Irish Sports
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
wheres the thread gone?
Show More
it was pulled because it was being polluted by a bunch of west brit bigots imo......
Polluted from the very beginning... I can't believe people like this are walking around this country spouting their ugly views.
its the sad reality god of what greed and corruption has turned the country into....
What a load of nonsense. A perfectly sensible thread, not a hint of bigotry, highjacked by a few paranoid Northerners who see the bogey man around every corner. What a sad bunch.
get a life ozy....it was an unsensitive and bigoted thread from the outset...it was scandalous that anyone would question the coverage of this case just because the victim was from the 6 counties.....if the victim was english i would say the author and his sympathisers would have no problem with rtes coverage.....didnt hear him complain about the coverage of the oslo shootings and the subsequent breivek trial....
Personally, I have no time for your sensitivities and paranoia. You can take all that nonsense north of the border and keep it there where it belongs. We want no part of it down here. Move on.
Ozy another one.. I am lost for words at the sort of evil that has infested these shores of late. A sensible thread ??? I just hope and pray you type of people remain in the minority, the majority of ordinary people don't want what your kind wish to bring our new generations. It is about time each and every Irishman and woman on this island had an equal right to justice. It is bad and hard enough for our Northern cousins to ascertain these rights without their fellow Irishman joining in the sort of discrimination and bigotry that drove so many to drastic measures to achieve any kind of equal footing. The last thing Ireland needs is a new wave of this kind of hateful discrimination when so many are trying very hard to banish it with the snakes. To see how acceptable some on here see a suggestion that an Irish news channel should not be paying for coverage of a an honest Irishwoman.. it is just sickening and frightening and i urge you to stop and have a good long look at yourself.
Yawn. Move on. People are not interested in this type of bitterness anymore.
ozy i can only assume that you are on of the west brit seethers and are seething at the sight of gerry adams in dail eireann are seethin at the rise of sf in the 26 counties,seethed at the fact that martin mc guiness laughed at gay mitchell in the presidential election,seeth at the thought of a united ireland,seeth at the 6 county teams lifting sam...i have news for you mate......GET USED TO IT.....because thats the way things are happening and bigoted dinosaurs like u and the author of the sick thread are going to be a thing of the past....Thankyou that will be all......
Ozy can you explain how you come to the conclusion that having the viewpoint that equality of every Irish soul is bitter ? I feel like i am surrounded by characters out of that film idiocracy, go watch it if you haven't seen it.. that is you. The only bitterness is coming from yourself and people like the OP of that vile thread. Morons like you are intent on ruining this country and giving it on a plate to rulers from a foreign land wherever that may be. They won't help you but i fear you are just too stupid and blighted with hate to realise the seriousness of your delusions.
the key words in ozys outburst are "down here"1 country ozzy.......
no need whatsoever for a thread like this...the family and relatives and friends have been through enough without this type of bull on here ...and as far as i know anyone with an Irish passport is a citizen of Ireland irrespective where they reside...
I see Vubiant's post has been removed from this thread. Why?
why do you think....because it was deemed bigoted just like his vile thread yday.....
In the Republic, even West Brits are entitled to their say. We all get along fine down here, no bigotry, no discrimination. No paranoia. And that's the way we want to keep it.
And as regards his thread yesterday, he posed a perfectly reasonable question. Should RTE focus primarily on representing its licence fee contributors (i.e. citizens of the Republic) first and foremost, or does their remit extend equally to all Irish passport holders. It's an interesting question. I would have thought that RTE answers primarily to its licence contributors, perhaps not.
And as regards his thread yesterday, he posed a perfectly reasonable question. Should RTE focus primarily on representing its licence fee contributors (i.e. citizens of the Republic) first and foremost, or does their remit extend equally to all Irish passport holders. It's an interesting question. I would have thought that RTE answers primarily to its licence contributors, perhaps not.
pull your head outa ur own ar se ozy u west brit snob.......
Why do people think that licence-payers aren't interested in this story?
Whether you like it or not, it's big news in Ireland and big news means big viewing figures which means big advertisement fees
At the end of the day, that is the bottom line
RTE are there to give the public what they want
Whether you like it or not, it's big news in Ireland and big news means big viewing figures which means big advertisement fees
At the end of the day, that is the bottom line
RTE are there to give the public what they want
I remember David Trimble calling the people of the 26 counties bigoted.I doubt richters is David Trimble though!!Maybe there is a common denominator though....
