Niall O’Connor

Cabinet hears of new laws to allow boarding of 'Shadow Fleet' vessels by Defence Forces Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee brought urgent proposals to amend the Defence Act to Cabinet today.

Cabinet hears of new laws to allow boarding of 'Shadow Fleet' vessels by Defence Forces jrnl.ie/6979665

US sinking of Iranian warship with 180 on board 'appears unlawful', ex-Defence Forces chief says Questions have been raised in recent days over both whether the US and Israeli strikes on Iran are in breach of international law, and whether the Iranian ship sunk hundreds of miles from its shores w...

US sinking of Iranian warship with 180 on board 'appears unlawful', ex-Defence Forces chief says jrnl.ie/6977061

US sinking of Iranian warship with 180 on board 'appears unlawful', ex-Defence Forces chief says Questions have been raised in recent days over both whether the US and Israeli strikes on Iran are in breach of international law, and whether the Iranian ship sunk hundreds of miles from its shores w...

US sinking of Iranian warship with 180 on board 'appears unlawful', ex-Defence Forces chief says jrnl.ie/6977061

Coming up after midnight @nialljournal.bsky.social speaks to naval and academic experts about the legitimacy of the sinking of the IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka by a US submarine.

Influencers in Dubai: The entitlement, denial and moral vacuum in the so-called 'safest city', as war rages overhead.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC writes for The Journal:

www.thejournal.ie/readme/influ...

Israeli army issue warning of major military action across South lebanon where Irish troops based IDF spokesman Avichay Ardraee said on a post that residents should evacuate for their safety north of the Litani River.

Israeli army issue warning of major military action across South lebanon where Irish troops based jrnl.ie/6974322

Hell Week, anyone? Ireland's special forces unit is considering recruiting from the public It is understood that the proposal is part of a raft of changes to how the ARW engages with the public and how they recruit its elite operators.

Hell Week, anyone? Ireland's special forces unit is considering recruiting from the public jrnl.ie/6971953

Concerns UAE may run low on interceptors needed to shoot down Iranian missiles There are two main types of air defence missiles being used – the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) and the Patriot missile batteries.

Concerns UAE may run low on interceptors needed to shoot down Iranian missiles jrnl.ie/6972891

Garda at centre of bike loan probe receives €270,000 in settlement At the time the Garda Representative Association had called out the disproportionate nature of the probe and likened it to cracking “a nut with a sledgehammer”.

Garda at centre of bike loan probe receives €270,000 in settlement jrnl.ie/6973526

Man left critically injured after hit-and-run in Co Kerry last night The incident happened near Ardfert and Abbeydorney.

Gardaí launch probe to find driver of car that left man gravely injured in Kerry hit and run jrnl.ie/6972832

Ireland to send military officers to US, Britain and France as defence attachés for first time Defence and Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee is to bring the proposal to cabinet today for the establishment of the network.

Ireland to send military officers to US, Britain and France as defence attachés for first time jrnl.ie/6972252

A prosecuting barrister has blamed budget overruns for a delay in the trials of three gardaí The three accused garda are charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the alleged termination of road traffic offence tickets.

A prosecuting barrister has blamed budget overruns for a delay in the trials of three gardaí jrnl.ie/6971719

Man accused of running over garda with scrambler in Dublin denied bail The alleged incident occurred on a footpath in Mulhuddart, Dublin on Thursday evening.

A 32-year-old man has been denied bail after a garda was injured in a collision with a "high-powered" scrambler on a footpath in Mulhuddart, Dublin
jrnl.ie/6970663

Security planning underway for Keir Starmer visit to east Cork next month for major summit Sources have said that Starmer and a team from Downing Street are set to arrive in Cork on 13 March.

Security planning underway for Keir Starmer visit to east Cork next month for major summit jrnl.ie/6969387

Pressure on for 40 EU presidency meetings security as clash with Trump visit and sporting events The Journal has obtained exclusive details in regard to the security operations for the EU Presidency, urgent anti drone training for soldiers and a major summit in Dublin.

