Brendan K O'Rourke

critical business academic into discourse analysis, economics, enterprise, strategy, progress & equality. Also on BlueSky.

[Michael Pierse @michaelpierse]

They're not protesting about an attempted murder. They're using an attempted murder as an excuse for racist mayhem.

[Glen Phillips @GlenPhillips123]

Catholics burnt out of their houses in 1969, ethnic minorities burnt out in 2026. Shame on any #Catholic or #Republican in #Ireland who gives any kind of support or excuse to these bigots. We need to know our history and stand together against racism and oppression in #Belfast.

[Owen Jones @owenjonesjourno]

You see these scenes from Belfast?

That's our future if Reform, Restore, the Tories, GB News, Elon Musk and the right-wing media get their way.

Except this will be on a much bigger scale.

We have to decide: do we want those inciting hatred to destroy our country?

[Matthew O'Toole @MatthewOToole2]

Just home from dealing with the consequences of tonight's lawlessness.

Perhaps some of the English right wing influencers and local politicians enthusing about these protests would explain to children I met why they have no beds to sleep in tonight.

Utterly disgusted.

[Fiachra @fiachra_mcs]

To everyone gathering across Belfast; go home.

You are being manipulated by paramilitaries and far-right politicians.

Do not ruin your life by getting a criminal conviction.

There are better ways to stand up for ‘community safety.’

[sean holland @seanhollandOSS]

Parents in Belfast, keep your children home tonight. Let the police do their job. People acted heroically last night but there is nothing heroic about trashing homes and businesses, attacking the police and scaring people who had nothing to do with last night.

[Durruti Dub @DurrutiDub]

For the fascist Nazi scum thinking of rioting in Belfast tonight, consider these facts.

In the past five years, 30 women have been murdered in NI. Almost all have been killed by white Irish/British men. 3 so far this year.

Male violence is the issue. NOT migration.

So go home.

[Trades Union Congress @The_TUC]

You voted against scrapping zero hour contracts.

You voted against banning fire and rehire.

You voted against day one sick pay for workers.

You said the minimum wage was too high for young people.

Reform politicians openly say they don't like trade unions.

You will always put the interests of your offshore crypto billionaire donors ahead of workers.

[C @cgall036]

Recent stabbings in North Belfast that racists didn't riot over

[Des Henderson @desfilmsstuff]

Pure unadulterated racism. People from ALL cultures are capable of savage attacks as we know only too well here in NI.

[Brendan K O'Rourke @BrendanKORourke]

Referring to humans as 'vermin' is a clear a sign as we need to know this kind of thinking is what will make the world worse for all of us.

[Gary @GaryMcG1888]

Irish Republican Leftists have been conditioned to accept vermin from uncivilised countries for years and are terrified of making a stand against foreign criminals right across Ireland.

Loyalists/Unionists will protest tonight. The weak Republicans won’t.

[Brendan K O'Rourke @BrendanKORourke]

This a disgusting slur. It is provocations like this that really vandalise Ireland.

[Dr. Eoin Lenihan @EoinLenihan]

These are the parties in Ireland who do not care if you or your loved ones get their heads cut off in the street. They’ve done what they can to ensure it.

Fianna Fáil
Fine Gael
Sinn Fein
The Greens
Labour
Social Democrats
People Before Profit
All but a handful of Independents

[Brendan K O'Rourke @BrendanKORourke]

Do you think Elon Musk really wants the change we need - an end to the gross inequality of wealth and power? Do not trash your own communities because spoiled brats want more power.

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!

[An Madarín rua @Anmaidrinrua]

We had a knife crime problem in North and West Belfast long before we had migration issues.

[ruth allum @mgtruth]

Those keyboard warriors calling for violence today?
They also call for your right to protest to be criminalised further when it’s a cause they don’t support.
They’re calling you onto the streets today with no regard for the consequences, because they won’t face any.

[Paul Wilson @PaulWil81875490]

My father was stabbed 33 times & had his throat cut from ear to ear by this loyalist UFF murder. Do I blame the entire loyalist community, of course I don’t! Evil is Evil it doesn’t recognise race,creed or colour!!

[Claire Hanna @ClaireHanna]

The violence in North Belfast was horrific, the video will create fear and shock. No good will come of sharing it or of turning on each other in this society, including for the clout of online voices who don’t know or care about us and who offer absolutely nothing for the future.

[Arnold Carton - Protestant, Unionist and Irish @ArnoldCarton]

@brianjohnspencr Please think before you post.
Did you call out Christianity as being responsible for the very many sectarian killings you and I lived through during the Troubles.
You are in danger of whipping up anger that will get innocent people across the province attacked.

[Dr Órfhlaith Campbell @drorfh]

Those who wouldn't as much as bat an eye lid at the murder of women or a sectarian killing or death from an internal feud are suddenly going to pretend Belfast has never experienced violence before.

[Brendan K O'Rourke @BrendanKORourke]

How about calling for people 'not to kick off' ?

[Declan Ganley @declanganley]

I'm hearing things are going to 'kick off' in Belfast tonight, not really surprising. The political system that was supposed to get ahead of the cause has completely blown it and it's true for the whole island of Ireland and for Great Britain. The only policy that is going to have a chance of working is one of deportation of all welfare dependent, non-working, non-EU immigrants. A secure holding facility for all asylum seeker cases (I have proposed such a repurposing of Spike Island), a rapid processing and default deportation for any but the most serious cases. This will come across as harsh and not merciful. I will counter that if we do not do this, society in general will end up taking harsher measures that will affect innocent people and families. Governments don't yet seem to be fully cognisant of how much of a powder keg they have put under their own societies. Very few people voted for this.