It's a strange old world when one can't ask a sober civil question on a (semi-) public forum without
(a) being set upon by a crowd of paranoid ranters who completely twist the nature of the enquiry and
(b0 having the thread removed by the spineless monitors at betfair -what in heaven's name was the issue ?
Was there a libel ? Defamation ? Blasphemy ? Abusive content ? Foul language ? It's unfathomable.
Then I write a post on this thread which, it would have been obvious to any sane human being , was in a satirical humorous mode ...and that's removed in next to no time .
In fact while this is puzzling -it doesn't affect my life one way or the other and even if I was banned from the forum my life would carry on just as serenely .
It does make one wonder though why someone who tries to post carefully worded , logically constructed posts with at least some substance to them is harassed in this way -while those who offer little but blind aggression , incoherence and abuse get free reign .
Free speech how are ya .
(a) being set upon by a crowd of paranoid ranters who completely twist the nature of the enquiry and
(b0 having the thread removed by the spineless monitors at betfair -what in heaven's name was the issue ?
Was there a libel ? Defamation ? Blasphemy ? Abusive content ? Foul language ? It's unfathomable.
Then I write a post on this thread which, it would have been obvious to any sane human being , was in a satirical humorous mode ...and that's removed in next to no time .
In fact while this is puzzling -it doesn't affect my life one way or the other and even if I was banned from the forum my life would carry on just as serenely .
It does make one wonder though why someone who tries to post carefully worded , logically constructed posts with at least some substance to them is harassed in this way -while those who offer little but blind aggression , incoherence and abuse get free reign .
Free speech how are ya .
Why not report him again? It's clear that you can't live with him in a debate.
Vubiants posts are reasoned and well thought out and while I didn,t agree with him in this instance there was nothing offensive in his post,it seems vile language veiled threats and vulgar similes are alright but certain reasonable opinions are not.
I think db1974 post is a perfect resume of the situation,people are always interested in murder trials it has always been so.
I think db1974 post is a perfect resume of the situation,people are always interested in murder trials it has always been so.
A few brief bullet point clarifications...
* I never stated there should be no trial coverage
* I questioned RTE's actions in mounting expensive coverage when cheaper options would have sufficed at a time when people are losing their jobs in RTE
* The reference to the N Ir angle was casual and non-offensive ...not at all central to the issue
* I only mentioned the topic at all because
(a) I became aware of trial coverage opening almost every news bulletin and getting large chunks of time on the Pat Kenny show
(b) RTE is so much in our consciousness both for its recent misdemeanours and for its perennially poor sports coverage -e.g. wrong info on teletext , negligence of racing and golf etc.
(c) RTE is a powerful force in our society . Its practices , procedures and priorities and its agenda setting potential demand careful,ongoing scrutiny .
* Any person should be free to raise such topics for discussion without being subjected to wild accusations and vituperative barbs.
* I never stated there should be no trial coverage
* I questioned RTE's actions in mounting expensive coverage when cheaper options would have sufficed at a time when people are losing their jobs in RTE
* The reference to the N Ir angle was casual and non-offensive ...not at all central to the issue
* I only mentioned the topic at all because
(a) I became aware of trial coverage opening almost every news bulletin and getting large chunks of time on the Pat Kenny show
(b) RTE is so much in our consciousness both for its recent misdemeanours and for its perennially poor sports coverage -e.g. wrong info on teletext , negligence of racing and golf etc.
(c) RTE is a powerful force in our society . Its practices , procedures and priorities and its agenda setting potential demand careful,ongoing scrutiny .
* Any person should be free to raise such topics for discussion without being subjected to wild accusations and vituperative barbs.
surely a letter to rte themselves would of clarified all for you vubiant...rather than posting this thread on the irish SPORTS forum..i have read your posts on both this and the main horse racing forum and find them both useful and informative....however it did seem to me that it was because the victim indeed resided in the north of the island that you were questioning rtes coverage of this...you have now clarified that this was not the case so for me its matter closed..
It is encouraging that Vubiant has apologised for said thread and has had time to reflect on his behavior.