Pressure on for 40 EU presidency meetings security as clash with Trump visit and sporting events jrnl.ie/6968388

Coming up after midnight, @nialljournal.bsky.social reports exclusive details of the security preparations for the EU Presidency with anti drone training for soldiers, more than 40 events and a major summit in Dublin.

Oversight committee chair criticises military for increase in 'inappropriate behaviour' cases The independent External Oversight Body, which monitors the human resources conditions in the army, navy and air corps met today publicly for the first time.

Oversight committee chair criticises military for increase in 'inappropriate behaviour' cases jrnl.ie/6968763

Defence Minister: Ireland should not be 'afraid' to work closely with British and French navies Helen McEntee TD, will this morning launch Ireland’s first-ever National Maritime Security Strategy (MSS) in Dublin.

Defence Minister: Ireland should not be 'afraid' to work closely with British and French navies jrnl.ie/6966555

Defence Minister cites 'vulnerable' maritime infrastructure and launches security 'action plan' Helen McEntee TD, will this morning launch Ireland’s first-ever National Maritime Security Strategy (MSS) in Dublin.

Defence Minister cites 'vulnerable' maritime infrastructure and launches security 'action plan' jrnl.ie/6966555

Irish naval officers could be deployed as liaisons on foreign ships under new security plan The proposals are to be contained in the Maritime Security Strategy which will be released this morning at a ceremony in Dublin.

Irish naval officers could be deployed as liaisons on foreign ships under new security plan jrnl.ie/6966396

Coming up after midnight @NiallJournal_ie reports on some key aspects in the Maritime Security Strategy that could see Irish naval officers sent to work in global security agencies and they could possibly even work onboard foreign military ships in the waters of Ireland.

From street gang thief to one of Europe's most wanted - the life of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch Gerry Hutch once said that prison was his ‘college for criminals’.

Off on a bit of leave for a few days but seeing as people are getting excited about The Monk again here’s a profile I did of him.

He’s not the messiah and he’s certainly more than a naughty boy.

Gerry Hutch once said that prison was his ‘college for criminals’. www.thejournal.ie/gerry-hutch-...

Going nuclear and the King of Pop: Inside three days of the Munich Security Conference This weekend News Correspondent Niall O’Connor reported from the Munich Security Conference.

I’m heading home from Munich. This is a piece I did about how it looked on the ground and with a bit of analysis.

Going nuclear and the King of Pop: Inside three days of the Munich Security Conference jrnl.ie/6957971

Going nuclear and the King of Pop: Inside three days of the Munich Security Conference This weekend News Correspondent Niall O’Connor reported from the Munich Security Conference.

Going nuclear and the King of Pop: Inside three days of the Munich Security Conference jrnl.ie/6957971

A bit of analysis and colour as events end here in Munich.

Last day at the Munich Security Conference.

Our Morning Lead today was this story about Ireland’s strategy to tackle the Shadow Fleet: jrnl.ie/6957232

This morning also EU Foreign Affairs head Kaja Kallas re EU Defence: jrnl.ie/6957917

More @thejournal.ie

Thanks for the kind words.

Irish Defence Minister says Ireland considering boarding and inspecting Russian Shadow Fleet ships Helen McEntee, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, was speaking to The Journal today as she attends meetings at the Munich Security Conference.

Irish Defence Minister says Ireland considering boarding and inspecting Russian Shadow Fleet ships jrnl.ie/6957232

Fair to say an escalation in how Ireland is posturing around the sanctioned ships.

From secret talks on nuclear weapons to Viktor Orbán's belly - Day Two at Munich Conference The Journal is in Munich covering the three day event and has been chatting to global policymakers and military leaders.

From secret talks on nuclear weapons to Viktor Orbán's belly - Day Two at Munich Conference jrnl.ie/6957573

Some scenes in Munich of a protest here in Odenplatz.
A mix of peace activists, pacifists, people carrying posters saying that Germany is not at war with Russia, anti-NATO protestors and others.
Also some Ukrainians on the streets as Zelenskyy speaks at the conference.
@thejournal.ie