Eilis O'Hanlon: Now he has all the answers, does Leo Varadkar plan to go from pub bore to president?
Weighing in on Irish unity, calling for action on Gaza, writing a memoir and appearing on Ray Goggins' TV show – it doesn't look like the former taoiseach has had enough of public life
Today at 21:30
Stepping down as taoiseach last year, Leo Varadkar said he had no 'definite personal or political plans', but was 'looking forward to having the time to think about them'.
Having since considered all his options, the former Fine Gael leader seems to have decided that the best use of his talents as a communicator is to become a full-time pub bore on the issue of Irish unity, like Christy Moore without the guitar, or Colm Meaney without the Starship Enterprise uniform.
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Sunday World
17 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Loyalist cousin of Shankill Butcher leading far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick
Cousin of notorious Shankill Butcher seen at front of anti-immigration rallies in Dublin and Limerick A loyalist ex-prisoner and cousin of a notorious Shankill Butchers cut-throat killer is leading Irish far-right protests, the Sunday World can reveal. Convicted armed robber Mark Sinclair – a one-time UVF thug from the hardline loyalist Shankill area of Belfast – has been seen recently leading anti-immigrant protest rallies in Dublin and Limerick. But the Sunday World can reveal that Sinclair is a diehard loyalist who served 17 years in prison. He is also the cousin of Billy Moore, the feared knife-killer deputy to Shankill Butchers boss Lenny Murphy, whose gang roamed the city for years, picking up innocent Catholics before mutilating and murdering them. Mark Sinclair on the march Sinclair used his YouTube channel 'Freedom Dad' to voice strong support for the protests in the Republic and, by his own admission, he was welcomed with 'open arms' by the 'Limerick Says No' campaign last week. And by way of reassuring his concerned loyalist mates back in Belfast, Sinclair later said of his new-found friends: 'Not every one of them wants a united Ireland. I very rarely hear it.' But last night, Malachy Steenson – organiser of the Dublin protest – distanced himself from the former UVF man. He told the Sunday World: 'I have no connection to Sinclair. And I only learned he was at the protest, when I was told by the media. Now, you have to wonder how some of the southern journos even recognised him?' At anti-immigration protest in Limerick last weekend, the former UVF man told viewers on his YouTube channel: 'Times have changed. You don't hear so much about it these days. As you know, we're not giving anything up. The six counties belong to us. 'I don't know how long it's going to belong to Britain, but it will always belong to us, the Ulstermen and women in Northern Ireland. 'I'm trying to come across as honest and transparent. I'm not coming down here pretending to be this or that. I'm an Ulsterman and I'm proud to be an Ulsterman. 'But I like the Irish. I think it's an amazing part of the world. And not all of them want an all-Ireland. I very rarely hear it. Even 'Tiocfaidh ár lá – it's just Irish for 'our day will come'. Loyalist Mark Sinclair making a live YouTube broadcast at an anti-immigrant protest in Limerick last week . 'It's like 'slán go fóill a chara' – see you later my friend – it's just a foreign language. And I know some people won't like that. 'But it's just like France or Spanish. I wouldn't get too hung up on it,' said Sinclair. But he devoted most of his vitriol to immigrants and refugees who have come to Ireland. Said Sinclair. 'I'm going to talk with some friends to see how we can stop these men coming from Ireland into Northern Ireland. 'We need to stand up as men and women, Protestants and Catholics. We need to stop these men coming in from Ireland or England,' he said. He added: 'I'm Freedom Dad and God bless every single one of you.' But what Sinclair failed to disclose as he mingled with activists during his whistle-stop trip south of the border, was that he once shared a house with his close relative, the notorious Shankill Butcher Billy Moore. And it was from Moore's flat on the outskirts of Edinburgh that Sinclair was scooped by Scottish cops over a series of armed bank robberies on the west coast. Police confirmed a dozen people had been arrested during the raid on suspicion of assault, kidnap and extortion. Sinclair told the High Court in Ayr that he had been hired by the British Secret Service to spy on loyalist terrorists in Scotland. And he also said he was paid £50,000 each time he met his handler. Despite his claims, the trial judge sentenced him to 17 years in jail. Sinclair led a gang of Belfast-born desperadoes behind a spate of bank robberies on the west coast of Scotland, while the were based in Moore's flat on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Soon the flat became known to police as a 24 hours-a-day drugs and drink den. A victim of the Shankill Butchers Sinclair – who was in his mid-20s – established himself as the leader of an armed robbery outfit. And in an effort to throw the cops off their scent, Sinclair's robbery squad targeted Clydsdale Banks on the west coast, because rural banking halls had less security than normal. Sinclair wore a mask to cover his face and he brandished a hand gun during robberies at three banks, putting staff into a state of sheer panic. But after armed Scottish detectives raided Moore's flat, Sinclair was arrested along with two associates and charged with several bank robberies. Cutthroat killer William Moore And in October 2003 at the High Court in Ayr, he was found guilty of robbing banks in Troon and Stewarton in Ayrshire and Dalbeattie in Dumfries and Galloway. He was also found not guilty of robbing another two banks in Ayrshire. In the mid-1970s, the names Lenny Murphy and Billy Moore struck fear into the hearts of Catholics in north and west Belfast. When Murphy was jailed on other charges, Moore succeeded him as the main cut-throat killer in the UVF murder gang. At that time, the Shankill Butchers stalked the near empty streets of inner city Belfast, looking for victims. But despite being the leader, Lenny Murphy never stood trial for the Butchers Gang crimes. During a major criminal trial he was simply referred