Nazi salute controversy for FG Councillor

A Fine Gael councillor for the Donegal South West constituency has come under fire after honeymoon photos were posted on the social networking site Facebook. The picture in question shows his new wife giving a Nazi salute beside a wax work statue of Adolf Hitler.

Barry O' Neill, who is currently honeymooning in Europe with Lorraine McCabe after marrying on December 30th. The photo has been removed and sources close to Barry say there was no harm meant, it was just meant to be 'a bit of craic'. One Facebook friend who has Jewish ancestry plans to make a complaint to Fine Gael about the photo insisting that "it is deeply offensive to everyone, not just Jews".

Use of the Nazi salute is a criminal offence in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.Barry O' Neill is said to be embarrassed that a picture intended to be funny could in fact offend people according to a close friend. At present his phone is switched off and he has not made any statement about the incident.

This is the second time that a Fine Gael member has caused controversy in recent months. December saw the mayor of Naas resign his position due to his refusal to represent African members of the community. In his opinion they have an 'agressive attitude'.

“Children are the silent, unseen and unheard victims of domestic violence” The organisation Women's Aid calls for the association between child abuse and domestic violence to be recognised in new child protection structures and domestic violence legislation.

 Quotes from a number of domestic violence victims have been included in the press release indicating the huge problem present. “I wanted to leave, but he told me time and time again, “If you ever leave me I’ll make sure you never see your daughter again.”  Alison tells the story of a woman scared for her own safety and that of her children and she is not alone.

 1658 incidents of child abuse were recorded by calls to the national Women’s Aid National Free phone Helpline in 2010. Abusive tactics that were used against children included smacking and hitting children, sometimes with household items. Physical and sexual abuse towards children was also reported. Incidents of verbal abuse where the abusers shouted in the children’s faces and manipulated them to make them side with the abuser were also described.

The Director of  Women’s Aid Margaret Martin has urged the government to pay attention to the inherent link between domestic violence and child abuse “the government needs to apply the best practice principle of protecting the child through the protection and support of the non-abusive parent.”

Ms Martin was speaking at the launch of the 16 Days of Action Campaign. It is a global initiative that concentrates on gender violence. The international 16 day campaign will run from 25th November, UN Day Opposing Violence against Women to 10^th December, Human Rights Day. The 16 Days of Actions began in 1991 and since then over 3400 organisations in 164 countries have participated.

The director of the organisation spoke out about the agony endured by those suffering from domestic violence. “It is heartbreaking to listen to women, who with their children, are living in a state of fear. A quote from Alison who is a victim of domestic violence highlights this predicament “the turning point came when my son said to me one day ‘Mammy I’m afraid of my Daddy’. I knew I had to leave.”

Ms Martin revealed that she is gravely worried about the effects that the budget of 2012 will have on the services that Women’s Aid provides. Reducing services when there are so many victims in need would result in an increased risk for both woman and children who are suffering abuse. Local community groups are generally the first point of contact and they offer a link to specialist support groups. Women’s Aid is a strong support for these groups. In light of imminent restructuring and funding problems their role in tackling domestic violence may be jeopardised.

Women’s Aid relies heavily on donations from the public and you can help by going to www.womensaid.ie or sending donations direct to Women’s Aid, Everton House,  47 Old Cabra Road, Dublin 7. The Women’s Aid Helpline is open from 10am-10pm seven days a week. The number is 1800 341 900 and it is Ireland’s only national free phone service.

Personal Position on Media Ethics



The word media originates from the Latin word medium which suggests a balance or structure. The concept of media is much more dynamic, it is not as simple as this definition suggests. There are no concrete rules with media and a balance between truth and lies has yet to be found. This has been proved in recent months as the phone hacking at the News of the World was exposed. Employees at the paper were accused of hacking mobile phones, bribing policemen and employing underhand means to obtain the most sensational stories. Exploitation and shady dealings were uncovered and the public were finally given the truth.

The Murdoch dynasty did their utmost to conceal the corruption knowing the scandal it would cause and the detrimental effects it would have for journalism and media in general. The initial investigations determined that the hacking was confined to celebrities, politicians and members of the Royal Family. However, on digging deeper it was discovered that phones belonging to victims of the 7/7 London bombings and relatives of deceased British soldiers had also been accessed. The boycotts that ensued led to the termination of the paper. The News of the World consequently folded under a dark cloud of depression after 168 years of publication. The paper had grown to be an institution for many and for it to conclude in such a humiliating manner is quite sad. Fraud, bribery and dishonesty were extremely common in an industry which is meant to deliver the truth. Many innocent people were left without jobs in a time where unemployment is rife due to the widespread recession.



