Media silence over Niall Collins story

FFG arrogantly assumed they could refuse to acknowledge the story. Our ever-supplicant msm first coordinated to ignore, and then in unison condescendingly acknowledged "a small story". This only supercharged the story and so now they're all furious. We can look forward to a summer of temper-tantrums from our public servants and msm, LOL!

I hope all you - "populist", "right-wing", "sinister", "chilling" - normal Irish citizens are proud of yourselves :-)

You may think it's over-egging, but this country suffers from quite a lot of corruption. I, like others would really like to stamp it out, before it starts. Many, many people have said he should have recused himself.

What I don't like is the assertion that he did nothing wrong. As I've said before, if you think he did nothing wrong, that says more about you.

Agree, Mary loo mixing with the criminals is seriously worrying also….corruption everywhere..

The first thing you hear from politicians when The Ditch or other publications do something like this, is that they can't comment because it's with their solicitors. All the time and each time they haven't sued it just a threat that works on MSM but isnt working on the Ditch. We had it with Varadkar leaking the confidential documents, same with Troy but that soon died, English I think went quietly and I am sure there are more. The thing is if it was untrue then the politicians would sue but they don't because it is true and also because if they go to court it will be in the news. If what was reported either with the council meetings or the planning permissions for Collins House was untrue he would have been to the courts.

What they uncovered may not necessarily be the truth, or it may be presented in such a way to allege wrongdoing where non exists. It is not a disgrace for each citizen to be entitled to their good name, I doubt you would appreciate being on the receiving end of an article which may not accurately reflect your behaviour. Whether Collins did anything wrong is not clear cut, so other media outlets are quite rightly being careful about what they publish.

I listened back and it didn’t seem that bad. He stumbled a little in answering the funding and opinion/bias questions but I don’t think the interview will change anyone’s opinions.

Alleging "wrongdoing where non exists" did not cause the DPP to bring criminal charges against the ABP Deputy, the ABP Chairman to retire, Troy to become an undeclared property magnate... But you're probably right, we should instead continue to let the msm hold these these hardworking decent public servants to account. Anyhow just look at all the bountiful housing they have provided for us - ROFL!!!

You understand the difference between an allegation and a fact? So far there is nothing in the allegations made by the Ditch in relation to Niall Colllins which indicates illegality. He voted at commitee level for the lands to be forwarded to the Council for consideration to place on the market. The Council voted, and the lands were placed on the market, open to any bidder, after he had left the Council to become a TD. Multiple bids were received from different bidders and the auctioneer tasked with marketing the lands informed the Council of the bids, and it was sold to the highest bidder, who also happened to be Collin’s wife. At the time he voted at the commitee stage, neither he, nor his wife had any pecuniary interest in the land, and anyone one else with a higher bid could have bought it.

Now, if you see that as being in a similar vein to the wrongdoing in ABP, then it is a good job you aren’t editor of any of the main stream media, because your legal department would be busy if you made defamatory allegations.

The media has a very important function in society, they are there to push the boundaries to get to the truth, their job is also to be sure about what they are publishing as it can lead nitwits to jump to unfounded conclusions if they publish any aul shiiite that comes their way. They have a responsibility to check the accuracy of the claims, and avoid defaming anyone.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/junior-minister-niall-collins-insists-in-dail-statement-he-did-not-break-law-over-land-sale/a518478168.html

They did.