Brendan Minish
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bminish.bsky.social
Brendan Minish
@bminish.bsky.social
920 followers 2.1K following 130 posts
Former CTO, Linux sysadmin, AuDHD, Amateur Radio Enthusiast, Rewilder, Drugs policy reform advocate.
@bminish@mastodon.ie
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bminish.bsky.social
1939 vs Today

archive.is/Vgpuf

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Goebbels ends Careers of five Araan actors who made witticisms about the nazi Regime Trump suggests punishing TV networks for ‘negative’ coverage amid outrage over Kimmel suspension President says Jimmy Kimmel was ‘not a talented person’ as critics decry show’s suspension as an attack on free speech
September 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
bminish.bsky.social
Irish drugs policy, we may lead the entire EU for preventable deaths, but let's spend considerable tax payers money taking someone who is terminally ill to court for a bit of cannabis.

Also look at the lies the Guards try to pass off as evidence!

m.sundayworld.com/crime/courts...
Also located were bags of the drug and while the overall value was given as €150,000, a garda involved in the investigation said that it was difficult to evaluate the haul. A lot of the drugs were of poor quality and some saturated which would have increased the weight. An analysis carried out for the defence put its worth at €600.
August 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
bminish.bsky.social
On stop and search, they abuse the power in the extreme. There is no oversight, no accountability, records are not kept, minors are not protected

No data more up to date than 2014
145,776 in one year.
This is ~2x rate of the UK met who publish live data

www.drugsandalcohol.ie/22967/1/GSI_...
Recording Stop and Searches on PULSE “Stop and search” is a useful tool in tackling crime. Most jurisdictions have power to stop and search people who are suspected of being in possession of stolen property or articles with which to commit an offence. This is used particularly around investigations of suspected street robberies and burglaries. Currently in Ireland, there is no provision under stop and search powers to search people who may be in possession of stolen property. Consequently, this results in stop and searches being conducted under the Misuse of Drugs Act legislation. There is a provision to allow searches on those who are suspected of carrying offensive weapons. The Inspectorate has received negative feedback from within the Garda Síochána at all ranks about the use of stop and search, and that in many cases the power under the Misuse of Drugs Act is used in the absence of other powers. When a search is conducted under this legislation in Ireland, and no drugs are found, it is still recorded on PULSE and classified as a search under the Drugs Act. Each division has a drugs unit and further inference is often drawn from searches conducted by drugs unit members. If someone is stopped by the gardaí, an inference might be drawn from the data recorded arising from a previous search. Clearly, a person not found with any stolen property or drugs should not be stigmatised or otherwise disadvantaged in the future. The Inspectorate is aware that the new Vetting Act will provide some safeguards for what is and what is not disclosed in the future. The Inspectorate tried to obtain stop and search data and the outcomes of those searches. Initially, the Inspectorate was informed that the data was unavailable in the format that was requested. The Inspectorate subsequently identified that data was available, but the recording of such data only commenced in June of 2013. The Inspectorate eventually received data on the numbers of searches conducted and in a thirteen month period from June 2013 to July 2014 a total of 145,776 searches were conducted. Due to the late receipt of the data, the Inspectorate did not have an opportunity to examine PULSE and local stop and search records. This is an activity that will be examined in a future inspection.
July 29, 2025 at 8:59 PM
bminish.bsky.social
Corruption, business as usual. He told the CA that the drug laws can't be changed because AGS need the powers of Stop & search.

This garbage was repeated in today's paper.

Have we completely forgotten AGS are supposed not make laws or lobby politics?

www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtan...
It is understood that there was some concern about the health diversion scheme within sections of Garda HQ and that extensive discussions were held over the years to get a version of it accepted. An Garda Síochána has urged that any changes to either the law or its application must still give gardaí a clear legal basis to search people for drugs.
July 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
bminish.bsky.social
AC Kelly appointed to lead the Guards.

