Ireland has experienced a large spike in excess deaths which is not primarily due to the Covid-19 virus, new estimates released this week indicate.

#gript

https://gript.ie/huge-spike-in-excess-deaths-not-attributable-to-covid/

ON THIS DAY in 1909, 114 years ago: Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton’s expedition finds the magnetic South Pole.

#gript

https://gript.ie/otd-16-january-1909-irishman-ernest-shackletons-expedition-discovers-the-south-pole/

Medics must speak with one voice on the need to uphold and strengthen freedom of conscience, and to ensure that no-one is compelled to perform an abortion, a conference organised by Doctors For Life has heard.

#gript

https://gript.ie/medics-must-speak-with-one-voice-on-upholding-freedom-of-conscience-conference-hears/

A Romanian who violently raped a teenager with a mild intellectual disability, and then imprisoned her and raped her twice more, was given an extraordinarily lenient sentence because he can't speak English, the Court of Appeal has heard.

#gript

https://gript.ie/romanian-rapist-given-extraordinarily-lenient-sentence-as-he-didnt-speak-english-court-of-appeal-in-dublin-hears/

JOHN MCGUIRK: Believe it or not, under the Oxfam definition of "poverty", poverty can be eliminated simply by making rich people poorer, lowering the average income and doing literally nothing else.
#gript
https://gript.ie/about-that-annually-misleading-oxfam-poverty-report/

"So the new tactic by the elites of Ireland is not only to create this smear campaign nationally across the main stream media, but also to find individuals in local organizations to amplify this message in an attempt to ostracise and outcast people within those communities who voice dissent."

THADE ANDY writes

#gript

https://gript.ie/the-establishments-rage-against-ballymun/

“My last memory of my child is telling her I loved her and her saying, ‘I’m sorry’. “Eve fell, she went for help, she didn’t get it,” Ms Sheehan recalled ahead of Saturday’s protest in Limerick city.

#gript

https://gript.ie/mother-whose-daughter-died-needlessly-at-limerick-hospital-to-speak-at-protest/

In a constitutional first, Downing Street has blocked Nicola Sturgeon’s controversial transgender reforms after concluding that the new law would have “chilling effects” on the safety of women-only spaces across Britain.

#gript

https://gript.ie/uk-govt-blocks-scotlands-transgender-law-in-unprecedented-move/

CANADA: Hospital security guards accused of the manslaughter of a patient after an altercation arouse over a covid mask have had the case against them struck out

​​https://gript.ie/judge-dismisses-case-against-guards-accused-of-killing-a-woman-for-not-wearing-mask/

#gript

JOHN MCGUIRK responds to Fintan O'Toole's attack on the "far right": "Is this the best that the Irish Times can offer, by way of analysis?"

#gript

https://gript.ie/fintan-otooles-erratic-far-right-broadside/

"Free GP care, in the short term, may well deliver some votes. But there is no reason – no reason at all – to believe that it will deliver a better health system."
#gript
https://gript.ie/why-free-gp-care-risks-making-the-health-system-worse/

A film shot in Antrim and featuring acclaimed Belfast actor, James Martin, who has Down syndrome, is now on a shortlist for an Oscar nomination.

#gript

https://gript.ie/irish-goodbye-actor-with-down-syndrome-on-oscar-nomination/

Enoch Burke has refused to comply with conditions that would have granted him his injunction against Wilson’s Hospital School - he said previous judgements against him were made ‘faster than a chicken fillet roll’.
#gript

https://gript.ie/enoch-burke-refuses-courts-conditions-to-gaining-injunction-against-school/

“It’s quite incredible when you consider that three nights in a hostel in Dublin will cost you €100 more than staying in a four-star hotel in Florence […] Well, I know where I’d rather be”.

#gript

https://gript.ie/dublin-where-a-hostel-costs-more-than-a-four-star-hotel-in-florence/

Folk singer Steo Wall, who recently performed his 'more black more dogs more Irish' song on the Tommy Tiernan Show, stabbed a man to death in 2004. #gript

https://gript.ie/the-singer-promoted-by-rte-who-killed-a-man-in-prison/

BEN SCALLAN: “Listening to Fine Gael politicians like Paschal Donohoe, one often gets the sense that they pride themselves on what they believe to be their fiscal responsibility…often arguing that their rivals would “wreck the economy” if given the chance.”

#gript

https://gript.ie/massive-overruns-in-health-expenditure-despite-poor-delivery/

Fr Peter McVerry says protests against migrant centres should be criminalised – using the law that would lock up pro-lifers for prayers as a model. MATT TREACY takes issue with his demands.

#gript

https://gript.ie/what-right-has-peter-mcverry-to-call-for-protesters-to-be-criminalised/

Many of Sweden’s most serious crimes are committed by children, who are recruited by ruthless gangs at a young age - and there are troubling signs that Ireland may be on the same trajectory. BEN SCALLAN reports:

#gript

https://gript.ie/is-ireland-heading-the-way-of-sweden-on-youth-crime/

TRSI 344 - The far-right supply problem

Fr Peter McVerry calls for abortion style exclusion zones to be put around direct provision centres; and the growing demand for the far-right from Irish politicians and media commentators.

#gript

https://gript.ie/podcasts/trsi-344-the-far-right-supply-problem/

Lucile Randon, a convert to Catholicism, believed that carrying on working and caring for others were key reasons for her longevity. The incredible French nun worked until she was 108, and was known to enjoy chocolate and a glass of wine daily.

#gript

https://gript.ie/world-pays-tribute-to-oldest-person-french-nun-lucile-randon-who-has-died-aged-118/

"There's no deterrent...we have a revolving door prison service":

Independent Dublin Cllr. Ronan McMahon speaks on the suspension of Dublin bus services due to anti-social behaviour.

#gript

https://youtu.be/7pyJqOJIGh0