Patricia Devlin
@trishdevlin.bsky.social
Irish ☘️ Investigative journalist ✍️ Lover of good vibes 🧘♀️Co Derry born and bred 🔴⚪️ The Journal Investigates @ TheJournal.ie 👩🏻💻
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
This is a great piece on how the FOI process actually works
Six years ago, Ireland was promised a dedicated Wildlife Crime Unit.
It never materialised, and no one really explained why.
I went looking for answers. It took a year-long battle with the NPWS and an Information Commissioner investigation to get them.
Here’s what I found ⬇️
jrnl.ie/7135559
It never materialised, and no one really explained why.
I went looking for answers. It took a year-long battle with the NPWS and an Information Commissioner investigation to get them.
Here’s what I found ⬇️
jrnl.ie/7135559
The FOI Files: The year-long battle for records on Ireland’s promised Wildlife Crime Unit
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage claimed disclosure could harm wildlife crime investigations and future prosecutions, but the Information Commissioner disagreed.
jrnl.ie
September 8, 2026 at 9:56 AM
This is a great piece on how the FOI process actually works
Six years ago, Ireland was promised a dedicated Wildlife Crime Unit.
It never materialised, and no one really explained why.
I went looking for answers. It took a year-long battle with the NPWS and an Information Commissioner investigation to get them.
Here’s what I found ⬇️
jrnl.ie/7135559
It never materialised, and no one really explained why.
I went looking for answers. It took a year-long battle with the NPWS and an Information Commissioner investigation to get them.
Here’s what I found ⬇️
jrnl.ie/7135559
The FOI Files: The year-long battle for records on Ireland’s promised Wildlife Crime Unit
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage claimed disclosure could harm wildlife crime investigations and future prosecutions, but the Information Commissioner disagreed.
jrnl.ie
September 8, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Six years ago, Ireland was promised a dedicated Wildlife Crime Unit.
It never materialised, and no one really explained why.
I went looking for answers. It took a year-long battle with the NPWS and an Information Commissioner investigation to get them.
Here’s what I found ⬇️
jrnl.ie/7135559
It never materialised, and no one really explained why.
I went looking for answers. It took a year-long battle with the NPWS and an Information Commissioner investigation to get them.
Here’s what I found ⬇️
jrnl.ie/7135559
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
On the show today: Ciara Glynn on the Solace Café; Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh on naming kids; Henry McKean on the secretive Irish; Declan Buckley & Barbara Scully wearily shake their heads; Rían Gill on the solar-power racing car; Patricia Devlin on skunks in Kildare.
September 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM
On the show today: Ciara Glynn on the Solace Café; Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh on naming kids; Henry McKean on the secretive Irish; Declan Buckley & Barbara Scully wearily shake their heads; Rían Gill on the solar-power racing car; Patricia Devlin on skunks in Kildare.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
An absolutely mad story. Someone is out there in Ireland breeding skunks for pets.
Well, this was an unusual story for me to write. 7 skunks found roaming near protected bog land captured and destroyed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
How did they get there? No one knows. But, there were 8 for sale some wks prior on an Irish pet trading group, I’m told
jrnl.ie/7150402
How did they get there? No one knows. But, there were 8 for sale some wks prior on an Irish pet trading group, I’m told
jrnl.ie/7150402
Seven skunks captured and destroyed after being found roaming near protected Kildare bogland
The Journal understands that eight skunks had been advertised for sale in a private WhatsApp pet trading group several weeks before the animals were discovered.
jrnl.ie
September 3, 2026 at 12:10 PM
An absolutely mad story. Someone is out there in Ireland breeding skunks for pets.
Well, this was an unusual story for me to write. 7 skunks found roaming near protected bog land captured and destroyed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
How did they get there? No one knows. But, there were 8 for sale some wks prior on an Irish pet trading group, I’m told
jrnl.ie/7150402
How did they get there? No one knows. But, there were 8 for sale some wks prior on an Irish pet trading group, I’m told
jrnl.ie/7150402
Seven skunks captured and destroyed after being found roaming near protected Kildare bogland
The Journal understands that eight skunks had been advertised for sale in a private WhatsApp pet trading group several weeks before the animals were discovered.