It is sad though he still fails to admit the undertone of the thread as it certainly seemed to highlight that the murdered woman was from Northern Ireland and that RTE should be questioned on its coverage as she is not from the licence fee payers region of the south of the island. On reading posts on another thread he certainly seems to have a hate towards Sinn Fein and all it represents and that along with said thread would seem to suggest he simply does not consider the North of the country and its people to matter when it comes to coverage on RTE.
Unfortunately with clever wording and the support of other posters,who also have shown an unnatural hate for the only All Ireland political party of Sinn Fein, he has successfully withered away from the disgusting thread in question. There is no doubt of what he was referring to in thread and although he probably doesn't have any particular issue with coverage of the murdered Irishwoman trial he fails to recognise that by using that as an example to reaffirm his belief that Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland should be considered completely separate and no money should be wasted covering stories from Northern Ireland, he has in fact offended the many Irish passport holders residing in the north such as Micheala Magreavey and her family.
Anyone expressing an alternative view to his are instantly branded morons and imbecile along with his racist stereotyping of such people. His contradictions are apparent if not to himself. All from a man who in the past has expressed his support of the old censorship of Sinn Fein to be reapplied.
In conclusion i would suggest that this posters ego is so out of control he actually believes his own delusions of grandeur to the point he considers himself completely right on all matters. It is the same kind of people he votes for and has completely ruined the country ever since its formation that ironically for him anyway came about by the very means he considers every Nationalist/Republican thinking citizen of Ireland to be imbeciles for supporting.
This is veering from the core issue being that of a thread that clearly had undertones that all bore from this posters undercurrent of hate towards any All Ireland public consciousness and the fact he used it in connection with a murdered Irishwoman trial.
My apologies for a long winding post but happy for many on here it will be the last as i can see this is more of a political breeding ground for the far right than for anything sports related.
It is sad though he still fails to admit the undertone of the thread as it certainly seemed to highlight that the murdered woman was from Northern Ireland and that RTE should be questioned on its coverage as she is not from the licence fee payers region of the south of the island. On reading posts on another thread he certainly seems to have a hate towards Sinn Fein and all it represents and that along with said thread would seem to suggest he simply does not consider the North of the country and its people to matter when it comes to coverage on RTE.
Unfortunately with clever wording and the support of other posters,who also have shown an unnatural hate for the only All Ireland political party of Sinn Fein, he has successfully withered away from the disgusting thread in question. There is no doubt of what he was referring to in thread and although he probably doesn't have any particular issue with coverage of the murdered Irishwoman trial he fails to recognise that by using that as an example to reaffirm his belief that Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland should be considered completely separate and no money should be wasted covering stories from Northern Ireland, he has in fact offended the many Irish passport holders residing in the north such as Micheala Magreavey and her family.
Anyone expressing an alternative view to his are instantly branded morons and imbecile along with his racist stereotyping of such people. His contradictions are apparent if not to himself. All from a man who in the past has expressed his support of the old censorship of Sinn Fein to be reapplied.
In conclusion i would suggest that this posters ego is so out of control he actually believes his own delusions of grandeur to the point he considers himself completely right on all matters. It is the same kind of people he votes for and has completely ruined the country ever since its formation that ironically for him anyway came about by the very means he considers every Nationalist/Republican thinking citizen of Ireland to be imbeciles for supporting.
This is veering from the core issue being that of a thread that clearly had undertones that all bore from this posters undercurrent of hate towards any All Ireland public consciousness and the fact he used it in connection with a murdered Irishwoman trial.
My apologies for a long winding post but happy for many on here it will be the last as i can see this is more of a political breeding ground for the far right than for anything sports related.
Q: Did you hear about the dyslexic, agnostic insomniac?
A: He stayed up all night wondering if there was a dog.
A: He stayed up all night wondering if there was a dog.
To GOD -15.25 post
I can't interpret the bulk of this rambling post but let me correct the very opening sentence.
No apology was issued by me - because there was never anything to apologise for.
I can't interpret the bulk of this rambling post but let me correct the very opening sentence.
No apology was issued by me - because there was never anything to apologise for.
The man who calls himself God thinks Vubiant has delusions of grandeur.
The man who calls himself God doesn't understand what racism means,he in Rocketfingers fashion thinks it is racist to criticise someone of your own race.It shows a certain whingeing mindset and victim hood when criticised you scream racism,it shows another mindset when you consider yourself a different race from us free staters.
