Learn difference between far right and wrong, Harris
Meghan’s ex-aides ready to talk
Was the Garda Commissioner’s claim that the “hard left” were involved in last Saturday’s Dublin riot a genuine mistake or wishful thinking?
More to the point, how did Drew Harris not know a mass protest against the lockdown restrictions was organised by right-wing extremists?
Early on, the difference between right and wrong is drilled into children. Uunfortunately, the Commissioner doesn’t appear to know the difference between right and left.
Well it’s either that or, as many on the left believe, this is further evidence the country’s top police officer is becoming overly political.
Harris’ claim shortly after the shameful scenes in Dublin’s Grafton street were extraordinary because even those with little or no interest in politics would have been aware as to which end of the spectrum the organisers belonged.
The blame game took a further political twist when Justice Minister Helen Mcentee, obviously taking a cue from her police chief, went on radio to wrongly blame “violent far left and republicans” for the riot.
When it became clear that what she said was not true, she said it was important “not to get caught up” in labelling the groups involved.
Would she have had the same attitude if Fine Gael were wrongly accused of being involved in corruption?
Let’s not go there.
To his credit, Commissioner Harris admitted his claims were false and issued a statement to that effect. He stated: “The vast majority of those who took part belong to a number of factions including anti-vaccine, anti-mask and anti-lockdown protesters, far right groups and those intent on trouble and disorder.
“Despite initial indications, following further investigation, there is no corroborated evidence of extreme left factions being involved.”
Anyone who uses social media could have told the Commissioner exactly which groups were behind the riots, along with the names of some of those involved.
iWhat is troubling is that the Garda with the demise of Fianna Fail, has Chief didn’t know, or didn’t want to rattled the political establishment. know, who was behind the chaos before The prospect of Sinn Fein forming a he made the accusations. government with left-wing parties and
Comparisons have been made to the independents after a future election is fallout from the riots in Washington now a distinct possibility. last month when there were claims it In February of last year was far-left extremists who stormed Commissioner Harris made grave the Capitol when it was clearly allegations against Sinn Fein when right-wing fanatics, who make up attempts were being made to form a most of Donald Trump’s core support. government.
Not surprisingly, those on the He as good as said Mrs Mcdonald’s left are unhappy with being associated party was being run by the IRA Army with a mob of nutters – many of Council and was not fit to govern which are using the cover of the based on information gleaned from lockdowns to further their racist and M15 and the PSNI. fascist agendas. Unfortunately, Commissioner
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy Harris again visited that dangerous wants further clarifications as to how political territory with his comments and why Commissioner Harris claimed last weekend. the far left were involved. There can be no denying
He said: “This was a that what took place in far-right protest, the people Dublin last Saturday on that protest have views was pure thuggery, totally which are closer to the unjustifiable and organised Government than they are by people who are spoiling to the views of the so-called for a fight rather than far left. worried about their loss of
“So I still think the Garda freedoms. Commissioner has While the public are fed explaining to do. up with Level 5 restrictions, the vast
“He should outline what were majority support the gardai who are in those initial indications which led him a difficult position being left to police unfortunately to smear the far left of the lockdowns. being involved. But the Garda Commissioner, even
“Obviously, who had no involvement inadvertently, straying into the political whatsoever with anything.” sphere does nothing for his credibility
Deputy Murphy has a point in that or that of the force. there are elements that never miss Better if he took action against an opportunity to have a go at Sinn Fein those who are organising the or, in this case, what they like to label illegal protest set to take place the far left even if, as in this case, it is on St Patrick’s Day and the social totally unjustified. media platforms which allow these
There can be little doubt the rise of right-wing extremists to spread their Mary Lou Mcdonald’s party, together hatred. PAUL Murphy’s decision to RISE up and join forces with People Before Profit is a move in the right direction – or should that be left? Ireland is almost unique in Europe in that it has two on the right of the political spectrum and only a smattering of disparate groupings on the left.
There is now speculation there could be further consolidation on the left if Solidarity decides to throw in their lot with RISE and PBP. The ideal situation would be for all three to join Labour but that would entail Alan
Kelly’s party recalibrating its political compass.
It is evidence the country’s top officer is becoming overly political
EXCLUSIVE
AT least 10 royal aides who worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are “queuing up” to assist a probe into claims Meghan bullied her staff, the Mirror can reveal.
The investigation, ordered by the Queen, will examine claims Meghan “humiliated” aides, subjecting them to “emotional cruelty and manipulation”, driving out two personal assistants.
After the Palace issued a statement announcing the probe on Wednesday, a trailer for Prince Harry and Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview was released yesterday showing the Duchess accusing the Queen and senior royals of “perpetuating” lies about them.
In the theatrical 30-second clip, US chat queen Oprah, 67, asks Meghan: “How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?”
Violins play in the background as actress Meghan, 39, replies: “I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.”
She adds: “And if that comes with risk of losing things, there’s a lot that’s been lost already.”
The swipe was dismissed by Palace sources as a “circus”.
Courtiers said the Royal Family’s “sole focus” continues to be on Prince Philip, 99, as it was revealed he is recovering after “successful” heart surgery earlier this week.
Philip had the procedure for his preexisting heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, home to Barts Heart Centre, Europe’s largest specialised cardiovascular service.
The Palace did not reveal details of the surgery but said Philip, who had a stent fitted in 2011, would remain in hospital for “treatment, rest and recuperation” for a number of days.
He may be blissfully unaware of the storm surrounding his family as former royal aides prepare to offer their help in the investigation into Meghan after being given assurances of confidentiality by the Palace.
Sources connected to the group told how those involved were all considered to be “hugely professional and proud of their efforts” while working at Kensington Palace.
