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.
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
A man has been arrested after he barricaded himself inside an empty creche in County Meath jrnl.ie/6857745
A man has been arrested after he barricaded himself inside an empty creche in County Meath
The man was arrested after the standoff in the Flowerhill area of Navan earlier today.
jrnl.ie
October 27, 2025 at 10:40 PM
A man has been arrested after he barricaded himself inside an empty creche in County Meath jrnl.ie/6857745
Reposted by Niall O’Connor
During our investigation #RussianSecrets we heard something interesting: There is intelligence within #NATO indicating suspicious Russian subsea activities around the wreck of the „Estonia“ cruiseferry which sank in the Baltic Sea in 1994. www.tagesschau.de/investigativ... #Russia #GUGI
Unterwasser-Sensorik - Das Spionage-Geheimnis der "Estonia"
Rund um das Wrack der Ostsee-Fähre "Estonia" gilt ein Tauchverbot. Nach Recherchen von WDR, NDR und SZ besteht jedoch der Verdacht, dass Russland den Ort für Unterwasserspionage gegen die NATO nutzt.
www.tagesschau.de
October 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
During our investigation #RussianSecrets we heard something interesting: There is intelligence within #NATO indicating suspicious Russian subsea activities around the wreck of the „Estonia“ cruiseferry which sank in the Baltic Sea in 1994. www.tagesschau.de/investigativ... #Russia #GUGI
I’m not sure people are grasping the significance of this for not just global peacekeeping but for Irish foreign policy and future peacekeeping missions.
Ireland may be forced to cut up to 40 troops from Lebanon jrnl.ie/6851606
Ireland may be forced to cut up to 40 troops from Lebanon jrnl.ie/6851606
Ireland may be forced to cut up to 40 troops from Lebanon
We visited the 127 Infantry Battalion today who are preparing to deploy to Lebanon in November. They are putting their final training touches in the Glen of Imaal.
jrnl.ie
October 22, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I’m not sure people are grasping the significance of this for not just global peacekeeping but for Irish foreign policy and future peacekeeping missions.
Ireland may be forced to cut up to 40 troops from Lebanon jrnl.ie/6851606
Ireland may be forced to cut up to 40 troops from Lebanon jrnl.ie/6851606
Over 20 arrests made after two gardaí injured during second night of riots at Citywest Ipas centre jrnl.ie/6852015
Over 20 arrests made after two gardaí injured during second night of riots at Citywest Ipas centre
Tonight’s confrontation follows a much larger riot at the same site last night.
jrnl.ie
October 22, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Over 20 arrests made after two gardaí injured during second night of riots at Citywest Ipas centre jrnl.ie/6852015
Town missing unit of gardaí after four members injured in two serious assault incidents jrnl.ie/6849526
Town missing unit of gardaí after four members injured in two serious assault incidents
The gardaí are based in Dungarvan and were attacked over two nights last week, causing them to have to take sick leave to treat their wounds.
jrnl.ie
October 21, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Town missing unit of gardaí after four members injured in two serious assault incidents jrnl.ie/6849526
One of the most striking moments last week in Lebanon was how highly respected Irish troops were by the people of Kounin.
In a traditional gesture they held a dinner for them with senior community leaders.
jrnl.ie/6846676t
jrnl.ie/6845250t
jrnl.ie/6846276t
In a traditional gesture they held a dinner for them with senior community leaders.
jrnl.ie/6846676t
jrnl.ie/6845250t
jrnl.ie/6846276t
October 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
One of the most striking moments last week in Lebanon was how highly respected Irish troops were by the people of Kounin.
In a traditional gesture they held a dinner for them with senior community leaders.
jrnl.ie/6846676t
jrnl.ie/6845250t
jrnl.ie/6846276t
In a traditional gesture they held a dinner for them with senior community leaders.
jrnl.ie/6846676t
jrnl.ie/6845250t
jrnl.ie/6846276t
How Fr Paul Murphy helps Irish peacekeepers prepare for danger jrnl.ie/6846276
How Fr Paul Murphy helps Irish peacekeepers prepare for danger
Niall O’Connor is reporting this week from South Lebanon where he met Fr Paul Murphy who cares for the Irish soldiers.
jrnl.ie
October 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
How Fr Paul Murphy helps Irish peacekeepers prepare for danger jrnl.ie/6846276
My first piece from Lebanon - I spoke to the local community about their thoughts regarding the end of UNIFIL.
