Niall O’Connor
@nialljournal.bsky.social
News correspondent @thejournal.ie - long time hack, ex-garda (Irish cop) also ex pro-cycling PR. I cover mostly national security, defence and crime.
Garda stationed near Phoenix Park says Drew Harris was 'shielded from cost-of-living crisis' jrnl.ie/6892535
Garda stationed near Phoenix Park says Drew Harris was 'shielded from cost-of-living crisis'
Rent for Harris’s house in the Phoenix Park – which was paid by his employer – did not increase during his tenure in the Garda top job.
jrnl.ie
December 4, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Garda stationed near Phoenix Park says Drew Harris was 'shielded from cost-of-living crisis' jrnl.ie/6892535
EXCLUSIVE:
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin jrnl.ie/6893104
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin jrnl.ie/6893104
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
jrnl.ie
December 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
EXCLUSIVE:
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin jrnl.ie/6893104
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin jrnl.ie/6893104
Gardaí and national security officials refuse invite from Oireachtas to discuss national security jrnl.ie/6890962
Gardaí and national security officials refuse invite from Oireachtas to discuss national security
In November the Joint Committee on Defence and National Security invited gardaí and civil service national security officials but they refused to attend.
jrnl.ie
December 4, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Gardaí and national security officials refuse invite from Oireachtas to discuss national security jrnl.ie/6890962
Reposted by Niall O’Connor
Coming up after midnight @nialljournal.bsky.social reports on how members of an Oireachtas Committee for Defence and National Security has accused government of working deliberately to stop the group from having any real oversight of defence or security in the country.
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Coming up after midnight @nialljournal.bsky.social reports on how members of an Oireachtas Committee for Defence and National Security has accused government of working deliberately to stop the group from having any real oversight of defence or security in the country.
Every use of new tasers by gardaí will have to be reported to watchdog jrnl.ie/6892220
Every use of new tasers by gardaí will have to be reported to watchdog
Over 120 gardaí will be issued with the weapons, and checks have been put in place.
jrnl.ie
December 3, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Every use of new tasers by gardaí will have to be reported to watchdog jrnl.ie/6892220
French war ship FS Auvergne is in Cork Harbour. She’s a multi role FREMM Aquitaine class frigate.
As covered before there are some discussions in Irish defence circles about getting a similar vessel: jrnl.ie/6785975t
As covered before there are some discussions in Irish defence circles about getting a similar vessel: jrnl.ie/6785975t
December 2, 2025 at 7:10 PM
French war ship FS Auvergne is in Cork Harbour. She’s a multi role FREMM Aquitaine class frigate.
As covered before there are some discussions in Irish defence circles about getting a similar vessel: jrnl.ie/6785975t
As covered before there are some discussions in Irish defence circles about getting a similar vessel: jrnl.ie/6785975t
Reposted by Niall O’Connor
Gardaí have "Common Law powers” entitling them to use their own “discretion” when dealing with the public, a trial of four gardaí and a retired superintendent accused of unlawfully interfering in pending or potential road traffic offences, heard, Friday.
jrnl.ie/6888993
jrnl.ie/6888993
Text messages over speeding ticket given to Limerick hurler Pat Ryan shown in Garda trial
The five on trial are accused of “engaging in conduct tending and that intended to pervert the course of justice”.
jrnl.ie
November 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Gardaí have "Common Law powers” entitling them to use their own “discretion” when dealing with the public, a trial of four gardaí and a retired superintendent accused of unlawfully interfering in pending or potential road traffic offences, heard, Friday.
jrnl.ie/6888993
jrnl.ie/6888993
Air ambulance mission 'stood down' after Air Corps forced to ground its fleet of PC-12 aircraft jrnl.ie/6882021
Air ambulance mission 'stood down' after Air Corps forced to ground its fleet of PC-12 aircraft
Sources said that this was because there were not enough technicians available to maintain the small planes.
