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Saleh pictured in April prior to an attack on his compound in June in which he was injured. AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen

President Saleh returns to Yemen amid expectation of more violence

Saleh’s return after more than three months in Saudi Arabia has confused matters in the violence-torn Arab nation.

PRESIDENT ALI ABDULLAH Saleh made a surprise return to Yemen today after more than three months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia in a move certain to further enflame battles between forces loyal to him and his opponents that have turned the capital into a war zone.

Saleh immediately called for a cease-fire and said negotiations were the only way out of the crisis, his office said.

The statement, however, suggested he does not intend to step down immediately and was likely to only anger protesters who have been demanding his ouster for months and the military units and armed tribal fighters that back the opposition.

“His return means more divisions, more escalation and confrontations,” said Abdel-Hadi al-Azazi, a protest leader, told The Associated Press. “We are on a very critical escalation.”

Saleh’s return to Yemen could further damage already crumbling efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to work out a peaceful handover of power.

Washington is eager for some sort of post-Saleh stability in the strategically placed but deeply divided and impoverished nation in hopes of continuing an alliance against Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen — the terror network’s most active branch, blamed in several plots for attacks on US soil.

Both the US and Saudi Arabia were believed to be trying to keep Saleh from leaving Saudi Arabia.

Treatment

Saleh went to the kingdom for treatment after he was severely burned and wounded by a June 3 explosion at his presidential compound in the capital Sanaa.

His departure fueled hopes that he would be forced to step down, but instead he staunchly refused to resign, frustrating protesters who have been taking to the streets nearly daily since February demanding an end to his 33-year old rule.

As time passed and Saleh recuperated, he was widely expected to stay in the kingdom — and the timing of his return Friday was a surprise.

The crackle of gunfire continued to be heard over Sanaa even after the president’s office issued the cease-fire call.

This week, the long deadlock that endured even during Saleh’s absence broke down into the worst violence in months as forces loyal to the president’s son attacked protesters in the streets and battled troops led by one of the regime’s top rivals, Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a former Saleh aide who joined the opposition early in the uprising.

Around 100 people have been killed the past week — mostly protesters as regime troops hit their gathering with shelling or barrages of sniper fire from rooftops.

Residents have been forced to hunker down in their homes or flee the city as the two sides exchanged bombardment over Sanaa from strongholds in the surrounding hills.

Fighting continues

The fighting continued even after Saleh returned at dawn Friday. Heavy clashes and thuds of mortars were heard throughout the night in Sanaa and into morning hours. One person was killed overnight after mortars hit the square in central Sanaa where protesters demanding Saleh’s ouster have been camped out for months, a medical official said on condition of anonymity.

By noon, thousands of Saleh supporters and opponents poured into the streets for parallel rallies in different parts of Sanaa during a lull in fighting. The rallies revolved around Friday prayers and also included funeral ceremonies for those from each side killed in the clashes.

Reflecting Yemen’s widening rift. each side blamed the other for igniting the latest violence.

At the pro-Saleh rally along Boulevard 70 in southern Sanaa, sermon leaders accused the opposition of attempting a coup and warned against civil war. Saleh’s supporters carried his pictures along with those of the Saudi king in a tribute to the neighboring country where Saleh was recovering. Some chanted, “We love you, Ali.”

At the opposition rally on Boulevard 60, demonstrators carried pictures of those killed in the violence as speakers urged security forces to stop killing their own people.

“So long as you are well, we are all well”

Yemeni TV announced his return Friday morning, but did not show any footage of him. It aired old footage of Saleh at public events along with images of fireworks and patriotic songs, accompanied by a scroll from the Interior Ministry, urging citizens not to fire celebratory gunfire in the air in their joy over Saleh’s return because the shooting was dangerous.

“So long as you are well, we are all well. Yemen is well,” one song ran.

