to think Irish PM Leo Varadkar should hold a press conference to explain why he flouted his own lockdown rules?

[Hypocraticoats]

One rule for politicians and another for the plebs?

Well tbf to the OP I'm on an Irish fb group where the photos were posted yesterday and people went nuts. Jumped on it and were calling for his resignation. And those were people who for the most part live in ROI, know (or should know) what the latest rules are and also where he's been living and how close it is to that Park.

People love catching out hypocrites, and sometimes they just jump the gun on a bit of a non story out of sheer glee.

TheCraicDealer

They were most likely Shinners still in their pyjamas and missing Penneys. Woops, any port in a storm eh.

I think some people originally complained because the spot he was seen at was more than 5km from his apartment. A spokesperson advised that since the start of the emergency he has been living in the official residence that is made available to the Taoiseach rather than his own apartment because he needed a secure home office. He has been paying rent to stay there and it is within the park and within 5km of where he was seen.

Inniu.

I doubt Johnson has to pay to use Chequers. Well maybe he does but I doubt it.

Anyway the Phoenix Park is so huge that social distancing will never be an issue, and it is great to see the Taoiseach out in his and every Dubliners' big back garden enjoying the sunshine.

We are all human, and he did nothing wrong IMO. Bet there was a security detail around just the same.

But then again Irish people generally leave people alone and are not into the Red Top gossip stuff at all.

Matt Damon has been living in Dalkey since lockdown and goes to the local supermarket and for a swim in the sea no problem. Irish people don't idolise celebrities or politicians much. Great fecking place.

I voted 'YANBU' before I knew the facts. If he hasn't broken any rules, YABU.

Funniest thread in a while

Am I the only one that has no issue with Leo topless? I mean he is not all that hard on the eye and the partner well, he doesnt look bad himself. Fair play i say. Hot day and hitting the park like the rest of us. Wont see him faking a bout of the coronas and staged pics with his head in his hands to look like an overtired victim of his own stupidty anyway. As you were.

I want to know where the Gardai were hiding?! And sure weren't they only topping up their vitamin D levels? Won't find our Leo catching Covid 19 or taking Hydroxycholoquine😊. Still and all I never thought I'd see a photo of our Taoiseach topless! This year is just the craziest ever. And we had no deaths from the virus today so I think he's allowed a break.

Could you imagine a Gay PM in the uk? Be honest now.

Ireland doesn't have the (UK version) of the red tops and we don't give a shyte what people do in their private lives as long as they do the right thing for us.

UK is far more Puritan in reality. Well with respect to other people's private lives. I will never understand it. But Anglo Saxons and Celts are so different!

Gay and half Indian at that. I envisage many a Tory supporter fainting at the mere thought! Varadkar is a young man barely in his 40’s enjoying his life and leading his country even through a pandemic none of us could have forseen and despite not actually only being acting Taoiseach. I think most of us in Ireland are proud of what he has done for our country and glad we have our shirtless hooligan instead of a brainless bumbling idiot who cares more about austerity than lived or some talking mandarin spouting bull about drinking domestos. Try to take jabs where you can ladies and gents but remember his clear and concise lockdown rules mean zero people on the death register today in Ireland and that is what matters. Lives not tabloid gossip.

Ah balls too many typos. Acting Taoiseach and austerity over lives if that helps!

Psychoseverywhere

Well said. Johnson is an embarrassment to most people, but few will admit it anymore now. He has found his place and will settle in on his terms and to hell with what anyone thinks.

He is beginning to look like Trump too with the mad hair!

To quote another Irish man I think many people in Ireland were looking at our news tonight then looking at the news in England and thinking “ tonight thank God it’s them instead of you”

You need your eyes tested, OP.
Maybe head to Durham?

@Inniu this is literally the only time I will allow anyone to let me say the words ‘Bono was correct’. Them words are so true.

Great to see that the Irish contingent will take no shit from the dilletantes who think they are everyone's superiors.

In England it is not really the done thing to take your top off in a park but perhaps Ireland is different.

I used to live on Haven Green in Ealing. I wish I was able to say this^^. The amount I spent on Brain Bleach in the summer.

Xenia

In England it is not really the done thing to take your top off in a park but perhaps Ireland is different.

I would very much appreciate it if you could trouble yourself to go around the UK explaining this to men, because I don't think they know. I saw a topless man in a park today, in fact.

In England it is not really the done thing to take your top off in a park but perhaps Ireland is different.

This is so funny. well done xenia.

@Xenia gas. Yep i think even stripping off your fave footie shirt as soon as temps reach over 10 degrees is actually a very very british thing. Dont let your xenophobia hit you on the way out there.

The aim of this version of the ‘story’ is no different to the crap tabloids publish about other high profile figures (Harry & Meghan for example)...it’s to exploit emotions in others whether that be “Ooh another politician who thinks he can do what he likes” or “Ooh aren’t they stupid for publishing a false story”.

Wise up to why the story has been written and the angle taken before forming an opinion else you’ve been won over by a tabloid.

A 5-second google of his name gives a head start on getting to the facts - who else is reporting this and how are they telling it:

Independent ie: “Confusion reigns supreme as even the Taoiseach breaks own rules to have picnic”

DublinLive: “Coronavirus: Video of Leo Varadkar enjoying the sun in Phoenix Park has Twitter users divided”

Express: “Topless Irish leader Leo Varadkar sparks fury after having a picnic in the park”

RTÉ Ireland: “Varadkar followed guidelines in park - spokesperson”

In England it is not really the done thing to take your top off in a park but perhaps Ireland is different.

Wish this were true but it’s DEFINITELY NOT

I've been reading some threads about kids going back to school and was honestly so shocked at the attitude towards teachers in UK Mee too.
Such vitriol against teachers. I personally think it is because education as far as pen/pencil/workbooks are free breeding a lack of respect, like education is owed to them at all costs.

*Me

That logic doesn’t work as healthcare is free here in the U.K. and that has not been breeding a lack of respect. Far from it...in fact the NHS have been been absolutely inundated with support by their local
communities.

To put it very very simply, during these strange times you can be a drain or a radiator...there’s enough to be concerned about at the moment without spreading resentment.

no - YANBU - all I could see from the clip on the DM was a social group in a park imo standing much too close together given the current climate. However, I've no knowledge of Irish lockdown guidelines