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The whale against the pier wall this afternoon. Ger Murphy via Mexicanger

VIDEO: Young fin whale still stuck in west Cork harbour

Experts say the beached whale may be in the final throes as it lies in Baltimore Harbour.

A 40-FOOT whale is still trapped at Baltimore harbour in West Cork.

Pádraig Whooley of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said that they had ”no expectations” that the whale would have moved during today’s high tide.

Once these animals get into these situations, they almost always die.

The fin whale “looks likes it is in the final throes”, added Whooley, who ventured the whale may die overnight. Huge crowds have been gathering to watch the whale at the harbour today.

Moorings

Earlier today, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s Simon Berrow told TheJournal.ie that an expert and active member of the organisation was trying to purge the creature away from the moorings.

From initial descriptions, Berrow said the whale is probably young as it is “quite small”.

Although he could not predict the outcome, he explained that previously beached whales have been sick and emaciated and have often died.

Michael Cottrell who has been leading today’s operation is trying to keep people away from the whale to ensure it doesn’t become more distressed or disturbed. It is understood that the whale was bleeding from its side.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service has been informed about the ongoing situation.

Credit: Stuart Musgrave

Image: Stu Musgrave

Pic from Shauna Kiely.

Image: Stuart Musgrave

Additional reporting Aoife Barry

In photos: dead whale found in Australian pool>

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31 Comments
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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Apr 6th 2012, 8:43 AM

    If These parasitic agencies had their contribution to the global financial crisis rated it would be a triple A +.it is extraordinary that these dregs of morality ,along with the likes of Goldman Sachs can still hold sway in the the financial system and I say this as a firm believer in capitalism ! Great article Btw

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    Mute Paul Carr
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    Apr 6th 2012, 9:07 AM

    Set up a Eurozone based Rating Agency.

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    Mute Peter
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    Apr 6th 2012, 9:24 AM

    Well Fitch are run by a french company

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    Mute Paul Carr
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    Apr 6th 2012, 9:37 AM

    Joint headquartered in New York and London.

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Apr 6th 2012, 10:07 AM

    S&p had Lehmans at AAA up into the week that they actually went bust and left millions of creditors high and dry!!!!!

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    Mute Paul
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    Apr 6th 2012, 11:09 AM

    True. And why are we still hearing about their pronouncements on the news? Laziness from journalists, governments and bankers? If they were any good they’d be called “Excellent & Loaded” anyway

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    Mute Gay Pea McManus
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    Apr 6th 2012, 8:35 AM

    Only because the credit agencies base their ratings on factual information rather than government propaganda and governments can’t stand anyone who isn’t playing ball.

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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Apr 6th 2012, 9:40 AM

    I assume you are looking for a reaction with that moronic comment , well you suceeded, troll!

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    Mute Gay Pea McManus
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    Apr 6th 2012, 10:05 AM

    No, the US was downgraded by S&P based on sound monetary data, whereas your comments are based on your ignorance.

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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Apr 6th 2012, 10:55 AM

    Yes, they “eventually” started doing their Job, after playing their part in wrecking the world’s economy. Where was their “Data” when they gave triple A ratings to Billions of Dollars of subprime mortgages wrapped other good loans in the US. Of course this was insured by AIG in the form CDS’ that brought the biggest insurer on the planet to its knees, 85 billion to bail out Bear sterns ,200 Billion to bail out Fannie Mae /Freddie Mac , all because of subprime. Yes the banks were reckless but I wonder what their rating had been??? mmm. I suppose you heard there excuse in the congressional hearings, well of course you didn’t, anyway, it was that “we only give advice/guidance, it’s really up the institution what they do with it.
    This is a country where there is now nearly a million people living in tents. And the behaviour off the Rating agencies, Financial was morally repugnant. Then we have monkey talk from the likes of you !

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    Mute Mike Hall
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    Apr 6th 2012, 11:24 AM

    No McManus, you are displaying +your+ ignorance.

    In contrast to member countries of the Eurozone, the US remains the sovereign issuer of its own (free floating) currency and because of this fact can never go bankrupt or default on debt denominated in US$.

    When S&P downgraded US gov debt, thru’ some combination of political ideology & stupidity, the market interest rate did precisely nothing – +nada+. Indeed, given the even low rate of inflation the US gov can sell every $ of its debt, still, at an even lower rate of interest. Yes, buyers of US gov debt are actually +paying+ to hold it when inflation is taken into account.

    Whilst the variously fraudulent, corrupt & ideologically motivated behaviour of the ratings agencies is a key (& unaddressed) part of the cause of the financial meltdown, it is only the tip of the iceberg.

    Besides the control fraud (cf former US regulator William K Black) of the financial institutions, both in the US and Europe, we should also be demanding examination of the endemically flawed macro economics thinking that still ignores the effect of debt – indeed the function of banking itself – in its modelling of national economies. Ever wondered why the mainstream of economics had no clue the crisis was coming mere weeks before the crash? Or why the Eurozone is getting worse not better 5 years later?

    Irish economists & commentators (with the exception of Dublin based writer Philip Pilkington) continue to be absolutely lamentable on these vital issues. Of course, with secure 6 figure salaries & guaranteed fat pensions, +they+ are not suffering are they?

    If you want to find the facts of the intellectual bankruptcy endemic in mainstream macro economics (macro, because national economics is profoundly not like your household or business, despite all the BS from media etc. implying it is) you need to look outside Ireland. Readily available practical solutions are also discussed. (Yes, there are solutions that do not involve massive unemployment for decades & beyond.)

    See Prof Bill Mitchell here:

    http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/

    Good articles here:

    http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/

    And Prof Steve Keen here;

    http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/

    It takes a little time and study to discover the truth in macro economics. But surely we owe it to our children to find out, if not for ourselves. We will not be gifted the solutions that are readily available. The present system is a lie from start to finish, that serves to enrich the top few percent, at the expense of the rest of us, thru’ the creation of both booms & busts.

    A good article by Hugh O’Connell here, but there is so much more needs fundamental examination & reform including the Euro structure itself.

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    Mute Gay Pea McManus
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    Apr 6th 2012, 1:30 PM

    S&P are number crunchers that’s all, they do what they do for their clients. Governments oversee financial regulation and dictate financial policy, so stop shooting the messenger! It’s beginning to sound like late Weimar Germany around here with the level of wingnut economic theory being flung about. Corruption and cronyism in politics, get-rich-quick economic policy, war mongering abroad, all must be paid for at the end and the chickens have come home to roost for America.

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    Mute
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    Apr 6th 2012, 1:05 PM

    I know something about the “Pillars of Society’ that you don’t. Further details by searching in Google for ‘ Devrajan Hanna Butler Foley’

    Cheers

    The Common Informer

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    Mute Alan Browne
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    Apr 6th 2012, 3:20 PM

    People need to understand that Ratings Agencies use historical data (good or bad) so they are after-the-fact telling us what is wrong. They cannot predict. The reason they are still viewed as important is that the prospectuses of funds tends to state that the funds cannot invest in shares/stocks etc less than X or Y rating which is purely a marketing exercise. They serve no real purpose other than marketing/political purposes and anyone who uses them as a benchmark is crazy/delusional.

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