The TV report said Saleh was in good health. Officials in his office confirmed that he had returned on a private plane. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have been trying to persuade Saleh to sign onto a deal proposed by Gulf Arab states, under which he would resign and hand power to his vice president to form a national unity government in return for immunity from any prosecution.

The mercurial Saleh has repeated promised to sign the agreement, then refused at the last minute.

The latest violence erupted after he recently delegated his vice president to restart negotiations with opponents on the deal. It was considered another stalling tactic by Saleh, and it was followed by a violent crackdown on protesters in Sanaa and other cities.

Yemen’s turmoil began in February as the unrest spreading throughout the Arab world set off largely peaceful protests in this deeply unstable corner of the Arabian Peninsula.

Saleh’s government responded with a heavy crackdown, with hundreds killed and thousands wounded so far.

Read more: Yemeni president’s face was ‘quite charred’ after attack on presidential palace

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    Mute James Franco
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    May 28th 2014, 7:49 PM

    Typical overpaid smug pen pushing civil servant whose not in the least bit civil

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    Mute Michael G O'Reilly
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    May 28th 2014, 9:22 PM

    Can no one in Ireland give an honest answer to any court or inquiry any more?!?!?

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    Mute Andrew Halpin
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    May 28th 2014, 10:28 PM

    That seems to be the way it works. Feather each other’s nest until the plebs catch on and then refuse to answer questions on the basis of a future investigation because what you say could be used as evidence by that future investigation.?? There’s the truth of it. This country is corrupt, it works from the top down and there’s no telling how far it goes or where it ends, if at all.

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    Mute Jill Jones
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    May 28th 2014, 10:40 PM

    Where’s Enda’s accountability when we need it.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 28th 2014, 11:20 PM

    Jill Enda’s accountability has gone missing along with his transparency…..

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    Mute Sloop John G
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    May 29th 2014, 1:10 AM

    Spot on Andrew. I’ve been saying this for years, this country is rotten to the core. Maybe Purcell should have turned whistle blower himself and opened up the whole sordid can of worms that passes for a Justice system in this country. Now wouldn’t that make a refreshing change !!!

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    Mute finbarr ocormac
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    May 28th 2014, 7:53 PM

    Enda Kenny will not answer questions in the Dail over this….It goes to show that in any other Industry Purcell would have been gone weeks ago..But he probably has some nice juicey information on someone in Gov so he is going nowhere

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    Mute Colette Mullins
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    May 28th 2014, 7:51 PM

    Yet another untouchable civil servant laughing at the system built to protect them

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    May 28th 2014, 9:17 PM

    A bit of arse covering for Enda seems to be the logical conclusion to this farce by the not so civil servant.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    May 28th 2014, 8:14 PM

    A public servant, especially one so high in rank, refusing to answer questions asked by public representatives in a committee is EXTREMELY serious. This should not go away.

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    Mute TractorPat
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    May 28th 2014, 8:23 PM

    When has a high ranking public servant ever told the truth, cooperated or acted in the best interest of the country. “Choo choo all aboard the gravy chain”

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    Mute AlanHarte
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    May 28th 2014, 8:46 PM

    He’s perfectly entitled not to answer in law. There is no limits to what questions the committee can ask. There is limits on which can/ should be answered.

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    Mute ListenToWoody
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    May 28th 2014, 10:05 PM

    He should not answer to showboating politicians..all seem to forget that we had a referendum not two years ago in which the people were asked if they wanted to give dail committees the power of investigation., and to make judgements on people..the people answered overwhelmingly “absolutely not” …and for good reason..yet this kangaroo court, and the PAC, is carrying on regardless,as if they are some sort of moral compass, crusading for right….and making de facto judgements on peoples character…. political point scoring in its most crude and disingenuous form..all you that think they are great better hope you are never summoned before a hearing..where they will then make judgement on you..I suspect you would all be singing a different song then…………down with this sort of thing..careful now.