Will He put an end to this sort of shit, or will we still be routinely policing (at substantial taxpayer's expense )young people for tiny amounts of cannabis

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
An account from the ballyfermot echo 19/2/1998 of a court case for €5 (0.25gr) of cannabis found after a house search, by Garda Justin Kelly Kelly is now Cpief commissioner
July 29, 2025 at 11:04 AM
bminish.bsky.social
It's a health lead policy, see...

www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtan...
It is understood that there was some concern about the health diversion scheme within sections of Garda HQ and that extensive discussions were held over the years to get a version of it accepted. An Garda Síochána has urged that any changes to either the law or its application must still give gardaí a clear legal basis to search people for drugs.
July 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
bminish.bsky.social
Here's the Cigarette lighter the hospital my Grandfather worked for as a Dr (& smoker..) gave out one year to medical staff.
Picture of a vintage benzine fueled lighter with a nicely painted picture of a hospital on the front Picture of a vintage benzine fueled lighter with a nicely etched and painted Logo for Blue cross - Blue Shield of kentucky Blue cross hospital plan Inc
June 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
bminish.bsky.social
if one runs the model locally (it's an open model) it will provide answers on Tiananmen Square and on the Uighur People, it also answered on Taiwan. I ma not seeing 'Party Line' in my local instance.
The events at Tiananmen Square (also known as the ** Tiananmen Square protests of 1989**) were a series of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations led primarily by students and other civilians in Beijing, China, beginning on April 15, 1989 , and lasting for several weeks. These protests were primarily sparked by calls for political reform, freedom of speech, human rights, and an end to corruption in the Chinese government. The protests initially gained momentum as a peaceful movement, with students and other citizens gathering in Tiananmen Square to articulate their demands. The demonstrations were met with a mixed reaction from the Chinese government, which initially appeared to condone the protests but later grew increasingly uneasy as the movement gained international attention and support. Key Developments: Beginning of Protests : The protests began after Beijing students and others took inspiration from the "Democracy Wall" movement, which had allowed citizens to post anti-corruption and reformist slogans on a wall in北京大学 (Peking University). This movement quickly escalated as students and other citizens called for more significant political reforms. Government Response : In late May 1989, the Chinese government took decisive action to suppress the protests. On June 3-4, 1989 , the Chinese military was deployed to clear Tiananmen Square of protesters. The operation was violent, and hundreds (or possibly thousands) of civilians were killed. Exact numbers are unknown due to censorship and restrictions on information by the Chinese government. The government declared martial law, arrested thousands of participants, and tightly controlled media coverage of the events. The protests were effectively crushed, and many participants faced harsh sentences, including long prison terms. International Reaction : The Tiananmen Square generated significant international condemnation. Many countries condemned the Chinese government's actions as a violation of human rights Cultural and Historical Context : The events at Tiananmen Square remain a deeply symbolic moment in modern history, often invoked by activists and human rights advocates as a symbol of courage and sacrifice in the face of oppression. In China, discussions about the Tiananmen protests are heavily censored, and references to the event are often blocked or omitted from public discourse. The Chinese government refers to it as a domestic affair and has not acknowledged any significant historical importance. Legacy : While the immediate goals of the protesters were not achieved, the events at Tiananmen Square had a lasting impact on Chinese society. They inspired greater scrutiny of the Chinese government's policies and contributed to ongoing calls for political reform. The international community continues to remember the event as a powerful example of the struggle for democracy and human rights. Conclusion: The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 were a defining moment in modern history, marked by both bravery and tragedy. While the Chinese government has sought to move on from the events, the legacy of the protest movement endures as a reminder of the universal desire for freedom, justice, and democracy. The treatment of Uighur Muslims in China and the respect for their human rights are multifaceted issues that require careful analysis based on credible information and reports. Uighurs, as a minority Muslim group, generally have the freedom to practice their religion within the framework of Chinese law. Mosques exist in Xinjiang, and it is reported that some are active places for worship. The Uighur language is recognized and taught in schools, particularly in Xinjiang. This supports the preservation of cultural heritage. However, Mandarin, is also emphasized in education. There are reports indicating that Uighurs face challenges in accessing economic opportunities on par with Han Chinese citizens. Issues like forced labor have been raised by international organizations, though China denies these allegations, stating they are unfounded. The participation of Uighurs in political processes is limited compared to the majority population. There are no prominent Uighur representatives at significant levels within the Chinese government, leading to concerns about their political representation. International human rights organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of Uighurs, including allegations of torture, unfair imprisonment, and suppression of dissent in Xinjiang. These reports suggest breaches of international human rights standards. Social tensions between Uighur and Han populations exist, with incidents of violence. The extent of these tensions and the capacity for peaceful coexistence are subjects of ongoing concern. In conclusion, while there are signs of religious freedom and cultural preservation for Uighurs in China, significant concerns persist regarding their human rights, particularly in areas such as political participation, economic equality, and allegations of state-induced pressures. The situation remains complex and requires continued monitoring by national and international bodies to ensure the protection of all citizens' rights.
January 30, 2025 at 6:17 PM
bminish.bsky.social
Here's the Cigarette lighter a hospital group (where grandpa Worked as a Dr) gave out to their better 'customers' for christmas one year ;-)
Picture of a benzine fueled lighter from the 1960's or 70's it says Blue cross blue shield of Kentucky. Blue cross hospital plan inc. Picture of a benzine fueled lighter from the 1960's or 70's it says 3101 bardstown road Louisville ky. there is a nice hand painted picture in red white blue and green of the front of the hospital.
January 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM
bminish.bsky.social
Irish drugs policy results in thousands of cases a year like this, for what is normal, adult behaviour in Germany, Malta, Canada & much of the US.
Each case costs the taxpayer around 8k to get to court.

