In the Firing Line
The people who put their heads above the parapet to present a different perspective
“To give the news impartially, without fear or favour.”
The publisher responsible for the infamous phrase, Adolph S. Ochs uttered it in 1896, having snapped up the failing New York Times for $5,000. The paper was bankrupt and it was under Ochs’s editorship that its fortune turned around.
The son of poor parents, he worked in the industry from age 11, first as a printers devil (apprentice). He took over his first newspaper aged 20. Ochs’ obituary published in 1935 describes him as a man that ‘never wasted his time or his ambitions on outside enterprises or on the political aspirations that have proved a curse to so many other newspaper makers’.
“He knew how to publish, he believed in publishing, only one single kind of paper; and his great achievement was the proof that the publishing of that kind of paper "clean, dignified, trustworthy and impartial," as he phrased it in his announcement in The Times on Aug. 18, 1896 was practically possible; was not an exercise in altruism, but could be made economically as well as ethically successful.”
Ochs’ ‘without fear or favour’ phrase meant that he refused to be influenced by those that might wish to shape the news for their own interest, or to promote any individual or policy.
Today, 127 years later, GCSE students in the UK learn the basics of ethical reporting as such:
“A free press is important because if the media was not able to report truthfully on events, important information might be hidden and voters would remain in the dark. Equally, if the media was not allowed to facilitate open and free discussion, the views and concerns of ordinary people might not be heard.”
Open and free discussion on established news platforms died suddenly upon the arrival of Covid. In its place the heavy weight of covid scare stories descended; ridiculing and mocking those that dared disagree. Journalism in Ireland was failing in its fundamental purpose, to serve as a watchdog for the public. Out of this fog, a new movement found favour. Dissenters to the diktats went back to basics. They stood on street corners holding yellow boards bearing messages:
“Say no to digital passports.”
“Why the censorship?”
“We need to hug again.”
Perhaps you spotted them on a by-pass or roundabout, in Dublin, Wicklow, Kerry or Limerick?
They found each other through word of mouth and in Telegram groups. Their aim was to fill the void left by a compromised media. They warned of the dangers of lockdowns. Advertised alternative methods of treatment. Alerted of risks attached to vaccines. And pointed to dangers attached mindless compliance; suffering, misery, loneliness, death.
But who were they?
In Co Mayo last October, a newly formed Hold the Line group gathered at the Moneen Roundabout in Castlebar holding yellow boards in support of Enoch Burke. The schoolteacher, who refused the use of gender-neutral pronouns had been sent to Mountjoy Prison for contempt of court three weeks earlier.
Damien Mangan from Foxford explained why he was standing on the footpath with his sign.
“It is free and it’s easy and people can take it or leave it. The messages are clear. It’s not anyway intimidating. We get a lot of beeps and waves. Some people might be waving, not knowing what’s going on. It’s just a nice atmosphere.
“Last Sunday was our first day. We only stayed an hour so it’s not like we’re here all day bothering people. Actually somebody passing gave us a €25 donation so we went for coffee after.
“I think Enoch is right because he stood up for what he believes in. And now he’s in jail. And he’s not in jail for what he did initially. He’s in jail for contempt of court,” he said.
“His strength of character is inspiring. He hasn’t done any harm to anyone, from what I understand. In a democratic society, why should he not be allowed stand up for what he believes in?”
Steve is an engineer by trade. He did not want to give his full name. He travelled from Sligo to Castlebar to hold up a sign for passing cars. Some beep, some wave, some frown in disgust. Others catch sight of the message and then turn their gaze elsewhere, uncomprehending.
“It feels like I’ve got no choice really. I’m not comfortable doing this. But I feel strongly about it. It feels to me like, sometimes you’ve got to raise your head above the parapet. And I reached that point where I just wanted to try and make a bit of a difference.
“Everything that’s going on really, cash, the World Economic Forum, that whole idealogy, the push towards digitisation of society and the dangers that go with that. I find that terrifying and most people are not aware so I am just trying to bring it to their attention and encourage people to research it and decide for themselves whether it’s right or wrong,” he said.
Asked if he found the process cathartic, Steve said it has allowed him to meet people who have become invaluable to him.
“This has put me into situations where, because I am taking a certain stance, it’s quite a lonely place to be. And we find solace in people that feel the same. And that’s great because it has given me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, from all directions, all trades, all sexualities, all religions - it doesn’t matter. People who feel the same and share the same values. It brings everyone together and that’s been a really beautiful thing,” he said.
Marian Gordon was among the assembled. She felt strongly about Enoch Burke’s imprisonment.
“The objective is to let Enoch Burke know that he has support in Castlebar and throughout Ireland. We’ve noticed that the media have been critical of the support that he has but we have found many people to be very supportive of him.
“I think the fact that they’ve said he’s not allowed on the school premises is inferring he’s not suitable to be around children. If he accepts that, he’s agreeing that he’s not suitable or disruptive in some way. And if he agrees then he’s never going to be allowed to teach again so he couldn’t possibly go down that route and nobody believes that. He’s young, well-liked, respectable and an excellent teacher,” she said.
Fintan Mulligan from Bray, Co Wicklow features in a new documentary titled “Hold The Line”. He described the exercise ‘as an opportunity to replace the media’ and said he was ‘honour bound’ to take up a yellow board.
“I felt it was important for me to be honest. I discovered that I wasn’t being told the truth. I took the vaccine, the Janssen one shot vaccine. Thirty days later I was in hospital with acute appendicitis and the doctor said they just got me in time. After that I realised the truth is not being told here and I felt honour bound to advise others and my family, particularly with regard to my grandchildren,” he said.
Limerick based missionary priest Fr Colm Meaney told the documentary it was as if ‘minds have been interfered with.’
“I saw the widespread damage that was being done, not by any virus but deliberately introduced. And I said nobody should damage society, close down businesses, keep children at home, force people to walk around with half their face covered, this is just unacceptable. We are up against the government, the media, the academy, the judiciary. I am just quietly hopeful we can make some dent in the armour.”
“Minds have been interfered with. They looked upon their neighbour as a kind of potential health risk, for goodness sake,” he said.
Hold the Line groups met mixed reactions around the country.
“People were extremely angry for the first six months I’d say,” Joseph Kelly from Bray said. But as the months passed, the public mood softened and attitudes began to change.
Joan O’Reilly held up yellow boards in Killarney. “People are very happy now to be directed down a road of where they know what the truth actually is and I always believe the truth is always better no matter how painful it is. The truth is always better,” she said.
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Watch the short documentary here:
I cannot tell you the relief and appreciation for these yellow board holders when I first saw them at roundabouts in Mullingar in what felt like the depths of utter madness of the Covid restrictions when myself and my family were beginning to feel that our right to choose our medical autonomy was under direct threat. I read in awe the words on the boards that no one was saying in public! I forget the exact words unfortunately but they gave me hope and I felt less isolated and alone! Thank you one and all.
“Steve is an engineer by trade. He did not want to give his full name.”
This one sentence stood out for me. It’s proof, if proof were needed that Ireland is no longer a safe place for those of us who think outside the office political / media narrative. Steve represents many of us in Ireland today. Maybe he is afraid to speak out publicly incase he loses his job. Maybe he is afraid of being targeted by leftists. Maybe he is afraid of what his friends and family might think of him. In a free and democratic Society we should have the right to express our opinions. In Ireland, only the left has this privilege. Those of us on the Right are forced to use pseudonyms, forced to use alternative social media platforms like Telegram and Odysee. Forced to hide who we really are. Well done to those people, including Steve X who courageously stood and continue to stand in public places educating the masses in Ireland without fear or favour 👏🏻