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    Mute Andrew Halpin
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    May 28th 2014, 11:28 PM

    @listentowoody @alanharte. We cannot use the fifth amendment because in Irish law refusing to answer questions is interpreted as a sign of guilt. He wasn’t been questioned in law. That referendum was in 2011 and it would have undermined the individuals right to a fair hearing in any dealings with any government department. An individual would have had no recourse but to accept their decision as final. Therefore a state body could be wrong but also right.
    As someone who is familiar with kangaroo courts in Ireland where you are judged on hearsay evidence; Mr Purcell did point out that all of the allegations in Sergeant McCabe’s dossiers were not facts and needed to be investigated; I fully appreciate how Mr Purcell might feel were he in that position. However he’s not nor was he put in that position, as the PAC have no powers to convict or sentence him for any wrong doing.
    It may be that those members are showboating to protect their seats or parties interests. However we as a people need to be informed because they represent our interest directly and indirectly. If they are showboating it will be recalled come election time.

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    Mute ListenToWoody
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    May 29th 2014, 12:10 AM

    Quite the opposite Andrew..in Irish Law it is your right to refuse to answer and no inference be taken from the refusal (except in certain anti terrorist/gang legislation)..the caution that is the cornerstone of the protection of citizen begins “you are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so”. I am aware that PAC and other dail committees have no power to convict or sentence for wrongdoing, I never said that they did..they do however , as I said, make “de facto” judgements on peoples character and are continuously political point scoring. I wonder would any of the Sinn Fein committee members be as vocal if the Justice committee was inquiring into the murders of Timmy Parry age 12, Jonathan Ball age 4 , Jean McConville, Robert McCartney..the list goes on..to listen to Sinn Fein members in particular tut-tutting from the moral high ground is stomach churning.

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    Mute Artisan Bee
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    May 29th 2014, 2:05 AM

    @ ListenToWoody

    “I am aware that PAC and other dail committees have no power to convict or sentence for wrongdoing, I never said that they did..”

    Explain this so:

    “yet this kangaroo court, and the PAC,”

    Why say ‘kangaroo court’ if you believe “that PAC and other dail committees have no power to convict or sentence for wrongdoing”? Are you implying that the’Justice Committee’ has no authority to carry out its duty? Do you support subverting democratic processes?

    This other tripe from you can only be described as PATHETIC:

    “I wonder would any of the Sinn Fein committee members be as vocal if the Justice committee was inquiring into the murders of Timmy Parry age 12, Jonathan Ball age 4 , Jean McConville, Robert McCartney..the list goes on..to listen to Sinn Fein members in particular tut-tutting from the moral high ground is stomach churning.”

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    Mute ListenToWoody
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    May 29th 2014, 1:32 PM

    Kangaroo Court -”a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted.The term may also apply to a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court’s legal or ethical obligations. A kangaroo court is often held by a group or a community to give the appearance of a fair and just trial, even though the verdict has in reality already been decided before the trial has begun”.
    Why are you Shinners so sensitive? Still the instinct to bully opposing views, when political ammunition runs low, inevitably the rusty artillery of abuse is always wheeled into action.
    Calm down laddie…

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    Mute Artisan Bee
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    May 29th 2014, 2:19 PM

    @ Listentowoody

    “Why are you Shinners so sensitive?”

    Please don’t mistake my abhorrence to fascism with being “sensitive”.

    I ask: Why are you Blueshirts so pathetic?

    “Still the instinct to bully opposing views, when political ammunition runs low, inevitably the rusty artillery of abuse is always wheeled into action.
Calm down laddie…”

    Classic Freudian projection. Let me remind you what you said:

    “I wonder would any of the Sinn Fein committee members be as vocal if the Justice committee was inquiring into the murders of Timmy Parry age 12, Jonathan Ball age 4 , Jean McConville, Robert McCartney..the list goes on..to listen to Sinn Fein members in particular tut-tutting from the moral high ground is stomach churning.”