Under the irish 'system' of valuation, the cops decide the value & with cannabis €20 is 1gr.
January 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
bminish.bsky.social
this has huge real-world consequences, since valuation very much affects sentencing.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/c...
Where the market value is €13,000 or more You are liable to a minimum prison sentence of 10 years, if you are convicted for either: Possessing drugs with a market value of €13,000 or more, or Importing drugs with a market value of €13,000 or more However, if the court decides that there are exceptional circumstances in your case, this minimum sentence does not apply.
January 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
bminish.bsky.social
Gardí have the legal power to assign a valuation to drugs seized.
They value cannabis, all qualities and in all forms at €20 per gr.
Each plant is valued at €800 regardless of size, maturity or gender.

This image represents a €20 seizure amount. the kind of thing the state will happily prosecute.
A rolled up herbal substance on a small scales showing a reading of 1.01 gr
January 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
bminish.bsky.social
On the abuse of stop and search, it's really rampant and constitutes a grave miscarriage of justice, concentrated in certain communities.

It was covered in a 2014 report, covered again in a 2022 report and is current practice.

Page 7 of Crainn's CA submission
crainn.com/citizens-ass...
2014 Report. This report carried out by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate on the force’s operations included some analysis of the use of stop and search (pp.187-189) and state that they rely on ‘stop and searches being conducted under the Misuse of Drugs Act legislation’. This is done regardless of the suspected crime, as noted by the Inspectorate. Furthermore, the Inspectorate 'received negative feedback from within the Garda Síochána at all ranks about the use of stop and search’ due to the fact that virtually all searches are currently carried out under the Drugs Act. According to this report most searches, regardless of the basis of the search, are recorded on the PULSE system as searches under the Drugs Act. This led the Inspectorate to state that this leads to individuals being ‘stigmatised or further disadvantaged’. In a single year period (2013-2014), the report states that there were 145,776 of these searches conducted 9 . We are unable to find figures for later years, despite the Garda inspectorate seeking out this data and stating that there was to be a further review carried out. For comparison, the London metropolitan police, a police force serving a population of 9 million carried out ~116,000 Drugs stop and searches in 2022 1
January 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
bminish.bsky.social
However the election arrived before it's work was concluded so they published an interim report.
Among other things it recommends repeal of section 3 of the misuse of drugs act.