For the mayor of the South Lebanese hillside village of Kounine the withdrawal of Irish troops will mean "the beginning of another war" with Israel.
jrnl.ie/6845250t
For the mayor of the South Lebanese hillside village of Kounine the withdrawal of Irish troops will mean "the beginning of another war" with Israel.
jrnl.ie/6845250t
Fears in south Lebanon that the Irish leaving will be 'the beginning of another war'
This week Niall O’Connor reports from South Lebanon about what is next for the troubled region as UNIFIL prepares to exit.
jrnl.ie
October 15, 2025 at 6:28 PM
My first piece from Lebanon - I spoke to the local community about their thoughts regarding the end of UNIFIL.
For the mayor of the South Lebanese hillside village of Kounine the withdrawal of Irish troops will mean "the beginning of another war" with Israel.
jrnl.ie/6845250t
For the mayor of the South Lebanese hillside village of Kounine the withdrawal of Irish troops will mean "the beginning of another war" with Israel.
jrnl.ie/6845250t
Trainee officers still being paid far less than troops they lead, military group warns jrnl.ie/6842763
Trainee officers still being paid far less than troops they lead, military group warns
Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, General Secretary of RACO, made the comments ahead of the conference which begins this morning in Trim, Co Meath.
jrnl.ie
October 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Trainee officers still being paid far less than troops they lead, military group warns jrnl.ie/6842763
UN peacekeeping force faces budget cuts and staff lay-offs as states fail to pay contributions jrnl.ie/6843035
UN peacekeeping force faces budget cuts and staff lay-offs as states fail to pay contributions
António Guterres issued the warning in a letter to UN workers on Friday.
jrnl.ie
October 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
UN peacekeeping force faces budget cuts and staff lay-offs as states fail to pay contributions jrnl.ie/6843035
Reposted by Niall O’Connor
It appears MV Gary Chouest hovered for a while outside of the Irish EEZ before the visit to Cork.
It was not the only interesting US visitor to these parts in recent weeks.
It was not the only interesting US visitor to these parts in recent weeks.
October 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
It appears MV Gary Chouest hovered for a while outside of the Irish EEZ before the visit to Cork.
It was not the only interesting US visitor to these parts in recent weeks.
It was not the only interesting US visitor to these parts in recent weeks.
US ship, believed to be involved in secret subsea military work, returns to sea after Cork visit jrnl.ie/6840748
US ship, believed to be involved in secret subsea military work, returns to sea after Cork visit
The MV Gary Chouest spent last week in Cork Harbour and at a quayside in the town of Cobh.
jrnl.ie
October 11, 2025 at 11:12 AM
US ship, believed to be involved in secret subsea military work, returns to sea after Cork visit jrnl.ie/6840748
Jim Gavin has repaid his former tenant the €3,300 that ended his presidential campaign jrnl.ie/6841325
Jim Gavin has repaid his former tenant the €3,300 that ended his presidential campaign
The money was received this afternoon, The Journal has confirmed.
jrnl.ie
October 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Jim Gavin has repaid his former tenant the €3,300 that ended his presidential campaign jrnl.ie/6841325
Justice Minister says Connolly broke rules by signing Ní Shionnáin in daily at Leinster House jrnl.ie/6838830
Justice Minister says Connolly broke rules by signing Ní Shionnáin in daily at Leinster House
Jim O’Callaghan was speaking at a press conference today in which he criticised Connolly for, what he said, was a failure to follow Oireachtas rules.
jrnl.ie
October 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Justice Minister says Connolly broke rules by signing Ní Shionnáin in daily at Leinster House jrnl.ie/6838830
Disappointing and underwhelming - The verdict of defence and garda groups on today's budget jrnl.ie/6837539
Disappointing and underwhelming - The verdict of defence and garda groups on today's budget
Extra gardaí, military personnel and projects announced in Budget for national security agencies.
jrnl.ie
October 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Disappointing and underwhelming - The verdict of defence and garda groups on today's budget jrnl.ie/6837539