Bradley Bytes: Abuse of Galway journalist reveals nasty underbelly of fuel protests
One of the self-appointed leaders of the national fuel blockades was a man who had six judgements totalling more than €500,000 secured against him by the Revenue Commissioners.
Westmeath agricultural contractor, James Geoghegan – not to be confused with the Fine Gael TD of the same name – was also convicted on 13 charges relating to animal cruelty in 2006 after up to 65 animals died on his farm in Cornaher, Tyrrellspass.
The public learned of this thanks to a Mayo-based freelance journalist from Galway, Darragh McDonagh, who worked previously for this newspaper.
And what did McDonagh get in return for doing the State some service with this public interest journalism? An avalanche of abuse and threats.
Not the usual abuse that journalists – and politicians – increasingly endure online for simply doing their job. These attacks were more sinister.
McDonagh, a married father of two young children, said he made a statement to An Garda Síochána regarding threats to his family.
His wife was named in one disgusting threat; there was also an offer to provide his home address to anyone who wanted to visit him.
“While intimidation of journalists isn’t brilliant for democracy and I’m happy to sustain an abundance of personal abuse, a line has to be drawn when someone’s family is targeted,” McDonagh said on Twitter/X, the cesspit where the abuse originated.
In one Tweet on Elon Musk’s social media sewer, McDonagh was told he was – and excuse the language and incorrect spelling – a “convícted pedofhíle and a violent illiterate heroín addict, he rapes young boys but escapes prison as long as he smears any opposition to the Irish dictatorship, imagine being a pedo like u and not exposing Irish political corruption u pedofhíle fascist”.
The post by the aptly named @gombeeneireann was reported to Twitter/X for violating its rules around hateful conduct, abuse and harassment. But incredibly X’s investigation determined “a violation of our rules did not take place”.
Hopefully Gardaí take it more seriously, given they too felt the brunt of hate-filled bile while doing their jobs last week.
As Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan – who did not cover himself in glory during the fuel protests by threatening to call in the Army – relayed to the Dáil this week, many individual Gardaí were targeted by abuse and threats.
And how did Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan decide to intervene? By condemning those hurling the abuse at journalists like McDonagh or Gardaí? Perhaps he hauled in the social media giants who are profiting from threatening bile that dominates their platforms?
Of course not. Instead, in a disturbing intervention, O’Donovan attacked RTÉ and other media outlets for coverage that he suggested was not balanced. Isn’t it a great little country?
Mayoral clash
The Galmont Hotel is best avoided this Saturday – it’ll be full of politicians!
It’s hosting Mayor of Galway, Councillor Mike Cubbard’s charity ball, which usually attracts politicians from across the spectrum.
But the Lough Atalia venue is also hosting Independent Ireland’s party conference. They chose Galway for their annual shindig to boost Galway West bye-election candidate, former Fianna Fáil councillor Noel Thomas.
A video circulating online showed that the last time Noel Thomas was in that neck of the woods was during last weekend’s fuel protests.
In the video, the Moycullen elected representative is seen shouting at Gardaí.
“There’s no need for ye to be coming in here. It’s an absolute utter disgrace to the State. That’s what it is,” he said, in reference to the Garda operation to open up Galway Harbour for fuel deliveries.
Pointing to the group of male protestors who stood in a crowd behind him, Thomas shouted at Gardaí: “These are your brothers and sisters you’re dealing with here lads. Do ye know what we’re here for? Fighting for yer rights”.
Bridge count
Before the Ring Road announcement last week, Fianna Fáil’s Galway West Bye-Election candidate, Athenry/Oranmore Councillor Cillian Keane lamented on social media how long it takes to get across town due to traffic congestion.
“Anybody who knows Galway, knows there is (sic) only three functional bridges to actually cross the River Corrib in a car,” he said with such confidence everyone else was doubting themselves.
But of course there are still four vehicular bridges in Galway City – Wolfe Tone, O’Brien’s, Salmon Weir, and Quincentennial.
GLUAS meeting
The GLUAS campaign for light rail in Galway has been trying for some time to secure a meeting with City Council Chief Executive Leonard Cleary.
They’ve enlisted the assistance of long-serving Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind) as a go-between to organise the meeting but it is proving more difficult than you’d think.
That’s according to one insider who said trying to get an audience with Cleary, a deacon, “is a bit like getting to see The Pope”.
Maybe the ‘King of Knocknacarra’ should ask his buddy, Minister Noel Grealish to intervene – the Galway West TD, after all, has met the Pope three times.