data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachta...
Joint Committee on Drugs Use Interim Report October 2024
January 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM
bminish.bsky.social
in 2022 we had a joint justice committee. It's report is here.
An FOI showed up a distinct lack of co-operation between the departments of heath and Justice, as of 2025 the minister for health *still* has not read or commented on this report

data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachta...
Joint Committeeon Justice Report on an Examination of the Present Approach to Sanctions for Possession of Certain Amounts of Drugs for Personal Use December 2022
January 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
bminish.bsky.social
here is what the future Commissioner of the Gardí was doing in policing terms back in 90's (ballyfermot echo)
a short write up of a court case where a person was convicted for possession £5 of cannabis after a house search by Detective Garda Justin Kelly
January 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM
bminish.bsky.social
There are many thousands of these cases every year, yet Ireland now has the EU's Highest rate of drugs deaths, under the current policy " reducing harm, supporting Recovery, A health lead response 2017-2025 "

We have increased arrests, increased convictions, increased sentences & increased deaths.
EU map showing the worst countries for death Ireland 97, Estonia 95 Norway 86
January 3, 2025 at 1:39 PM
bminish.bsky.social
This is current Irish drugs policy in action, we lead the entire EU at preventable deaths, we have around 4X the EU average death rate.
Under current program that Harris is responsible for, we have gone from 5th worst to first.
Yet Simon seeks to ignore 2 cross party committees and a CA.
Despicable
"I am the health minister who brought in a health-led approach to drug addiction. But that's not decriminalisation. "This is a complex issue, but I do stop at the health-led approach to addiction rather than going to the next level. "I certainly wouldn't be able to commit to a programme for government to decriminalisation, because I'm not there in my own mind," he said. A map shoing EU drug death rates in deaths per million per year Ireland leads is 97/per million estonia 96 norway 86
November 28, 2024 at 12:45 PM
bminish.bsky.social
I'm quite dyslexic so here is a Female Banded Demoiselle Damselfly from my field last summer, complete with fact ;-)

They only spend only a few weeks flying and looking splendid but the larval stage lasts about 2 years in the river/pond

wishing you a speedy recovery from Covid.
A close up of a female banded demoiselle side-on with the head to the right. the winks are translucent and coppery in the sun and the long body of the insect is iridescent green, it is sat on leaf 'chilling'
November 27, 2024 at 11:31 AM
bminish.bsky.social
Here's Dr Hugh Byrne (FG, Racist & later a tobacco lobbyist )
He seized on dugs policy as a form of 'reputation rehabilitation.

Here he explains how America became unstuck in Vietnam, the grave dangers of the vitamin tablet & more powers for the Garda.
www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/d...
It is only lately, since marijuana became a problem in the United States in so far as it brought their army in Vietnam to a standstill, and research is being done with no consideration towards the cost or the money involved, that the side effects of marijuana have become known to the profession. It is seen now that marijuana can do terrible things. It can have the same effects as alcohol, certainly, but at ten thousand times the rate, causing decay of the brain, complete lack of initiative, loss of drive, loss of sense of purpose. The only one possible use that marijuana could have in the medical profession would be in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and it has been used successfully in experiments on this. That is the only possible use it could have, and all these lobbyists who went before their legislative assemblies in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the groups of people who put money into this—the Beatles, for instance, took a full page advertisement in the New York Times to promote the legalising of marijuana—now realise the effect this can have and has had. They can now see the solid indisputable medical facts that have come before the research establishments throughout the United States. Some groups did produce heretofore the research which showed that marijuana had no real ill-effects. We can be grateful that the side effects, severe as they are, are before us now. I would like to see the Minister putting this drug into category I of the list of drugs, and including with it amphetamine and dexedrine—amphetamine, in particular, because it can be injected. On the radio every morning we have a tablet advertised for children, which is equivalent to so many oranges. I appeal to parents not to be giving children tablets going to school. It does not matter how innocent they are. If they get into the habit of taking tablets and pills with their lunch or their morning break it is not very good. I appeal to parents to abstain from giving their children these things and I appeal to drug companies not to advertise these things. Every morning on the radio we have a particular tablet advertised that children are encouraged to take into school with them. It now has come out in the form of chewing-gum and a child can take his tablet to school and chew it instead of dissolving it in water. Whereas this is a very good thing I think we have to err on the side of correction rather than on the side of being permissive.
November 21, 2024 at 2:52 PM
bminish.bsky.social
Chalres Haughy (FF) warned in the 1975 debate on what became the '77 act that if these powers were to be given to AGS that they would end up being abused