God prays a lot but this new God should get off his knees and stop playing the victim.
There was no apology because none was needed,God just invented one.
The man who calls himself God doesn't understand what racism means,he in Rocketfingers fashion thinks it is racist to criticise someone of your own race.It shows a certain whingeing mindset and victim hood when criticised you scream racism,it shows another mindset when you consider yourself a different race from us free staters.
God prays a lot but this new God should get off his knees and stop playing the victim.
There was no apology because none was needed,God just invented one.
What would you call your relationship with God,subservient.
Richters is lucky he has God on his side.
Bob Dylan cogged that from Dominic Behan,he copied it from the song The Patriot Game.
Bob Dylan cogged that from Dominic Behan,he copied it from the song The Patriot Game.
Vubiant Can't interpret it because too many truths in it he can not face up to. I am trying to help you here Vubiant. * The reference to the N Ir angle was casual and non-offensive ...not at all central to the issue This is a complete lie! You purposely made the comment about N.Ire citizen and later put Republic of Ireland citizen in brackets. If this point was casual you, being a man with a perfectly good grasp of English, would never have highlighted it in such a manner. There was absolutely no reason for you to mention these points if the point you were making was the one you are now trying to portray it as. It is a clear mark of your arrogance that you are trying to convince people of this when it was glaringly staring at us in the face from the very beginning.
I point again to countless post easily found on this forum that show your hatred towards anything with an All Ireland consciousness. Anyone with half a brain knew what you meant. With so many people on here with your persuasion of hatred and arrogance you didn't think you would be challenged on it. I hope now you think twice before making discriminating and offensive remarks.
This is racism, your follower on is unable to see this even though in the same sentence he refers to himself as a free stater. Free staters are a different race altogether than an Irish citizen. People are working very hard to regain Ireland back to the Irish people away from your own race of greedy, lying, bigoted and arrogant people.
It is unfortunate for you that you failed to apologise as you will eventually reap what you sew and then and only then will you wake up to your own vile character.
Here are some points you would be advised to consider
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I point again to countless post easily found on this forum that show your hatred towards anything with an All Ireland consciousness. Anyone with half a brain knew what you meant. With so many people on here with your persuasion of hatred and arrogance you didn't think you would be challenged on it. I hope now you think twice before making discriminating and offensive remarks.
This is racism, your follower on is unable to see this even though in the same sentence he refers to himself as a free stater. Free staters are a different race altogether than an Irish citizen. People are working very hard to regain Ireland back to the Irish people away from your own race of greedy, lying, bigoted and arrogant people.
It is unfortunate for you that you failed to apologise as you will eventually reap what you sew and then and only then will you wake up to your own vile character.
Here are some points you would be advised to consider
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
You don't understand irony free stater is used tongue in cheek.
How can you be racist to a member of your own race?
Do you consider yourself other than Irish?
You have a persecution complex and to help the slower on here emphasised it in the last line of your revealing post.
How can you be racist to a member of your own race?
Do you consider yourself other than Irish?
You have a persecution complex and to help the slower on here emphasised it in the last line of your revealing post.
It does not surprise me of your lack of comprehension skills... A free stater is a race separate from the Irish race. If you feel fighting for justice is some sort of persecution complex then that further cements your place in hell ... Mrs Magreaveys family do not have a persecution complex, they seek justice and all decent Irish citizens support any coverage that may help in that pursuit of justice. Continuing your support of the stance that this woman does not deserve the Irish licence fee payers euros has nothing tounge in cheek about it, it is an abysmal stance to take. There is no justice in penny pinching at the expense of others. Stop the persecution of your neighbor.
If you read my first post you would see that I said "while I disagree with the opening post"
The word free stater is used as a term of abuse,I was using it in irony but your idea that someone you perceive to be a free stater is not Irish is symptomatic of your delusions of grandeur,you may think you are God but you are not the arbiter of who is Irish.
I am Irish you are Irish neither of us can behave in a racist manner to each other.
Why do you think travellers want ethnic status,it is so they can claim racism and sue the state for such racism.
The word free stater is used as a term of abuse,I was using it in irony but your idea that someone you perceive to be a free stater is not Irish is symptomatic of your delusions of grandeur,you may think you are God but you are not the arbiter of who is Irish.