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    Mute ListenToWoody
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    May 29th 2014, 2:55 PM

    Wow your copy and past buttons must be worn out…

    Here is some worthwhile copy and pasting—
    ” I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! You tiny-brained wiper of other people’s bottoms! ” – Perhaps you huge intellect recognizes it ? No, oh never mind.
    Good day to you sir….and please don’t call me anymore.

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    Mute Dermot Purcell
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    May 29th 2014, 3:46 PM

    Tractor im afraid ita lot worse than people not cooperating with this inquiry.Corruption and criminal activity has reached every arm of the state.this guy purcell has just given the two fingers to the decent people in this country.for people shouting for a revolution can hold this up and say purcell kearns flannery fitzpatrick ahearn cowen shatter callinan is this the form of democracy you want.no accountability.

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    Mute Artisan Bee
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    May 29th 2014, 4:16 PM

    @ ListenToWoody

    “Wow your copy and past buttons must be worn out…”

    Extracting QUOTES from statements you made was an easy way for me to reinforce my point of view.

    Well – you certainly lost the argument with this tripe:

    “Here is some worthwhile copy and pasting—
    ” I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! You tiny-brained wiper of other people’s bottoms! ” – Perhaps you huge intellect recognizes it ? No, oh never mind.
    Good day to you sir….and please don’t call me anymore.”

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    Mute ListenToWoody
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    May 29th 2014, 5:51 PM

    Lol….Thought it would go straight over your head…Monty Python is always worthwhile…..you should look it up….educate yourself….

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    Mute Lm group
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    May 28th 2014, 8:03 PM

    Sack the tosser, do what your told or go

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    Mute Martin Smith
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    May 28th 2014, 8:42 PM

    of course he will not answer and he knows he will be protected by enda as only he and callinan know what kennys message was……..

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 28th 2014, 7:45 PM

    I can’t wait for the trials in the next decade of people who have been accused in their village of not being a good Republican. Or accused of witchcraft because they earn too much.

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    Mute Alan Reardon
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    May 28th 2014, 9:14 PM

    This man believes that he is accountable to no one and displayed that disgracefully today, it’s a pity he could not have been told answer the question or collect your P45. In any other job he would be dismissed forthwith.

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    Mute Mike McAllen
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    May 28th 2014, 11:41 PM

    Bit of a Catch 22 in that case, given that if he DID answer those questions he’d have been sacked by the Government.

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    Mute scartboy
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    May 29th 2014, 1:19 AM

    Need to also ask is he competent and has he got credibility within gov and staff. If not credible why should he stay in role?

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    Mute joan donnellan
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    May 28th 2014, 8:12 PM

    Jaysus JG are you playing with a full deck there???

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    Mute scartboy
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    May 28th 2014, 9:35 PM

    Over life of gov why has no dept sec been fired. Letters go missing for weeks and they survive. Finance was only dept that hired outside the inner circle and is now only dept that appears to have made progress. We blame ministers for crap in health, justice etc but really it’s the dept heads that should also walk as they allow crap service to taxpayer continue. If current gov has made one big error it’s not sacking a few inefficient depts secretary and bring in some private sector heads that know what real world is like to start fixing and removing bad waste practise. We spens enough tax payers money to have a decent health service but waste still exists.. How many pen pushers are in hse that add zero value?

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    Mute John R
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    May 28th 2014, 10:24 PM

    Yes Scarrboy maybe they should hire from the ranks of the private sector bankers, property magnates and other geniuses who ran out country into the ground. Numerous SG posts have been openly and publicly advertised and no private sector person has been appointed except for Finance and, guess what, he was an ex-civil servant as well! Why is this so. Simple. The jobs do not pay enough money or contain enough perks to attract people from outside the civil and public service considering the workload and responsibilities attached. Grow up!

