CitizenJournos CitizenJournos

In this episode we hear from Alan Chestnut who explains how Covid restrictions in hospitals are not consistent and therefore they can not be based on science or designed using an evidence-based approach. Instead, speaking from his personal experience, he evidences how in fact the restrictions are at times simply made up by whoever is in-charge of a ward. Alan lost both his mother and his father-in-law within a 24 hour period, in the same hospital, on the same ward, but who were both living under differing degrees of Covid restrictions. What makes his story even more saddening is that this occurred in July this year as we all are 'back to normal'.

We are joined this week by Keith Lonsdale to discuss the US proxy war in Ukraine. Keith has a lot of knowledge on the subject with his past military experience and significant knowledge of the history of the region. We look at how the conflict began, where it's at now and where it may end up going. 

In the second part of our 3-part-series looking into the effects of the Covid-First policy of care homes in Northern Ireland during Covid hysteria, we speak with Hazel as she explains how life was for her family as they struggled to come to terms with having a loved one in care during this period.  

In the first of this 3-part series, we hear the stories of three brave residents of Northern Ireland who lost loved ones in care homes during different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. With these first-hand accounts, you will learn that as a direct result of a COVID-only response, life for the residents and their family members was both terrifying, and at times, inhumane. Waving at loved ones through a window, not being able to touch, hold or kiss them on visits and having to beg many times just to get to see them.In this first episode, you will hear from Lisa, who lost her mum and dad in a care home just five days apart. In this gut-wrenching story you will hear how her mum was blind since she was a young girl and yet at times Lisa could only view her through a window. Her father also suffered from a rare illness and he too had gone blind and thus relied upon her touch to communicate.  Now Lisa has the opportunity to tell her story, in her own words and in her own time, so that her parent's suffering will get the recognition it deserves and so that she too can be given a voice having felt alone for so long.

The Northern Ireland Executive, under direction from its Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride, decided to amend the face mask legislation requiring that anyone claiming exemption from wearing a mask must prove their exemption or they must be refused entrance to public indoor spaces, including food stores and public transport.  This change was to be enforced from the 7th January 2022. However, in face of an outcry against this discriminatory change, we spearheaded a pushback and managed to force the NI Executive into 'indefinitely suspending' the legislation. We discuss that decision and what may lie ahead regarding same on the show. 

We speak to Michael Brentnall of Brentnall Legal Ltd, a human rights law firm in Belfast regarding his legal challenges to the discriminatory vaccine passport system and changes to the face mask legislation in Northern Ireland.