I am Irish you are Irish neither of us can behave in a racist manner to each other.
Why do you think travellers want ethnic status,it is so they can claim racism and sue the state for such racism.
Well said Borneo. I am a self confessed Irish West Brit. I consider myself as Irish as the rest of you. Though perhaps a little more civilized.
Us West Brits need to speak up more in my opinion and not hide our light under a bushel. Are there anymore forumites willing to come out? Vubiant, Royal Academy, Borneo? What say ye?
Us West Brits need to speak up more in my opinion and not hide our light under a bushel. Are there anymore forumites willing to come out? Vubiant, Royal Academy, Borneo? What say ye?
Free stare/West Brit it is all the same. Basically those who perceive Northeners to have less status than one born in the south. How can they be Irish when they claim to be from West Britland ?
Also you have no right to discriminate people with the name Godfrey.. is there any end to the West Britland discriminative ways??? Love thy neighbor.
Also you have no right to discriminate people with the name Godfrey.. is there any end to the West Britland discriminative ways??? Love thy neighbor.
What is the definition of an Irish West Brit?
Flee from thy oppressor, Godfrey. Come down and join us in the Free State. You will get a fabulous exchange rate, land and houses are very affordable. Best of all you can live amongst your own, free and untroubled.
Gods definition of a West Brit is someone who hasn`t spent large periods of his life in Long Kesh.
How to spot a West Brit
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Rjjocwf8k
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Rjjocwf8k
had a good laugh at thatQueen Lizzie:: I own part of your country you Irish fool
Ozy, being a direct descendent of the High kings of Donegal who indeed were the first High kings of Ireland and ruled the island as a whole, there is no need to move as not only will you find the most Northern part of Ireland you will also find no Queens law and no Free Staters.
Over the last 1200 years there has been many imposters who have no right to my Kingdom and are nothing but criminals dictating to my people for their own selfish reasons.
My Islands people have been brainwashed over these years but they will awake again and the first High kings will again be recognised as the rightful government of Ireland. It never went away.
Our peaceful nature could not withstand the barbaric ways of the past when foreign armies burgled our homes. The revelations all point to our rising and by righteous virtues we stand strong for that day of reckoning that is closer than you may think.
The Kingdom of heaven is open for all who repent but please bring your own spoon.
Over the last 1200 years there has been many imposters who have no right to my Kingdom and are nothing but criminals dictating to my people for their own selfish reasons.
My Islands people have been brainwashed over these years but they will awake again and the first High kings will again be recognised as the rightful government of Ireland. It never went away.
Our peaceful nature could not withstand the barbaric ways of the past when foreign armies burgled our homes. The revelations all point to our rising and by righteous virtues we stand strong for that day of reckoning that is closer than you may think.
The Kingdom of heaven is open for all who repent but please bring your own spoon.
Somebody opening this thread looking at the title will be absolutely puzzled imvho
God has to be the comedian we've been waiting for.
No one could write what he writes with a straight face ...one certainly can't read it with one.
I'm telling you -this guy is comedy (green,white and)gold.
No one could write what he writes with a straight face ...one certainly can't read it with one.
I'm telling you -this guy is comedy (green,white and)gold.
In the words of David McSavage in Joe Duffy mode "Ah Jaysussssssss"
Anyone hear Joe Duffy the other day on the topic of the horse that collapsed and died of a heart attack?
.... at Sligo, wasn't taken away till the nest day, caused a bit of commotion.
Good article by Vincent Browne today
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0620/1224318256686.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0620/1224318256686.html
Good article by Vincent Browne today
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0620/1224318256686.html
Of the murders of two women in January 2011, one has got blanket coverage, the other got only passing attention
ON JANUARY 11th, 2011, the following death notice was posted on the website rip.ie: “The death has occurred of Breda Waters of St Munchin’s Court, St Mary’s Park, Limerick City, Limerick. Deeply regretted by her parents, John and Patricia, children Courtney, Amber, Jonathan, brothers and sisters, partner, Pat, grandparents, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace. Requiem Mass on Thursday morning at 11am. Burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver Cemetery.”
Courtney was aged 9, Amber aged 4 and Jonathan aged 2. Their mother, Breda Waters, aged 28, had been murdered in a house in Southill, Limerick, a few days previously. She was murdered apparently because she was in the company of a person who allegedly owed money to a crime gang in Limerick, Des Kelly (24), who was murdered along with her. There was no suggestion of any criminality on the part of Breda Waters.
