Philip O'Connor
@philipoconnor.bsky.social
"Love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night."
Irish journalist based in Stockholm, covering the world.
Irish journalist based in Stockholm, covering the world.
They might drop him off at Shannon on their way to Cairo.
February 12, 2026 at 7:54 AM
They might drop him off at Shannon on their way to Cairo.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Growing up in NI during the Troubles involved turning on the news most days with trepidation but i especially remember how the murders of ‘troublesome’ nationalist HR lawyers - inc also Rosemary Nelson - made us feel particularly vulnerable and not only unprotected but targeted by the state.
Leading Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane was shot 14 times and killed by loyalist paramilitaries (UFF/UDA) on this day in 1989, in front of his wife and children. A high-profile human rights lawyer, his murder highlighted collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and British security forces.
February 12, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Growing up in NI during the Troubles involved turning on the news most days with trepidation but i especially remember how the murders of ‘troublesome’ nationalist HR lawyers - inc also Rosemary Nelson - made us feel particularly vulnerable and not only unprotected but targeted by the state.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
From Belfast to Dublin, religious ethos still shapes classrooms — but models across Europe show a secular, all-island system for Ireland is within reach, writes Emma DeSouza.
jrnl.ie/6953550
jrnl.ie/6953550
Breaking the grip: Can we rethink education in Ireland, north and south?
From Belfast to Dublin, religious ethos still shapes classrooms — but models across Europe show a secular, all-island system is within reach, writes Emma DeSouza.
jrnl.ie
February 12, 2026 at 7:45 AM
From Belfast to Dublin, religious ethos still shapes classrooms — but models across Europe show a secular, all-island system for Ireland is within reach, writes Emma DeSouza.
jrnl.ie/6953550
jrnl.ie/6953550
Why is the Irish government allowing an organisation effectively holding at least one Irish citizen hostage to use Shannon Airport?
UPDATE: This plane landed in Cairo and is now headed back to Shannon.
Previous ICE flights to Cairo delivered Russian dissidents and asylum-seekers to Egyptian authorities, who forced them onto planes to Moscow. At least one is now missing.
#speirghorm
gillianbrockell.ghost.io/ice-flight-r...
Previous ICE flights to Cairo delivered Russian dissidents and asylum-seekers to Egyptian authorities, who forced them onto planes to Moscow. At least one is now missing.
#speirghorm
gillianbrockell.ghost.io/ice-flight-r...
February 12, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Why is the Irish government allowing an organisation effectively holding at least one Irish citizen hostage to use Shannon Airport?
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
I interviewed a retired prison officer last year who told me of one prisoner’s mother showing up on the day of his committal with his teddy; he couldn’t sleep without it. Mick has been covering this for a long time
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Ireland’s prison system under fire over treatment of inmates with mental illness
RTÉ documentary lays bare how prisoners with severe mental illness are failed by the State, with devastating consequences for families
www.irishexaminer.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:07 AM
I interviewed a retired prison officer last year who told me of one prisoner’s mother showing up on the day of his committal with his teddy; he couldn’t sleep without it. Mick has been covering this for a long time
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Not many athletes at the Winter Olympics in Italy think Sturla Holm Laegreid's confession to cheating on his girlfriend was a good idea — but it was the talk of the town in both Milan and the mountains.
February 12, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Not many athletes at the Winter Olympics in Italy think Sturla Holm Laegreid's confession to cheating on his girlfriend was a good idea — but it was the talk of the town in both Milan and the mountains.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Lowry lackeys just voted through the Rent Hikes Bill. The average tenant will see a €3,000 a year rent increase as a result.
It's shameful that landlord TDs who will personally benefit cast the deciding vote.
It's a landlords' government!
It's shameful that landlord TDs who will personally benefit cast the deciding vote.
It's a landlords' government!
February 11, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Lowry lackeys just voted through the Rent Hikes Bill. The average tenant will see a €3,000 a year rent increase as a result.
It's shameful that landlord TDs who will personally benefit cast the deciding vote.
It's a landlords' government!
It's shameful that landlord TDs who will personally benefit cast the deciding vote.
It's a landlords' government!
