Topic: The Irish Politics Thread.

[thejbs]

Publicly commenting on a court case
You might be in contempt of court if you speak publicly or post on social media.

For example, you should not:

say whether you think a person is guilty or innocent
refer to someone’s previous convictions
name someone the judge has allowed to be anonymous, even if you did not know this
name victims, witnesses and offenders under 18
name sex crime victims
share any evidence or facts about a case that the judge has said cannot be made public

Probably worth posting this so the thread can continue without anyone/rawk getting into bother.

[Zlen]

That first point is just hillarious.
I mean, fair enough if you're a member of the jury, but any random on the internet?

[TSC]

Beeb has just confirmed Donaldson is charged with rape with 2 female victims involved.  Apparently the investigation has been ongoing for a couple of months

[thejbs]

That first point is just hillarious.
I mean, fair enough if you're a member of the jury, but any random on the internet?

Not all randoms on the internet have the same standing/following, so I get why they've stipulated this.

[thejbs]

Beeb has just confirmed Donaldson is charged with rape with 2 female victims involved.  Apparently the investigation has been ongoing for a couple of months

It's always the most pious ones, isn't it.

[stockdam]

Beeb has just confirmed Donaldson is charged with rape with 2 female victims involved.  Apparently the investigation has been ongoing for a couple of months

Ah so the shite earlier about paedophiles was just........shite.

Let the courts do their jobs and stop adding needless speculation and Twitter Twatter.

[fowlermagic]

It's amazing how many awful animals became quite powerful in Northern Ireland politics. The troubles up there really stirred some awful shyte to the top, who were responsible for the death of many innocent people and today is another example of how rotten the system was and still is. You have to wonder how many of those in charge tried to bury this investigation into Donaldson n hats off to those who were brave enough to press ahead for justice.

[thejbs]

Ah so the shite earlier about paedophiles was just........shite.

Let the courts do their jobs and stop adding needless speculation and Twitter Twatter.

The ages of the victims hasn’t been mentioned. Given the historicity of the accusations, it can’t be assumed they were adults or minors.

[thejbs]

It's amazing how many awful animals became quite powerful in Northern Ireland politics. The troubles up there really stirred some awful shyte to the top, who were responsible for the death of many innocent people and today is another example of how rotten the system was and still is. You have to wonder how many of those in charge tried to bury this investigation into Donaldson n hats off to those who were brave enough to press ahead for justice.

Seeing Jim allistair and Bryson trying to exploit this is pretty vile.

While I get the schadenfreude of the pious, family values DUP (again) letting the mask slip, this is a human tragedy with victims at the heart of it.

[damomad]

And yet people will still vote for the DUP in their droves.

It's amazing how many awful animals became quite powerful in Northern Ireland politics. The troubles up there really stirred some awful shyte to the top, who were responsible for the death of many innocent people and today is another example of how rotten the system was and still is. You have to wonder how many of those in charge tried to bury this investigation into Donaldson n hats off to those who were brave enough to press ahead for justice.

Whether or not the allegations are true it won’t have much impact on the next election. People will just vote for the local representative that’s on their team. Unionism is dying a slow death but in general I don’t expect all that big a movement in seats. Even the voting is a bit of a farce (although I realise the historical reasoning for it), preference voting just means you pick all the candidates on your side without really knowing anything about them. I’ll pick all 6 or so candidates either sitting on the fence or on my side. I started putting greens as first preference because I’m so fed up with it all but they never get in.

[Red-Soldier]

Is it too early to call him a nonce?

[damomad]

Is it too early to call him a nonce?

Yeah it’s too early, I’ve seen varying news articles about the age of victims. Better letting it play out and not making assumptions.

[thejbs]

I haven’t checked as I don’t want to give them a click, but apparently while every news outlet has this in their top 1-3 stories, the Daily Mail has it buried far from the top items.

[DangerScouse]

If ever you needed reminding what a fucking spanner Jim is.

TUV leader Jim Allister said Mr Donaldson's resignation has "very wide ramifications for unionism".