Her murder got only passing media attention, mainly when people accused of her and Des Kelly’s murder have been before the courts. The trial begins in Ennis next month.
On August 2nd last, the Limerick Leader reported that Breda Waters’s bereaved family were heartbroken again on learning that an inquest had been held into her death at Limerick’s coroner’s court and nobody had bothered to inform them. As it happened, the inquest was adjourned because of the supposed imminence of criminal proceedings.
On January 10th, 2011, the day after Breda Waters was murdered, another woman was murdered. In contrast to the indifference of the media to the murder of the Limerick mother of three young children, this other woman’s murder has received immense media attention. This other murdered woman left no bereaved young children and her murder was hardly any more traumatic for her parents, siblings, relatives and friends than the murder of Breda Waters was for hers.
The national public service broadcaster, RTÉ, might be expected to give proportionate attention to the two horrific events – or at least not to ignore one while giving inexhaustible coverage to the other.
One of RTÉ’s highest-profile reporters has been dispatched to a remote country, Mauritius, at considerable expense no doubt, to give almost hourly emotional reports of the trial of two people accused of her murder, as though this was an event of national importance – this is now into its fifth week. I can think of no other trial that has got such extensive coverage on RTÉ in recent years, certainly not since the Catherine Nevin murder trial.
This person murdered on January 10th, 2011, was, of course, Michaela McAreavey. It was perhaps inevitable her murder would get considerable media attention, for she was married to a well-known footballer; she was daughter of one of the most respected figures in the GAA, Mickey Harte; she herself became known from her appearances at her father’s side on special celebratory occasions and, most particularly, she was murdered on her honeymoon.
But that her murder should get such inexhaustible coverage and that of Breda Waters would get almost no mention at all betrays the editorial agenda of the media and of RTÉ in particular.
Essentially, the lives of obscure working-class people are of relatively little significance, as compared with the lives of the rich, powerful and famous, even when it is not just the lives of obscure working-class people that are involved but the lives of their children as well. That’s part of the agenda.
The famous bit is a powerful element in the agenda and when that is matched by youth and beauty it’s a clincher! The attendant disrespect to others is of no consequence, the societal significance of one versus another doesn’t rate. Let’s face it: nobody gives a damn about the life of a poor working-class woman in Limerick and her three children – they won’t sell newspapers or win television ratings. And, let’s be frank (or is the phrase “let’s be perfectly honest”?) sales and ratings are what it’s all about.
I understand Breda Waters had a very troubled background, largely because of social disadvantage – she was one of 19 children of one family, all brought up in a council house in St Mary’s Park in Limerick; two of her siblings also lost their lives in tragic circumstances; and all the familiar features of extreme social disadvantage were present in her life, that of her immediate family and, probably, now her children’s lives.
But then stories about social disadvantage don’t rate, certainly not as a regular theme. And as for assigning a high-profile reporter for five weeks or more to cover the trial of those accused of her murder, which starts in faraway Ennis on July 3rd?
No way. To be perfectly honest.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0620/1224318256686.html
Of the murders of two women in January 2011, one has got blanket coverage, the other got only passing attention
ON JANUARY 11th, 2011, the following death notice was posted on the website rip.ie: “The death has occurred of Breda Waters of St Munchin’s Court, St Mary’s Park, Limerick City, Limerick. Deeply regretted by her parents, John and Patricia, children Courtney, Amber, Jonathan, brothers and sisters, partner, Pat, grandparents, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace. Requiem Mass on Thursday morning at 11am. Burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver Cemetery.”
Courtney was aged 9, Amber aged 4 and Jonathan aged 2. Their mother, Breda Waters, aged 28, had been murdered in a house in Southill, Limerick, a few days previously. She was murdered apparently because she was in the company of a person who allegedly owed money to a crime gang in Limerick, Des Kelly (24), who was murdered along with her. There was no suggestion of any criminality on the part of Breda Waters.
Her murder got only passing media attention, mainly when people accused of her and Des Kelly’s murder have been before the courts. The trial begins in Ennis next month.