Football clubs are among the biggest businesses in sport, and a staggering number of the owners have no idea what they are doing.
Forest sack manager Dyche after four months in charge reut.rs/3Mkz7rU
Forest sack manager Dyche after four months in charge
Nottingham Forest have sacked Sean Dyche after only 114 days in charge, with a goalless Premier League draw against bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday proving to be his final match as head coach.
reut.rs
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Football clubs are among the biggest businesses in sport, and a staggering number of the owners have no idea what they are doing.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Pam Bondi was Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019 and refused to bring charges against Jeffrey Epstein. He was charged with sex trafficking in Florida and New York six months after she left office.
February 11, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Pam Bondi was Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019 and refused to bring charges against Jeffrey Epstein. He was charged with sex trafficking in Florida and New York six months after she left office.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Sir Jim Ratcliffe lives, for tax reasons, in Monaco. He also owns an estate on Lake Geneva.
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Sir Jim Ratcliffe lives, for tax reasons, in Monaco. He also owns an estate on Lake Geneva.
Who do media outlets report this gowl's every utterance like they were the Ten Commandments handed down by God, rather than the ramblings of a ket head fast running out of rubes to borrow off?
Elon Musk told employees at xAI, his artificial intelligence company, on Tuesday that the company needed a factory on the moon to build A.I. satellites and a massive catapult to launch them into space.
Elon Musk Wants to Build an A.I. Satellite Factory on the Moon
In a meeting with employees at his company xAI, Mr. Musk revealed a vision for a facility that includes a giant catapult to launch his satellites into space.
nyti.ms
February 11, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Who do media outlets report this gowl's every utterance like they were the Ten Commandments handed down by God, rather than the ramblings of a ket head fast running out of rubes to borrow off?
OK this fella now needs to shut the f**k up
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
Biathlon-Norway's Laegreid apologises again as he seeks to move on from love-cheat revelation
ANTERSELVA, Italy, Feb 11 - Norway biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid has apologised to his teammates and his ex-girlfriend following his sensational interview after his bronze medal-winning efforts in Tu...
www.straitstimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:44 PM
OK this fella now needs to shut the f**k up
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Between the ski jumpers allegedly injecting their manhoods and the Norwegian cheating on his girlfriend, I am hereby renaming these the Milano Corpenis Olympics.
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
Norway's Laegreid lashed for love-cheat admission, apologises to team-mate
Biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid apologised to his gold medal-winning teammate Johan-Olav Botn after stealing the spotlight in a stunning post-race interview in which he admitted cheating on his girlfri...
www.reuters.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Between the ski jumpers allegedly injecting their manhoods and the Norwegian cheating on his girlfriend, I am hereby renaming these the Milano Corpenis Olympics.
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
Not sure biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid had any idea what was going to happen when he admitted to NRK that he had cheated on his girlfriend, but there's no putting that particularly unfaithful genie back in the bottle ...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUnee1...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUnee1...
Reuters on Instagram: "There’s a cheating scandal at the Olympics — but it’s not related to a sport. Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid apologized to his gold medal-winning teammate Johan-Olav B...
96 likes, 13 comments - reuters on February 11, 2026: "There’s a cheating scandal at the Olympics — but it’s not related to a sport. Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid apologized to his gold med...
www.instagram.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Not sure biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid had any idea what was going to happen when he admitted to NRK that he had cheated on his girlfriend, but there's no putting that particularly unfaithful genie back in the bottle ...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUnee1...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUnee1...
Lol
Former ambassador Dan Mulhall said it was surprising that an Irish citizen would be held in detention for so long. www.rte.ie/news/world/2...
Taoiseach should raise Culleton case with Trump - Mulhall
Former Irish ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall said the Taoiseach should raise Seamus Culleton's case with Donald Trump when they meet on St Patrick's Day, if Mr Culleton has not been released by then.
www.rte.ie
February 11, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Lol
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Between the ski jumpers allegedly injecting their manhoods and the Norwegian cheating on his girlfriend, I am hereby renaming these the Milano Corpenis Olympics.