Murdoch News Scandal- spiderbrazil.com



To add to this, the faith that people had in the media and the belief that journalists strive for the truth has been destroyed. Of course there are numerous rules, acts and laws to prevent a controversy like this but in reality rules are incapable of fighting such deceitfulness and greed. Media ethics explains to us the way media should work and in a perfect world journalism means getting the true story and reporting it back to the people. This is essentially what journalism is about.

Every young green trainee is battling to get their first scoop. However, like every industry corrupt practices are commonplace. There is constant pressure to get the most current up to date stories.
As a result investigative journalism is neglected. This can be attributed to budget cuts, laziness or the fact that media lawyers have the power to bring you in court for something you may say or even imply about their client. The demise in reporting is shameful but all is not lost. We must remember there are journalists, broadcasters and others involved in media who worked tirelessly to expose the Murdoch scandal thus presenting the public with the complete story, warts and all. Delivering a major scoop no matter what the cost is something that most journalists aspire to which may be why the industry is sometimes described as cut-throat. The battle between truth and deceit will continue to rage for the foreseeable future. As journalists we wish to report honestly and fairly on what is happening. Unravelling the tangled web of deceit and corruption that has developed in the media is not a rushed last minute job but rather a trusted and dedicated mission that we choose to undertake. We make the choice between integrity and dishonesty. Is it justifiable to sacrifice your morals for the sake of the best story?

The People’s Views on the Presidency

With only two weeks left to D-day the presidential race has been heating up especially in the last week. The scandal surrounding Dana Rosemary Scallon and her various family members, the continual haranguing of Martin McGuinness for his IRA connections and the controversial decision that allowed David Norris to re-enter the race are some of the topical issues open for discussion.

As this is ultimately the decision of the Irish nation on who should become our next president it is important to get the word from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Talking to individuals on the streets of Galway made it obvious that there are widely contrasting opinions among the people.

One of the most significant findings was that not everybody is interested in having their say. This appears to be due to a lack of interest and in some cases ignorance about the voting system and politics in general. There was an obvious indifference in the tone of some of the people who spoke and this is a sad if not surprising fact. Catriona (24) and Sinead (23) both from Galway said they wouldn’t be voting in the presidential election 2011. When pressed on why they had made this decision their faces were blank and devoid of opinion. This may amaze some people but it is true for a large majority of young people.

As there is no pressure to vote and politics is not exactly the coolest thing to be interested in, young adults often disregard it.  Like magpies, they are drawn to the glossy items on the world agenda, celebrities and such frivolous matters. Who’s wearing what, who’s doing who and so forth. Considering the younger generation are generally the first to complain when things go bad, they should probably think about educating themselves on how politics can work in their favour.

In contrast to this attitude, other people had a great deal to say. The overall viewpoint form everyone who chipped in was that while they are not impressed with any of the candidates, Michael D Higgins was the frontrunners. To quote Aideen (21) from Ballinasloe he is the ‘best of a bad lot’.

This is far from an optimistic outlook but it was the general consensus among the cross- section of people asked to voice their views. Orla (24) from Ennis agreed whole-heartedly with Aideen. She will be voting for Michael D Higgins on the day. It is a family tradition to support the Labour Party and she thinks he seems like ‘a nice man’.

Mary Davis was mentioned by Michelle(23) from Tuam. She admires the work Mary has done for the Special Olympics and feels this is a worthy cause. Paul (20) from Galway agreed with this stating that Mary seems ‘nice’. Of course maybe nice isn’t exactly the best word for the person who will become in theory the head of our country. However if it is true that the Presidency is merely a figurehead position then maybe nice fits the bill exactly.

Sean Gallagher was also suggested by Bryanna (22) from Dublin. "He might bring some money into the country" she said. Indeed if he could manage to do this he would reach God like status never mind the presidency! Mary (45) from Gort is also a Gallagher fan but admits it is because she is a staunch Fianna Fail supporter and Gallagher has links with this party.

It must be said that the opinions given were certainly varying but there are definite frontrunners emerging. However who knows, it may be an independent figure such as Sean Gallagher who is summoned to take the stage. It remains to be seen. Friday 27^th of October will see a new face represent our country and it us, the people of Ireland who make this choice. This duty is not to be taken lightly.

Shock at Aviva Job Losses

This week saw the decision of Aviva to cut 950 jobs in Ireland over the next 2 years. Needless to say this was a huge blow to a country struggling to emerge from a economic recession. Sadly job losses have been a recurring theme in the nation's story and there is no sign of this abiding anytime soon. Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke of his disappointment at the news saying it "is a huge shock to those directly involved'.

Aviva maintains this decision is necessary in order to make "a stronger leaner business". It is estimated that there will be 770 redundancies from the Irish bases involving Dublin, Cork and Galway. 180 job loses are expected to hit Aviva Europe. It has been described as a "cost saving exercise" which is planned for next March. This is all very well and good for the fat cats at the top but these cost efficient measures are people's livelihoods. 