jrnl.ie
September 3, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Well, this was an unusual story for me to write. 7 skunks found roaming near protected bog land captured and destroyed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
How did they get there? No one knows. But, there were 8 for sale some wks prior on an Irish pet trading group, I’m told
jrnl.ie/7150402
How did they get there? No one knows. But, there were 8 for sale some wks prior on an Irish pet trading group, I’m told
jrnl.ie/7150402
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
The FOI Files: Sixteen hares hit by dogs. One greyhound euthanised. A “clerical error” recording 10 dead hares. All revealed in four DAFM inspection reports.
www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursin...
www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursin...
https://www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursing-inspections-7120798-Aug2026/
www.thejournal.ie
August 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The FOI Files: Sixteen hares hit by dogs. One greyhound euthanised. A “clerical error” recording 10 dead hares. All revealed in four DAFM inspection reports.
www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursin...
www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursin...
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
When an entire arena boos you for telling the truth, you quickly learn who has courage. Kris Kristofferson walking onto that stage and standing beside Sinéad as the insults rained down remains one of the most powerful acts of human decency I’ve ever seen.
Three years resting in peace 🙌🏼🤍🙌🏼
Three years resting in peace 🙌🏼🤍🙌🏼
July 26, 2026 at 4:14 PM
When an entire arena boos you for telling the truth, you quickly learn who has courage. Kris Kristofferson walking onto that stage and standing beside Sinéad as the insults rained down remains one of the most powerful acts of human decency I’ve ever seen.
Three years resting in peace 🙌🏼🤍🙌🏼
Three years resting in peace 🙌🏼🤍🙌🏼
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
maybe the funniest part of the Mayo curse story is that the curse was supposedly issued by a Catholic priest. like I’m not being funny but I don’t think Catholic priests are supposed to do that
July 26, 2026 at 5:47 PM
maybe the funniest part of the Mayo curse story is that the curse was supposedly issued by a Catholic priest. like I’m not being funny but I don’t think Catholic priests are supposed to do that
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Thanks for this Patricia. As a firefighter, we have definitely noticed an increase/intensification in wildfires north of the border.
Unfortunately, after reading the comments under the article, there's a fair amount of education that needs to occur to really spell out the causal human factors.
Unfortunately, after reading the comments under the article, there's a fair amount of education that needs to occur to really spell out the causal human factors.
July 26, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Thanks for this Patricia. As a firefighter, we have definitely noticed an increase/intensification in wildfires north of the border.
Unfortunately, after reading the comments under the article, there's a fair amount of education that needs to occur to really spell out the causal human factors.
Unfortunately, after reading the comments under the article, there's a fair amount of education that needs to occur to really spell out the causal human factors.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Clear similarities with the fires in nature reserves and sensitive habitat in the Scottish Highlands and Wales. Note that you can register for free to read this article:
Worked on this wildfire investigation for the last number of months with colleagues across the EU. To publish today is, sadly, very timely.
While Ireland doesn’t experience the ‘mega fires’ we see in Spain etc, the damage caused to protected sites here is actually far greater than most of Europe.
While Ireland doesn’t experience the ‘mega fires’ we see in Spain etc, the damage caused to protected sites here is actually far greater than most of Europe.
NEW INVESTIGATION: Despite escaping the 'mega fires' seen in countries such as Spain and Greece, Ireland actually has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites, we can reveal
July 26, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Clear similarities with the fires in nature reserves and sensitive habitat in the Scottish Highlands and Wales. Note that you can register for free to read this article:
Worked on this wildfire investigation for the last number of months with colleagues across the EU. To publish today is, sadly, very timely.
While Ireland doesn’t experience the ‘mega fires’ we see in Spain etc, the damage caused to protected sites here is actually far greater than most of Europe.
While Ireland doesn’t experience the ‘mega fires’ we see in Spain etc, the damage caused to protected sites here is actually far greater than most of Europe.
NEW INVESTIGATION: Despite escaping the 'mega fires' seen in countries such as Spain and Greece, Ireland actually has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites, we can reveal
Ireland has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites
Following a spate of devastating wildfires, analysis has found that more than half of the land burned here over the past decade overlapped with protected nature areas – significantly higher than the...
jrnl.ie
July 26, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Worked on this wildfire investigation for the last number of months with colleagues across the EU. To publish today is, sadly, very timely.