jrnl.ie
November 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Air ambulance mission 'stood down' after Air Corps forced to ground its fleet of PC-12 aircraft jrnl.ie/6882021
Kremlin spokesperson remarks about Ireland's neutrality are 'nonsense', says Taoiseach jrnl.ie/6881769
Kremlin spokesperson remarks about Ireland's neutrality are 'nonsense', says Taoiseach
Maria Zakharova, who speaks on Foreign Affairs matters for the Putin regime, rounded on Ireland about neutrality and militarism.
jrnl.ie
November 21, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Kremlin spokesperson remarks about Ireland's neutrality are 'nonsense', says Taoiseach jrnl.ie/6881769
Why are the British and others making threats about Russian ship the Yantar? jrnl.ie/6880571
Why are the British and others making threats about Russian ship the Yantar?
The ship, built for subsurface work, is suspected of involvement in espionage that could pose a risk to undersea cables.
jrnl.ie
November 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Why are the British and others making threats about Russian ship the Yantar? jrnl.ie/6880571
25-year-old man charged with murder of his mother and assault of his father in Cork jrnl.ie/6879275
25-year-old man charged with murder of his mother and assault of his father in Cork
The couple have been named locally as Stella and Brian Gallagher.
jrnl.ie
November 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
25-year-old man charged with murder of his mother and assault of his father in Cork jrnl.ie/6879275
Serving garda arrested as part of probe after large quantity of drugs goes missing from garda station jrnl.ie/6879492
Serving garda arrested as part of probe after large quantity of drugs goes missing from garda station
The suspect was arrested by members of the Anti-Corruption Unit, which is attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
jrnl.ie
November 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Serving garda arrested as part of probe after large quantity of drugs goes missing from garda station jrnl.ie/6879492
Russian spy ship, previously escorted out of Irish waters, warned by Britain after aircraft incident jrnl.ie/6879585
Russian spy ship, previously escorted out of Irish waters, warned by Britain after aircraft incident
The Journal has learned that Irish authorities were also warned that the suspicious ship may make its way into Irish controlled waters in recent weeks.
jrnl.ie
November 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Russian spy ship, previously escorted out of Irish waters, warned by Britain after aircraft incident jrnl.ie/6879585
Lublin line connects with Chelm in east Poland where train will then take you straight into Kyiv. I traveled the route on my last trip to Ukraine. Drone incident in Denmark also. EU meeting this week.
Donald Tusk says attack on rail line inside Poland had intended to strike a train jrnl.ie/6877102
Donald Tusk says attack on rail line inside Poland had intended to strike a train jrnl.ie/6877102
Donald Tusk says attack on rail line inside Poland had intended to strike a train
Donald Tusk visited the site of the explosion on the Warsaw to Lublin train line – a key route into Ukraine for aid.
jrnl.ie
November 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Lublin line connects with Chelm in east Poland where train will then take you straight into Kyiv. I traveled the route on my last trip to Ukraine. Drone incident in Denmark also. EU meeting this week.
Donald Tusk says attack on rail line inside Poland had intended to strike a train jrnl.ie/6877102
Donald Tusk says attack on rail line inside Poland had intended to strike a train jrnl.ie/6877102
Search for missing crew member from UK Naval support vessel continues off coast of Donegal jrnl.ie/6875736
Search for missing crew member from UK Naval support vessel continues off coast of Donegal
The missing crew member was last seen at 10:30pm last night.
jrnl.ie
November 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Search for missing crew member from UK Naval support vessel continues off coast of Donegal jrnl.ie/6875736
State alleges four serving gardaí and one retired senior officer 'terminated' road tickets jrnl.ie/6871047
State alleges four serving gardaí and one retired senior officer 'terminated' road tickets
The gardaí were all based in the mid-west, particularly in Limerick garda division.
jrnl.ie
November 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
State alleges four serving gardaí and one retired senior officer 'terminated' road tickets jrnl.ie/6871047
Trial to begin of four gardaí and retired superintendent for alleged perverting course of justice jrnl.ie/6870150
Trial to begin of four gardaí and retired superintendent for alleged perverting course of justice
The gardaí were all based in the mid-west, particularly in Limerick garda Division.
