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.
Irish and British monitor first sailing of Russian 'Shadow Fleet' ship in Irish Sea jrnl.ie/6896621
Irish and British monitor first sailing of Russian 'Shadow Fleet' ship in Irish Sea
The oil and chemical tanker, which is sailing under the false flag of an African country, was spotted entering the Irish Sea this weekend.
jrnl.ie
December 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Irish and British monitor first sailing of Russian 'Shadow Fleet' ship in Irish Sea jrnl.ie/6896621
Reposted by Niall O’Connor
Gardaí launch murder investigation after woman and young boy die in Offaly house fire jrnl.ie/6896118t
Gardaí launch murder investigation after woman and young boy die in Offaly house fire
“This was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home,” gardaí said in a statement.
jrnl.ie
December 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Gardaí launch murder investigation after woman and young boy die in Offaly house fire jrnl.ie/6896118t
The plot thickens… latest on events in the Irish Sea
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6895675
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6895675
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit
The ship had been involved in damaging an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea earlier this year.
jrnl.ie
December 6, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The plot thickens… latest on events in the Irish Sea
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6895675
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6895675
I had a good chat with Commodore Michael Malone yesterday in Haulbowline Naval Base. Best of luck to him in his retirement.
Outgoing head of Irish Navy tells sailors to embrace change to respond to 'Cold War' level threat
jrnl.ie/6895608t
Outgoing head of Irish Navy tells sailors to embrace change to respond to 'Cold War' level threat
jrnl.ie/6895608t
Outgoing head of Irish Navy tells sailors to embrace change to respond to 'Cold War' level threat
Commodore Michael Malone was speaking at his retirement, known as a Stand Down Parade, in Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork Harbour yesterday.
jrnl.ie
December 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I had a good chat with Commodore Michael Malone yesterday in Haulbowline Naval Base. Best of luck to him in his retirement.
Outgoing head of Irish Navy tells sailors to embrace change to respond to 'Cold War' level threat
jrnl.ie/6895608t
Outgoing head of Irish Navy tells sailors to embrace change to respond to 'Cold War' level threat
jrnl.ie/6895608t
An update on Thursday’s attack on Irish troops in South Lebanon.
Lebanese army arrests six suspects for attack this week on Irish soldiers jrnl.ie/6895567
Lebanese army arrests six suspects for attack this week on Irish soldiers jrnl.ie/6895567
Lebanese army arrests six suspects for attack this week on Irish soldiers
Irish soldiers were shot at by a group of six people as they carried out a night patrol near Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon.
jrnl.ie
December 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
An update on Thursday’s attack on Irish troops in South Lebanon.
Lebanese army arrests six suspects for attack this week on Irish soldiers jrnl.ie/6895567
Lebanese army arrests six suspects for attack this week on Irish soldiers jrnl.ie/6895567
We may never discover who was operating the drones along Zelenskyy's flight path - here's why jrnl.ie/6893629
We may never discover who was operating the drones along Zelenskyy's flight path - here's why
Sailors on board the LÉ William Butler Yeats reported seeing four drones as they maintained a security watch off Dublin on Monday.
jrnl.ie
December 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
We may never discover who was operating the drones along Zelenskyy's flight path - here's why jrnl.ie/6893629
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