While Ireland doesn’t experience the ‘mega fires’ we see in Spain etc, the damage caused to protected sites here is actually far greater than most of Europe.
While Ireland doesn’t experience the ‘mega fires’ we see in Spain etc, the damage caused to protected sites here is actually far greater than most of Europe.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Coimisiún na Meán says it is “actively engaging" with providers of a sinister suicide glorifying forum which, despite a UK ban, is freely accessible in Ireland.
@trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals how the site is linked to at least two deaths in Ireland.
@trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals how the site is linked to at least two deaths in Ireland.
The suicide forum facilitating the deaths of vulnerable people in Ireland
An online platform, restricted in the UK, is operating freely in Ireland and can be linked to the deaths of at least two Irish people, The Journal Investigates can reveal.
jrnl.ie
June 30, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Coimisiún na Meán says it is “actively engaging" with providers of a sinister suicide glorifying forum which, despite a UK ban, is freely accessible in Ireland.
@trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals how the site is linked to at least two deaths in Ireland.
@trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals how the site is linked to at least two deaths in Ireland.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
New investigation: Almost half of all the speeding prosecutions that came before Ireland’s courts did not proceed any further, analysis by @trishdevlin.bsky.social has found.
jrnl.ie/7069370t
jrnl.ie/7069370t
June 16, 2026 at 6:30 AM
New investigation: Almost half of all the speeding prosecutions that came before Ireland’s courts did not proceed any further, analysis by @trishdevlin.bsky.social has found.
jrnl.ie/7069370t
jrnl.ie/7069370t
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
'A giant symbol of Celtic Tiger excess that will kill swans'
Residents say a new bridge which is fastly moving towards construction should not go ahead. Reporter @trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals why Sligo's new landmark has skipped strict environmental checks.
Residents say a new bridge which is fastly moving towards construction should not go ahead. Reporter @trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals why Sligo's new landmark has skipped strict environmental checks.
www.thejournal.ie
April 21, 2026 at 12:01 PM
'A giant symbol of Celtic Tiger excess that will kill swans'
Residents say a new bridge which is fastly moving towards construction should not go ahead. Reporter @trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals why Sligo's new landmark has skipped strict environmental checks.
Residents say a new bridge which is fastly moving towards construction should not go ahead. Reporter @trishdevlin.bsky.social reveals why Sligo's new landmark has skipped strict environmental checks.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
A €50m bridge given life-long planning permission 15 years ago is finally set to go ahead, despite no clear evidence of updated environmental checks. That includes collision risks to the area's large number of swans. @trishdevlin.bsky.social reports...
www.thejournal.ie
April 21, 2026 at 6:01 AM
A €50m bridge given life-long planning permission 15 years ago is finally set to go ahead, despite no clear evidence of updated environmental checks. That includes collision risks to the area's large number of swans. @trishdevlin.bsky.social reports...
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Stop normalising sexual violence as entertainment.
NWC condemns the appalling inclusion of a float depicting the crimes of Epstein in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Co. Mayo. The float was offensive and deeply insensitive to victim survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
#EndVAW
NWC condemns the appalling inclusion of a float depicting the crimes of Epstein in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Co. Mayo. The float was offensive and deeply insensitive to victim survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
#EndVAW
March 19, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Stop normalising sexual violence as entertainment.
NWC condemns the appalling inclusion of a float depicting the crimes of Epstein in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Co. Mayo. The float was offensive and deeply insensitive to victim survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
#EndVAW
NWC condemns the appalling inclusion of a float depicting the crimes of Epstein in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Co. Mayo. The float was offensive and deeply insensitive to victim survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
#EndVAW
Honoured to be shortlisted for the 2026 Mary Raftery Prize for my investigation into Female Genital Mutilation services in Ireland.
Since 2021, there has been a 338% rise in demand for FGM treatment in Ireland. Yet, there is only one clinic in the entire country providing care to women and girls
Since 2021, there has been a 338% rise in demand for FGM treatment in Ireland. Yet, there is only one clinic in the entire country providing care to women and girls
Shortlist for 2025 Mary Raftery Prize announced | Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Reporting by RTÉ Investigates, The Journal and The Detail nominated for the prize that will be awarded on 25 March
www.dcu.ie
March 19, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Honoured to be shortlisted for the 2026 Mary Raftery Prize for my investigation into Female Genital Mutilation services in Ireland.