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
Norway's Laegreid lashed for love-cheat admission, apologises to team-mate
Biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid apologised to his gold medal-winning teammate Johan-Olav Botn after stealing the spotlight in a stunning post-race interview in which he admitted cheating on his girlfri...
www.reuters.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Between the ski jumpers allegedly injecting their manhoods and the Norwegian cheating on his girlfriend, I am hereby renaming these the Milano Corpenis Olympics.
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
www.reuters.com/sports/biath...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Just in the past few months in Minnesota, there have been as many ICE employees arrested for sex trafficking as there's been people executed by ICE agents
Bloomington police announce arrests in sex trafficking bust: "Rashad Johnson out of Maple Grove. This is the most disturbing arrest that we've had here. He is a backgrounder for ICE, Homeland Security, and federal agencies."
February 10, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Just in the past few months in Minnesota, there have been as many ICE employees arrested for sex trafficking as there's been people executed by ICE agents
You'll never fucking guess who voted for it ...
Irish MEPs were divided as the European Parliament voted to streamline moving asylum seekers to 'third countries' that they deem safe
www.thejournal.ie/eu-migration...
www.thejournal.ie/eu-migration...
Irish MEPs divided as parliament votes to streamline moving asylum seekers to 'third countries'
Most Irish MEPs either voted against or abstained on the proposals.
www.thejournal.ie
February 10, 2026 at 6:11 PM
You'll never fucking guess who voted for it ...
Come for the sport, stay for the bed-hopping Norwegian biathlete going on live TV and begging forgiveness ...
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
Biathlon-Tearful Norwegian confesses to cheating on girlfriend, begs forgiveness after bronze medal win
ANTERSELVA, Italy, Feb 10 - Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid followed up his bronze medal in the biathlon at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday with a stunning confession that he had cheated on his girlfrien...
www.straitstimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Come for the sport, stay for the bed-hopping Norwegian biathlete going on live TV and begging forgiveness ...
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
www.straitstimes.com/sport/biathl...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Within a two-year period, HSE staff recorded almost 450 suspected suicides of patients who had recent contact with healthcare services, an investigation by @trishdevlin.bsky.social has found.
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
Hundreds of people died by suspected suicide after recent contact with HSE services
Almost 450 suicides were reported to the HSE between 2022 and 2024 by healthcare staff across a range of patient services, including Emergency Departments.
www.thejournal.ie
February 10, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Within a two-year period, HSE staff recorded almost 450 suspected suicides of patients who had recent contact with healthcare services, an investigation by @trishdevlin.bsky.social has found.
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
2/ Here's @atrupar.com's clip of that important moment in today's hearing: Once again, videos show Americans the truth about what ICE is doing. Camera's up & document, document, document.
bsky.app/profile/atru...
bsky.app/profile/atru...
MAGAZINER: Is it proper procedure to aim pepper spray into the window of a moving vehicle?
SCOTT: We try to avoid that
MAGAZINER: You try to avoid it
SCOTT: We try to avoid that
MAGAZINER: You try to avoid it
February 10, 2026 at 5:09 PM
2/ Here's @atrupar.com's clip of that important moment in today's hearing: Once again, videos show Americans the truth about what ICE is doing. Camera's up & document, document, document.
bsky.app/profile/atru...
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek will be able to make her Olympic debut with pairs partner Maxime Deschamps. The 42-year-old, who made a remarkable comeback after a 16-YEAR absence, had hit her head in training on Jan. 30, casting her Games in doubt.
February 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek will be able to make her Olympic debut with pairs partner Maxime Deschamps. The 42-year-old, who made a remarkable comeback after a 16-YEAR absence, had hit her head in training on Jan. 30, casting her Games in doubt.
Sweden 1, 2, 3 in the women's cross-country sprint. Norway may invade.
#WinterOlympics
#WinterOlympics
February 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Sweden 1, 2, 3 in the women's cross-country sprint. Norway may invade.
#WinterOlympics
#WinterOlympics
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
My daily plug for my prints. Every print is under £30 and I’d just like to point out that I too have never been close with Peter Mandleson. marswasrubbish.etsy.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:03 AM
My daily plug for my prints. Every print is under £30 and I’d just like to point out that I too have never been close with Peter Mandleson. marswasrubbish.etsy.com