jrnl.ie
November 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Trial to begin of four gardaí and retired superintendent for alleged perverting course of justice jrnl.ie/6870150
Companies must begin to search for child sexual abuse imagery on work computers, expert says jrnl.ie/6867966
Companies must begin to search for child sexual abuse imagery on work computers, expert says
Mick Moran, CEO of Hotline.ie, spoke to The Journal at a major international cyber security event in Dublin.
jrnl.ie
November 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Companies must begin to search for child sexual abuse imagery on work computers, expert says jrnl.ie/6867966
Israeli drone strike destroys vehicle short distance from Irish soldiers on patrol in Lebanon jrnl.ie/6869005
Israeli drone strike destroys vehicle short distance from Irish soldiers on patrol in Lebanon
No injuries were reported for Irish peacekeepers in the incident.
jrnl.ie
November 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Israeli drone strike destroys vehicle short distance from Irish soldiers on patrol in Lebanon jrnl.ie/6869005
A few weeks of work gone into this. To say security sources are exasperated would be an understatement.
Concerns across Europe that Ireland's military shortfalls could put major summit at risk jrnl.ie/6865198
Concerns across Europe that Ireland's military shortfalls could put major summit at risk jrnl.ie/6865198
Concerns across Europe that Ireland's military shortfalls could put major summit at risk
Security concerns are being raised as Ireland prepares to take on the rotating presidency of the EU next summer.
jrnl.ie
November 7, 2025 at 8:46 AM
A few weeks of work gone into this. To say security sources are exasperated would be an understatement.
Concerns across Europe that Ireland's military shortfalls could put major summit at risk jrnl.ie/6865198
Concerns across Europe that Ireland's military shortfalls could put major summit at risk jrnl.ie/6865198
Two arrests in probe into alleged arson at Drogheda Ipas centre jrnl.ie/6866233
Two arrests in probe into alleged arson at Drogheda Ipas centre
The arrests were made this morning by investigators.
jrnl.ie
November 6, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Two arrests in probe into alleged arson at Drogheda Ipas centre jrnl.ie/6866233
Loud booms heard in Dublin this morning were a practice run for the presidential inauguration jrnl.ie/6864334
Loud booms heard in Dublin this morning were a practice run for the presidential inauguration
Shortly after 10.30am, a flurry of booms could be heard across Dublin’s northside from Dublin 5 to Dublin 15.
jrnl.ie
November 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Loud booms heard in Dublin this morning were a practice run for the presidential inauguration jrnl.ie/6864334
The Criminal Assets Bureau sold a record number of seized homes last year jrnl.ie/6864200
The Criminal Assets Bureau sold a record number of seized homes last year
CAB’s annual report was brought to Cabinet this morning and shows it sold 20 properties seized from criminals across the country and one in Lanzarote.
jrnl.ie
November 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The Criminal Assets Bureau sold a record number of seized homes last year jrnl.ie/6864200
Irish Special Forces receive international award honouring their work in €157m drug seizure jrnl.ie/6863779
Irish Special Forces receive international award honouring their work in €157m drug seizure
The capture off the Waterford coast of the MV Matthew by the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) saw €157m worth of cocaine seized in a daring raid in September 2023.
jrnl.ie
November 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Irish Special Forces receive international award honouring their work in €157m drug seizure jrnl.ie/6863779
UN peacekeeping troops shoot down 'aggressive' Israeli unmanned drone in south Lebanon jrnl.ie/6857590
UN peacekeeping troops shoot down 'aggressive' Israeli unmanned drone in south Lebanon
The Irish Defence Forces confirmed in a statement that there were no Irish troops involved in the incident.
jrnl.ie
October 27, 2025 at 10:41 PM
UN peacekeeping troops shoot down 'aggressive' Israeli unmanned drone in south Lebanon jrnl.ie/6857590