Since 2021, there has been a 338% rise in demand for FGM treatment in Ireland. Yet, there is only one clinic in the entire country providing care to women and girls
Since 2021, there has been a 338% rise in demand for FGM treatment in Ireland. Yet, there is only one clinic in the entire country providing care to women and girls
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with Jeffrey Epstein.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 19, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Within a two-year period, HSE staff recorded almost 450 suspected suicides of patients who had recent contact with healthcare services, an investigation by @trishdevlin.bsky.social has found.
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
Hundreds of people died by suspected suicide after recent contact with HSE services
Almost 450 suicides were reported to the HSE between 2022 and 2024 by healthcare staff across a range of patient services, including Emergency Departments.
www.thejournal.ie
February 10, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Within a two-year period, HSE staff recorded almost 450 suspected suicides of patients who had recent contact with healthcare services, an investigation by @trishdevlin.bsky.social has found.
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
www.thejournal.ie/suicides-aft...
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Liam Ramos, a preschooler ICE detained the five-year-old Minnesota boy as he returned home from school and transported him to a detention center in Texas.
January 22, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Liam Ramos, a preschooler ICE detained the five-year-old Minnesota boy as he returned home from school and transported him to a detention center in Texas.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
Hundreds of Ireland's historic landfills have been left in limbo despite a risk of polluting nearby waterways.
Reporter @conorocarroll.bsky.social explains from the site of one of these former landfills how delays are contributing to the problem.
Read more: jrnl.ie/6887357
Reporter @conorocarroll.bsky.social explains from the site of one of these former landfills how delays are contributing to the problem.
Read more: jrnl.ie/6887357
December 2, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Hundreds of Ireland's historic landfills have been left in limbo despite a risk of polluting nearby waterways.
Reporter @conorocarroll.bsky.social explains from the site of one of these former landfills how delays are contributing to the problem.
Read more: jrnl.ie/6887357
Reporter @conorocarroll.bsky.social explains from the site of one of these former landfills how delays are contributing to the problem.
Read more: jrnl.ie/6887357
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
In March this year, my niece Caitlin-Rose passed away after she was knocked down after getting off her school bus. Her mummy wants to help other children who need the help of emergency care in Caitlin-Rose’s memory.
November 21, 2025 at 12:01 AM
In March this year, my niece Caitlin-Rose passed away after she was knocked down after getting off her school bus. Her mummy wants to help other children who need the help of emergency care in Caitlin-Rose’s memory.
November 20, 2025 at 11:44 PM
In March this year, my niece Caitlin-Rose passed away after she was knocked down after getting off her school bus. Her mummy wants to help other children who need the help of emergency care in Caitlin-Rose’s memory.
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
More brilliant news for the TJI team: Conor O'Carroll has made the shortlist for the upcoming 2025 Business Journalist Awards! Conor's nomination in the Business Analyst of the Year category is for his work on Ireland's data centres... www.thejournal.ie/investigates...
Ireland's data centres turning to fossil fuels after maxing out country's electricity grid
Climate-impacting emissions are being released from data centres using off-grid generators.
www.thejournal.ie
November 17, 2025 at 4:16 PM
More brilliant news for the TJI team: Conor O'Carroll has made the shortlist for the upcoming 2025 Business Journalist Awards! Conor's nomination in the Business Analyst of the Year category is for his work on Ireland's data centres... www.thejournal.ie/investigates...
Reposted by Patricia Devlin
A child in Tusla care was reported missing 274 times in a single year, The Journal Investigates can reveal.
Records show the Child and Family Agency made almost 7,000 reports to gardaí on children who had gone missing from residential care in the last 5 years.
www.thejournal.ie/tusla-missin...
Records show the Child and Family Agency made almost 7,000 reports to gardaí on children who had gone missing from residential care in the last 5 years.
www.thejournal.ie/tusla-missin...
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM
A child in Tusla care was reported missing 274 times in a single year, The Journal Investigates can reveal.
Records show the Child and Family Agency made almost 7,000 reports to gardaí on children who had gone missing from residential care in the last 5 years.
www.thejournal.ie/tusla-missin...
Records show the Child and Family Agency made almost 7,000 reports to gardaí on children who had gone missing from residential care in the last 5 years.
www.thejournal.ie/tusla-missin...