EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.
This week there was talk about animal rights, baby names and of course Luas strikes.
1. When a new documentary about teenage killers came out during the week Yeah OK commented on an article about one of the teenagers:
“He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, however the judge used his discretion, to review the sentence after ten years. In 2013, his sentence was reviewed and he is set to be released in July this year.” So let me get this straight, a fella who openly admitted to wanting to kill someone for no reason whatsoever, who then went out and did what he said he would do, is being released after 10 years? Judges in this country make me sick
That comment got 1,543 green thumbs.
2. When former minister James Reilly said he was “honoured” to be appointed to the Seanad after he had previously criticised the upper house of the Oireachtas RMcG added their thoughts on the matter:
Funny how they change their tune if it means a payday for them!
1,153 others seemed to agree.
3. During the week the Labour Court recommended an 18.3% wage increase for Luas drivers. Shane Freeney gave this simple comment on the matter:
Oh ffs
That comment got 1,119 green thumbs.
4. When the government had their first defeat in the Dáil on a counter motion they put forward in response to a Labour Party motion on worker’s rights, Chewy Burton shared their views:
All of a sudden Labour are concerned about minimum wage and workers rights?? They helped destroy what we had over the last few years. Absolutely filth merchants
That got 1,080 green thumbs.
5. When Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary gave his opinions about the ongoing Luas dispute and how he would deal with it, Marg Murphy added:
Pity he’s not calling the shots here.
1,079 others liked that comment.
1. “They hold a man’s arm against the curb and you hear it break when they kick it.” (This article, about Ibrahim Halawa’s prison letter, got 276 comments)
2. Confirmed: European Commission says we are no longer exempt from water charges (258 comments)
3. Alan Kelly says he’s been proven right about Irish Water (239 comments)
4. Is Ireland set to go to war with the European Commission over water charges? (218 comments)
5. No tender issued yet to seek company to set up Citizens’ Assembly on Eighth Amendment (210 comments)
There was plenty of debate this week over a decision by zoo officials in the US to shoot a gorilla after a child entered the enclosure. Beachmaster summed up the web furore with this succinct take:
There are approximately 100,000 Western lowland gorillas left in the world, roughly half the amount of Western lowland gorilla behavioural experts who are currently online.
After an article about sisters with multiple sclerosis was published last week Berni Quinlan got in touch with TheJournal.ie to share her sister’s story and how proud she is of her:
My sister was diagnosed four years ago. She’s the bravest person I know. She says she has to get on with her life. She is doing the camino de Santiago for the fourth time. Last year she raised 4000€ for the charity. I really admire her.
Another animal rights debate was sparked when dozens of dead cubs were found at a controversial “tiger temple” in Thailand. BJBreen weighed in with the following:
It’s the responsibility of tourists to stop
Feeding money to these places. With no revenue the industry shuts down! Plenty of great things to do in Thailand so no excuses!
The question of whether or not to get rid of payphones around Ireland arose during the week. Ryan Carroll has an idea:
Why not do what smart countries have done? Turn them into a mixed WiFi hotspot, videophone (FT & Skype) and public internet terminal in key areas. They’ve done that in London and even in West end they’re left alone
The list of the most popular baby names of 2015 in Ireland was released this week, and there were some interesting monikers in the top 100 – like Pixie, Romeo, Otis and Zayn.
Shakka1244 added what they thought of the list:
Where’s Mary and John? This country is finished I’ll tell ya, finished !
See any good comments? Send them to orla@thejournal.ie
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