to as 'Mr. X' . But on November 16 1982 – shortly after his release from prison on arms charges – Murphy was ambushed and machine-gunned to death by IRA serial killer, Gerard 'Hucker' Moyna as he pulled up in a car outside his girlfriend's house in Glencairn. The IRA had received inside information on Murphy's movements from leading UDA extortionist Jimmy Craig, as part of an insurance policy to prevent the IRA from killing him. On May 17, 2009, Billy Moore died aged 60 of a suspected heart attack at his home in the loyalist Mount Vernon estate, off Belfast's Shore Road. A short time before, Moore had appeared in court charged with stealing scrap metal from the Belfast Harbour estate. But after Moore pleaded guilty to carrying out 11 of the 19 Shankill Butchers murders, Mr Justice Turlough O'Donnell told him: 'You Moore, pleaded guilty to 11 murders carried out in a manner so cruel and revolting, as to be beyond the comprehension of any normal human being.' And he pointedly added: 'I am satisfied that without you, many of the murders would not have been committed.' Addressing Moore and Robert 'Basher' Bates – another member of the Butcher gang who was involved in 14 murders – Judge O'Donnell told them: 'I see no reason whatever – apart from terminal illness – why either of you should ever be released.' During police interrogation, Moore collapsed in floods of tears and he asked detectives: 'Did I really do these things?' He received 11 life sentences, but as he was led from the dock he smiled and waved to supporters in the public gallery. Loyalist Mark Sinclair making a live YouTube broadcast at an anti-immigrant protest in Limerick last week News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd But Moore's swagger belied the fact that two years before, following his arrest, the knife killer had begged the police to get him a deal to serve his sentence outside Northern Ireland, in return for him telling them everything they needed to know about the Shankill Butchers gang. Moore confessed to committing 11 murders and involvement in another seven. And he also named all of his accomplices. But under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Moore was released after spending 18 years behind bars.
The Journal
33 minutes ago
- The Journal
United States joins Israel in war against Iran as it launches attack on nuclear sites
LAST UPDATE | 3 hrs ago US STEALTH BOMBERS and submarine launched tomahawk missiles have attacked three Iranian nuclear sites, US President Donald Trump has announced. Trump in posts on his Truth Social platform described it as a 'very successful attack' on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,' he said. 'A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,' he said, adding that the planes were safely out of Iranian airspace and on the way home. In a phone conversation this morning with Fox News Trump said six bunker buster bombs were used in the underground complex at Fordow and then 30 Tomahawk missiles launched from submarines on the other sites. In an address at 3am Irish time, Trump, said threatened further strikes against Iran. He said the US air strikes had 'completely and totally obliterated' the nuclear enrichment facilities. 'There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember there are many targets left. 'If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,' he said. U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation at the White House in Washington DC. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The US is the only Air Force with the capability to launch so-called 'bunker buster' bombing – this enables them to hit targets deep underground. Advertisement In recent days, large numbers of US warplanes were moved across the Atlantic – including tankers, fighters and the B2 bombers were moved to the Pacific island base of Guam. It is not the first time Donald Trump has struck at the heart of the Iranian regime – in 2020 he ordered the drone strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani. In response to the attacks Israel has raised its alert level, permitting only essential activities until further notice. 'It was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity,' including 'a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors', the Israeli military statement said. In an address posted to X, Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump's action had 'created a pivot to history' in denying the 'most dangerous regime, the most dangerous weapons'. Iran's atomic agency said on Sunday that the country will carry on with its nuclear activities despite the US attacks on key facilities. 'The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that despite the evil plots of its enemies … it will not let the path of development of this national industry (nuclear), which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, be stopped,' the organisation said in a statement published by state media. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, called for de-escalation. 'I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. 'There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. 'I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. 'At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,' he said. With reporting from AFP and David MacRedmond. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Eoin O'Malley: CityWest deal shows the State is in the asylum business for the long haul, but the opposite approach is working for Denmark
The Danes are pursuing a 'zero refugee' policy and is sending out a strong message about how tough its rules are Today at 21:30 If we were to choose a monument to Irish policy failure, we could do worse than to pick the Citywest Hotel. The Government last week authorised the purchase of the hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin, to become a state-owned International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre for asylum-seekers. Citywest was built by businessman Jim Mansfield, who borrowed heavily to expand it to become one of the largest hotels in Europe. It became host to some large events. All-Ireland champions partied there after victory. It was where the Fianna Fáil faithful gathered when the party was in its heyday. The faux-Georgian hotel seemed to symbolise Celtic Tiger excess and hubris.