He said: "The damage is not limited to his party but impacts unionism as a whole.

"Unionism was already divided by the Donaldson deal. This needs to be a cathartic moment for unionism.

"Unionism must steady itself and cut adrift the Donaldson folly of accepting an Irish Sea border and rule by EU law."

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0329/1440750-donaldson-reax/

[stockdam]

The ages of the victims hasn’t been mentioned. Given the historicity of the accusations, it can’t be assumed they were adults or minors.

No the ages have not been mentioned and I don’t know when they will be. However I would have expected that the police would be specific on the charges. Maybe that doesn’t come out until later.

Too many people jumping to conclusions and speculation. Wait and see.

[thejbs]

No the ages have not been mentioned and I don’t know when they will be. However I would have expected that the police would be specific on the charges. Maybe that doesn’t come out until later.

Too many people jumping to conclusions and speculation. Wait and see.

Precisely what I was advocating for. Available information is that it was a historic rape and sexual crime against two females. There was nothing to say who they are or what ages they were at the time. And I imagine because of the unique profile of the accused, the police are being guarded with their information. We likely won’t know anything until the court case.

Thing is, if this is true, and if they’re not minors it hardly makes it much better does it? Like, it’s not like we can say ‘oh thank goodness he’s only a rapist and not a pedo.’ If he did what he’s accused of, and especially against those who are rumoured to be the victims, he’s beyond vile.

[TSC]

Ah so the shite earlier about paedophiles was just........shite.

Let the courts do their jobs and stop adding needless speculation and Twitter Twatter.

Not necessarily.  The charges relate to ‘historic abuse’, so no-one (except obviously him, victim/s and police) knows the ages of those involved.

[thejbs]

There’s also this report before the names were known:

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/husband-wife-co-down-charged-28907532

Husband and wife from Co Down charged with series of historical sexual offences against two children

[damomad]

That’s the one I had read Jbs, time will tell.

[CHOPPER]

There’s also this report before the names were known:

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/husband-wife-co-down-charged-28907532

Refreshing, at least its not the Catholic Church, for once.

[calvin]

There’s also this report before the names were known:

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/husband-wife-co-down-charged-28907532

He has two daughters and the report states two children were abused. The ages of the accused are the same as Donaldson and his wife. It happened in Co. Down and that's where he's from. This is awful if it's true. 

[FlashGordon]

What an absolutely brilliant speech by Mary Lou in the dail today. She reminds me of Tony Blair or Barack Obama.

[Ray K]

The Stardust Inquiry verdict of unlawful killing is fantastic news to an amazing group of families that should resonate with the members of this forum.

Stardust families march towards the Garden of Remembrance as You’ll Never Walk Alone plays

https://twitter.com/SeanMJourno/status/1780971965576085513?t=xr_Hgu84eI9eVBEaD-hI1Q&s=19

[BarryCrocker]

Not an isolated incident. Most of whole world would have been on fire if locals had of done the same when all the Irish arrived in their countries over the past 300 years.

Six arrested as gardaí came under attack after fires lit at site slated to house asylum seekers in Wicklow

Six people were arrested, gardaí “came under attack” and fires were lit at a site slated to house 160 asylum seekers in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, on Thursday night.

Gardaí came under attack from rocks and missiles, while an axe was also recovered at the scene. Three garda cars were damaged, including several broken windows and tyres being slashed, during the incident.

Gardaí also “used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response,” a spokesperson said.

The garda public order unit has been deployed and videos from the scene showed people attempting to breach the grounds, which have been sealed off, as a large fire burned at the entrance of the property. It is not clear if any damage has been caused to the property.

“Gardaí on duty outside a premises in Newtownmountkennedy came under attack by persons gathered at the location,” a garda spokesperson said.

“This incident has developed as a result of workers, contracted to carry out lawful employment on the site, entering the site. A number of trespassers were also identified on and removed from the site last night.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/six-arrested-as-gardai-came-under-attack-after-fires-lit-at-site-slated-to-house-asylum-seekers-in-wicklow/a1618585359.html