One said: “A group of people are queuing up to be involved. They have been silent for too long and there is much to talk about.”
Senior royals are understood to be
“dismayed” at reports that young female staff had been reduced to tears, with one aide, reportedly anticipating a confrontation with Meghan, telling a colleague: “I can’t stop shaking.”
Buckingham Palace has said it is “very concerned” by the bullying accusations, first reported in The Times.
Palace sources said the Queen was
“completely right” to order the probe “in the face of new allegations”.
The aides set to become involved worked for the couple in October 2018, when a complaint against Meghan was lodged by the Sussexes’ communications secretary Jason Knauf.
Palace sources told how the issue “was investigated” at the time but the aides named in an email by Knauf “chose not to proceed with the complaint” against their boss.
One source said: “The complaint was considered and those members of staff were spoken to and given the option of taking it further.
“For whatever reason, they decided not to, possibly because they were still in their job and they were worried about the implications.” Past and present employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for the duchess.
To fully examine the allegations, Meghan would have to be part of proceedings but it is not clear what role, if any, she will play in the process. A
How can they expect us to be silent if The Firm perpetuates falsehoods? DUCHESS OF SUSSEX IN OPRAH INTERVIEW TRAILER
This group of people have been silent for too long.. there’s much to talk about PALACE SOURCE ON AIDES JOINING BULLYING PROBE
source close to the Sussexes said of the Palace’s announcement of the probe on Wednesday night: “The first we heard about this was via the press – this is a whole tit-for-tat scenario.
“It’s not a complaint, we haven’t heard anything but it’s very hard to know what the process is. If this was a private company, we’ve effectively already been fired and I’m not entirely sure what any process could be.”
There has long been speculation about the atmosphere in the Sussex household, after a number of staff left.
The two-hour Oprah interview will be shown in the US on Sunday night – 1am on Monday our time. It will be on ITV at 9pm on Monday. It is claimed Meghan only met Oprah once before inviting her to her wedding in May 2018. The interview is expected to focus on her time as a working royal, before she and Harry quit last March and moved to the US.
No10 was dragged into the row after it was reported that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was made aware of the bullying allegations against Meghan while at Kensington Palace as private secretary to Prince William, before the probe was shelved.
A source said: “Despite it not being Simon’s job, he took a firm interest in the claims and was absolutely against anyone being made to feel uncomfortable at their place of work.”
Asked if Boris Johnson was “concerned his own Cabinet Secretary
might have covered up allegations of bullying”, the PM’S spokesman said: “It is a matter for the Palace.”
He said the PM had full confidence in Mr Case. Buckingham Palace did not comment.
Despite the furore over Harry and Meghan and Prince Philip’s poor health, the Queen carried on with her duties, holding her weekly audience with the PM by phone on Wednesday.
Yesterday, she had a phone audience with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston.
A Palace post said they spoke of the RAF’S “commitment to supporting the nation’s response to the pandemic”.
A SERIAL burglar who held a screwdriver to the neck of a primary school principal during an armed raid has been sentenced to three years in prison.
James Cranny, of Meadow Crest in Boyle, Co Roscommon, has 140 previous convictions.
He was handed down the sentence yesterday following the incident at St Joseph’s National School, Dublin Road, Longford on August 27 last year.
The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery, three charges of attempted robbery and one charge relating to the possession of a weapon contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.
Longford Circuit Criminal Court heard the accused had been in Dublin on the day of the offence, where he consumed a “cocktail of drink and drugs” including almost 80 sleeping pills and valium tablets before getting off a train in the town shortly after 6pm.
Less than an hour later, Cranny, who has 70 previous convictions for burglary, interrupted a board of management meeting at the national school in a bid to steal money to try and procure more drugs.
The court was told the accused, who first became addicted to drugs at just 12 years old, stormed into the building shouting: “This is not a joke, I want €800.”
Armed with a screwdriver and pair of scissors, Cranny approached principal Orla Egan and put the screwdriver to the right hand side of her neck.
After being told by Ms Egan she had no money, he turned his attentions to local solicitor and board of management chairperson
Frank Gearty.
In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Mr Gearty handed Cranny €100 and guided him towards the exit door.
In total, the accused stole €135 from the Longford-based solicitor and a further €100 from fellow board member Beatrice Shanley.
The court was also told the latter had the foresight to take photographs of Cranny during the heist, while another board member and local priest, Fr James Mckiernan, “very cleverly and surreptitiously” managed to contact gardai at the same time.
Cranny wrote letters of apology to each of his five victims.
In response to his actions on the day, he said: “It’s not about what or who I rob, it’s about getting my next fix.”
In determining sentence, Judge Keenan Johnson said the court had an obligation to balance the needs of the accused against the needs of the victims and society at large.
Judge Johnson said the court was also required to take into account both aggravating and mitigating factors.
The former, he said, largely centred on how what he termed a “very serious offence” involved the accused entering the school armed with a screwdriver and scissors.
The holding of a screwdriver to the neck of Ms Egan was “extremely aggravating”.
Cranny’s early plea of guilt, his decision to write letters of apology to each of his victims and his difficult upbringing which resulted in both his parents likewise becoming addicted to drugs were all mitigating factors the court had to consider, he added.
He sentenced Cranny to four years and six months in prison, suspending the final 18 months for a period of 10 years subject to a number of conditions.
Judge Johnson also ordered him to complete a residential drug treatment course within 18 months of release and to refrain from both drugs and illicit substances for the entire period of the suspended sentence.
The commencement of the sentence was backdated to January 4, when Cranny first went into custody.
It’s not about what or who I rob, it’s about my next fix
JAMES CRANNY ON HIS ACTIONS AT THE SCHOOL