Aviva staff who are members of the UNITE trade union have expressed interest in industrial action and who can blame them? They are eager to have their say and make their voices known. It is a great shock especially as people were beginning to hope we were starting to make progress. Things have been bleak on the economy front for a long long time and this is a further setback.


Aviva- home of imminent joblosses



 Is it any wonder people are losing faith in our country? Emigration is continually rising. There are little or no jobs available, ask all of the newly graduated teachers. The jobs that do exist are crumbling before our eyes. The new government formed this year, that promised hope, prosperity and an improved Ireland are failing with a capital F. Enda Kenny needs to raise his game and soon before comparisons with a certain Mr. Cowen began to fall fast and furious...

To read more click on this lick which will bring you to the Irish Times article

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1018/breaking62.html

Presidency Race against time!

Like it or not, it is fair to say that the Presidential Election of 2011 is one of the main topics of discussion in recent weeks. From your local supermarket to pub, school to work it tends to crop up in conversation time and time again. Many will say "ah politics" or" sure what does the President do for me?" but they will nonetheless want their say on polling day.

Another important thing to note is that this topic tends to unite people as essentially we all want the same thing. A candidate who will represent Ireland as a democratic independent country and who will work to restore Ireland to its former strengths politically, economically and culturally. A person who wishes to foster Ireland's links with other nations and act for the people, rather than posing as a figurehead.


Traditionally the President of Ireland is viewed as a somewhat airy-fairy position with little or no input into topical issues. What the majority of people really want is someone who will fight for our rights, stand up for what they believe in and most importantly challenge the bureaucracy evident in politics today. This may sound slightly ambitious but there is no harm in aiming high and at least looking for hunger and passion in the eyes of our prospective President.



Presidential candidates in all their glory



There are seven prospective candidates in the running, ranging from considerably different backgrounds. As always with a highly publicised and competitive situation, controversy is the name of the game. From the letters involving David Norris's former lover to the accusations flung at Martin McGuinness for his presumed involvement with the IRA, the dirt has well and truly been flung.

There have been quite a few radio and television debates in recent days as the campaign race hots up. Nervy Ryan Tubridy and cantankerous Vincent Browne, two strikingly different television hosts both had a go at haranguing the canidiates. Both found it exceedingly difficult to control their guests who were only too eager to attack each other! 

So it remains to be seen... is Gay Mitchell of the perpetually self satisfied expression the winner of our vote? Or is it David Norris, perhaps the best man ever to evade a question considering the pratcice he has had of late or even Dana for whom the Constitution is almost a lifeline at this stage. Or maybe Micheal D Higgins will emerge victorious, for keeping schtum and avoiding trouble is a tried and tested method. He might be the dark horse who emerges as the one to reap the reward. It is a good as an idea as any and for those who disagree,it must be said in a quintessentially Irish fashion... feck the begrudgers! To read more from The Independent click on this link.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-election/michael-d-for-president-but-david-norris-for-dinner-2898011.html




Tragedy strikes Tiny Town

Boyle in Co. Roscommon is a peaceful area, an idyllic spot for many holidaymakers. Several Irish figures of note including Mary McAleese, President of Ireland and actor Brendan Gleeson own holiday homes there. It is a delightful area situated near the Curlew mountains and a number of fishing lakes making it a very picturesque location. This peaceful dreamy world was shattered this week by a fatal house fire.
A 5 year old girl died in the blaze which broke out in the early hours of the morning on 3rd October 2011.Mari Connolly's body was found in an upstairs room, the stairs had been badly damaged by the fire which made if difficult for fire fighters to access the building.
Her father suffered a punctured lung and a broken back from jumping out of the top floor window with Mari's two younger sisters, Naomi (6) and Lauren (8). His actions undoubtedly saved their lives. Their mother was in hospital after having twin baby girls and the three girls had been staying with their father.
This alone is a horrifyingly sad incident, the loss of a child is a nightmare.However further evidence has emerged since Monday and the fire is currently being treated by Gardai as suspicious.Forensic tests are currently underway after reports emerged that a fire accelerant may have been thrown in through the letterbox.
The blaze was so intense that twenty firefighters were needed to combat the blaze and extra units came to assist from Carrick on Shannon and Elphin in addition to the local fire brigade in Boyle. It has been confirmed that a man in his 30s was arrested in connection with the fatal fire.
House fires have claimed many lives, often the result of a tragic accident. Hearing that an innocent child was the victim of a malicious crime is shocking and beyond sad. For many of us we shake our heads and say 'what a tragedy' but a new incident takes precedent the following day. For the parents and siblings of Mari Connolly however, life will never be the same again.