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    Mute scartboy
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    May 29th 2014, 12:15 AM

    Not the most mature, logical or intelligent response I have seen. Bankers are part of private sector but not all. There are other examples ie kerry group so I would recommend you take a wholistic view rather than narrow one.. Are you hse mgt

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    Mute James Kelly
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    May 28th 2014, 9:45 PM

    If the committee chairperson cannot compel him to answer then why cite him in the first place ?
    What is the point when you know he will refuse to answer as it just brings the whole process of government into disrepute?
    Could this government employee not have been issued with an advance copy of the questions and asked to confirm which questions he was unwilling or unable to answer thereby saving time, money resources and above all an embarrassing farce as clearly described by some members of the committee.
    This should not go away as the questions asked are of legitimate public concern and if this government employee won’t answer then he should be disciplined for gross misconduct in his public office.
    Who told him he should not answer to an Oriochteas committee properly constituted ?

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    Mute Andrew Halpin
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    May 28th 2014, 10:39 PM

    @james once he made his opening statement, he then proceeded to answer questions from a prepared script. That was objected to by several members of the PAC.

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    May 28th 2014, 9:36 PM

    What a disrespectful b@stard.

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    Mute AlanHarte
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    May 28th 2014, 8:31 PM

    In fairness why is this guy getting such a hard time? Looks like he is just being thrown to the lions.

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    Mute Arch Stanton
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    May 28th 2014, 9:30 PM

    Justice Committee by name but alas not by nature

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    Mute kopper96
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    May 28th 2014, 9:32 PM

    Reminds me of Sir Humphrey Appleby………talk for hours but saying nothing!!!!

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    Mute Michael Flynn
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    May 28th 2014, 9:13 PM

    Our Civil Servants are similar to priests in the Confessional .

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    Mute David Clarke
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    May 28th 2014, 8:36 PM

    Johngahan get over it fg/Tories got their ars. Slaped last week time to move on but dont worry none of ur boys and girls will ever be held to account for the rape and destruction of the country to please ur master in eu ps tell Denis I was asking for him the next time yous are selling off something else for pennies

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    Mute Flash gordon
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    May 28th 2014, 9:12 PM

    What are you smoking ?!

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    Mute Daire Hickey
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    May 28th 2014, 11:19 PM

    He is a civil servant. IF he doesn’t co-operate he should be sacked.

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    Mute Mike McAllen
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    May 28th 2014, 11:39 PM

    Cooperate with what? Questions from grandstanding politicians who know very well that he’s legally constrained from answering them? As head of a Government Department his ultimate responsibility is to the Government, not the Oireachtas. It’s the Government – or, more specifically, Enda – who put him in this position, and it’s Enda who should be held to account by the Oireachtas.

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    May 29th 2014, 12:24 AM

    Yeah. Government shouldn’t be required to be accountable to the people. What do you think we’re running here, a democracy?

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    Mute Mike McAllen
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    May 29th 2014, 12:40 AM

    Of course the Government should be accountable to the people. My point is that the Government has told Purcell not to discuss this particular issue with the Committee, so it’s the Government you should be going after – and, of course, that’s who the Committee is really after. Purcell is just being used as a pawn in their game.

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    Mute gerbreen
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    May 28th 2014, 9:48 PM

    Does Finian know where his terrorist mates from Columbia are now? He jas as much credibility as Purcell.

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    Mute Sam Stears
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    May 29th 2014, 2:47 AM

    This guy Purcell seems to be a bit of a Humphrey out of the television ” Yes Minister”. He is arrogant in the extreme, he should be forced to answer fully for his actions, and stop with the bull shit.

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    Mute Patlyndo
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    May 29th 2014, 9:23 AM

    No Alan he is not being thrown to the Lions, they were well fed with Callinan, Shatter and the confidential recipient.

    He is the person who is the key to this whole sordid affair, he is in charge of the day running of the Department of Justice.

    He is the person who did not deal with the Whistleblowers allegations.

    He has apoligised for his departments failings – which was led by him.

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    Mute Patlyndo
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    May 29th 2014, 9:16 AM

    And the new Ministers is silent.

    If he does not go, then she will – this could be the final nail for this entire Government.

    2
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