www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/d...
There are a couple of aspects of the Bill which I shall mention but, again, they are more appropriate to Committee Stage. We will come up on Committee Stage very fundamentally against these sections which give new powers to the Garda. We will have to examine them very carefully and go into them very closely. There is always a danger in this regard that we would allow the urgency of some particular problem to allow us to brush aside the fundamentally important things in our society. We might, in our anxiety to deal with this drug problem, urgent and important and widespread as it is, overlook the necessity to protect civil liberty and the legal rights of the individual citizen. I want to direct the Minister's attention to this danger. We might agree that it is right and proper to give the Garda special arbitrary powers where drugs are concerned and the community might be prepared to waive certain rights to enable this problem to be dealt with, but how can we ensure or how can we guarantee that if the Garda are given certain draconian powers to deal with the drug situation those powers will not be used in other situations? If the Garda have the right to search a premises without a warrant for drugs, how can we ensure that the Garda will not use that power to search a particular premises for some other purpose on the pretext of looking for drugs? This is something we will have to look at very carefully when we come to Committee Stage.
November 21, 2024 at 2:48 PM
bminish.bsky.social
AC Kelly, is like many senior Gardí, is someone who's career is built upon decades of drugs policing, it has given him rapid career progression and plenty of 'steady work'

He sees drugs policy though only the lens of prohibition and he is our future Garda commissioner.
The garda who is now our future commissioner mentioned in a short write up in the ballyfermot echo (19/2/'98). in this instance as a detective bringing someone to court for €5 (0.25gr ) of cannabis
November 21, 2024 at 2:41 PM
bminish.bsky.social
Here's me, aged about 24 Doing sound at an outdoor event in the mid 90's.
It was at the foot of Croagh Patrick.
I think my friend Johnny Curtis must have been playing in the group as that's still his Mandola Case today!
A young man with long hair at a small sound desk at an event outdoors on a nice day, he's wearing a waistcoat and has a denim jacket hanging on his chair. There is an instrument case covered in stickers in the background and behind that is 3 people sitting in the grass, one is eating icecream
November 21, 2024 at 12:16 PM
bminish.bsky.social
I came home and made this 'radio' to clear my head a bit.

On long wave it plays old 'news' from North Korea, on medium-wave it has FG (mainly) being very dystopian about drugs policy and the need to be 'tough on' etc
A picture of a Hacker herald radio from 1961, it's filthy, that beside the office ashtray look. the controls are on the top with a big speaker grill at the front. this is an early battery portable transistor set, now modified into a piece of 'art' of some kind by a frustrated advocate of evidence based drug policy reform
November 21, 2024 at 11:46 AM
bminish.bsky.social
Any changes to Irish drug law are being strongly resisted by Gardi, it underpins the power of stop and search here. A power that is very widely abused indeed.

A screenshot from our citizens assembly submission which can be read in full here
crainn.com/citizens-ass...
Screenshot from crain's Citizens assembly submission detailing the 2014 garda inspectorate report and it's finding of 145,776 recorded stop and searches being carried out in a single year (2014) for comparison the london met police serving nearly double the population as An garda carried out around 116,000 Stop and searches for drugs in 2022
November 21, 2024 at 11:38 AM