message properly, blah, blah, blah (see full quote below).

Then she entered la la land saying that when water charges come back she was confident she would receive a tax credit for the money she has already paid.

Leaving la la land she found herself in the realm of the insanely befuddled by claiming that if water charges are not paid directly then they will be paid indirectly through income tax and suggested that people who don’t realise this are dumb.

So this  so-called expert political advisor believes that if people pay the water tax the state will give them a break on their (already exorbitant) tax levels.

If this is the level of uninformed, naive advice our politicians are getting it’s no wonder they have become criminally incompetent.

To copper fasten her ignorance about what’s happening on the political landscape Ms. Prone, giggling like an excited schoolgirl, responded as follows when told that Kenny would be Taoiseach next week.

Isn’t it great, isn’t it mighty, he’s historic.

Copy to:

Terry Prone

Terry Prone quote:

The fact is that water is not free, the process is a hundred years out of date and we really needed the water charges. The fact that the set-up and communication of Irish Water was not handled correctly doesn’t mean that the issue is not valid.

With luck, those of us honest brokers Ivan like you and me who paid our water charges will have a rolling credit into the next few years when they come back.

The other thing that puzzles me, and you as a former politician would explain this to me, is, how dumb do you have to be to believe that if you don’t have water charges you’re not going to get done indirectly through taxes, you’re going to pay either way.

I would much prefer to have a discreet, oh god, here’s 160 quid right now that I have to find rather than be robbed on a daily basis through income tax.

 

Conor Pope: Genuinely clueless

By Anthony Sheridan

Wow, I gave Conor Pope the benefit of the doubt regarding his article on Irish Water in today’s Irish Times. I suspected he was put under pressure to publish what is clearly a propaganda piece for the discredited company.

But no, this tweet from Pope makes clear he’s one of the disturbingly large number of mainstream journalists who genuinely seem to be clueless regarding the real story behind the debacle.

I answered some questions on Irish Water. Some people will be enraged but I believe the answers are all true.

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Conor Pope

Conor Pope: Supporting Irish Water

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By Anthony Sheridan

Irish Times columnist Conor Pope has a Q & A piece in today’s paper entitled: Will Fianna Fail rue its stance on water charges?

Readers are kept in the dark as to who is asking or answering the questions. This, I suspect, is intentional, as the piece must surely have originated from the propaganda office at Irish Water headquarters.

I suspect that Pope was ‘instructed’ to publish the piece, which is fully in line with the Irish Times’ strong pro Irish Water/Government stance.

I further suspect that the anonymous Q&A format was a trick to fool readers into thinking that a professional/neutral expert was being asked the questions.

This device was probably a concession to Pope to mitigate journalistic embarrassment.

Copy to:

Conor Pope