On August 2nd last, the Limerick Leader reported that Breda Waters’s bereaved family were heartbroken again on learning that an inquest had been held into her death at Limerick’s coroner’s court and nobody had bothered to inform them. As it happened, the inquest was adjourned because of the supposed imminence of criminal proceedings.
On January 10th, 2011, the day after Breda Waters was murdered, another woman was murdered. In contrast to the indifference of the media to the murder of the Limerick mother of three young children, this other woman’s murder has received immense media attention. This other murdered woman left no bereaved young children and her murder was hardly any more traumatic for her parents, siblings, relatives and friends than the murder of Breda Waters was for hers.
The national public service broadcaster, RTÉ, might be expected to give proportionate attention to the two horrific events – or at least not to ignore one while giving inexhaustible coverage to the other.
One of RTÉ’s highest-profile reporters has been dispatched to a remote country, Mauritius, at considerable expense no doubt, to give almost hourly emotional reports of the trial of two people accused of her murder, as though this was an event of national importance – this is now into its fifth week. I can think of no other trial that has got such extensive coverage on RTÉ in recent years, certainly not since the Catherine Nevin murder trial.
This person murdered on January 10th, 2011, was, of course, Michaela McAreavey. It was perhaps inevitable her murder would get considerable media attention, for she was married to a well-known footballer; she was daughter of one of the most respected figures in the GAA, Mickey Harte; she herself became known from her appearances at her father’s side on special celebratory occasions and, most particularly, she was murdered on her honeymoon.
But that her murder should get such inexhaustible coverage and that of Breda Waters would get almost no mention at all betrays the editorial agenda of the media and of RTÉ in particular.
Essentially, the lives of obscure working-class people are of relatively little significance, as compared with the lives of the rich, powerful and famous, even when it is not just the lives of obscure working-class people that are involved but the lives of their children as well. That’s part of the agenda.
The famous bit is a powerful element in the agenda and when that is matched by youth and beauty it’s a clincher! The attendant disrespect to others is of no consequence, the societal significance of one versus another doesn’t rate. Let’s face it: nobody gives a damn about the life of a poor working-class woman in Limerick and her three children – they won’t sell newspapers or win television ratings. And, let’s be frank (or is the phrase “let’s be perfectly honest”?) sales and ratings are what it’s all about.
I understand Breda Waters had a very troubled background, largely because of social disadvantage – she was one of 19 children of one family, all brought up in a council house in St Mary’s Park in Limerick; two of her siblings also lost their lives in tragic circumstances; and all the familiar features of extreme social disadvantage were present in her life, that of her immediate family and, probably, now her children’s lives.
But then stories about social disadvantage don’t rate, certainly not as a regular theme. And as for assigning a high-profile reporter for five weeks or more to cover the trial of those accused of her murder, which starts in faraway Ennis on July 3rd?
No way. To be perfectly honest.
A simple and valid point well made that I don't think anyone could disagree with, good article from Vincent Brown.
I think that's akin to the point I raised in my original post - which was snuffed out for reasons unfathomable to me .
Are Betfair going to try to muzzle the Irish Times as well ?
I presume RTE will be sending a high level correspondent to Japan for the Nicola Furlong trial ...or will Mr. Gorman be free after his 6 or 7 weeks in Mauritius?
Granted Ms. Furlong doesn't come within the GAA or N Ir penumbra so beloved of RTE -but at least she's not working class.
Are Betfair going to try to muzzle the Irish Times as well ?
I presume RTE will be sending a high level correspondent to Japan for the Nicola Furlong trial ...or will Mr. Gorman be free after his 6 or 7 weeks in Mauritius?
Granted Ms. Furlong doesn't come within the GAA or N Ir penumbra so beloved of RTE -but at least she's not working class.
I disagree. The public would appear to be interested in the Mauritius murder and not in the Limerick murder. Where the public are interested in something, RTE should report on it. It would be a scandal if RTE didn't report on stories there was significant public interest in.
RTE is supposed to be above that kind of pandering, it isn't but it is supposed to be.
RTE should be broadcasting for the benefit of the public, not for purely commercial concerns and drawing in viewers. There are Gombeens interested in Fair City, that doesn't mean that that dirge deserves the money that is spent on it. Whether the viewers realise it or not, they should be as informed about the murder of a working class woman in Limerick as about the murder of an All Ireland winning manager's daughter. It's a little thing called social justice.
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539