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Independents Paul Doonan, Seanán Ó Coistín, Clifford T Reid & Liam Ó Gógáin

Pudden Hill Count Center Co. Meath 09:00hrs 14th June 2004
The latest news from the count centre is that Liam polled 3407 1st preference votes. Speaking this morning, he said that he was very pleased and that he didn't have that sense of hurt or disappointment about the election that he had after the 2002 general election.

Dublin 23:19hrs 12 th June 2004
Although the ballot papers have been separated and counted for the Referendum, Local Elections and the European Elections, the actual count for the European Election East Constituency, starts at 9am tomorrow morning the 13th June at the Pudden Hill Activity Centre, Pudden Hill, Ardcath, Garristown in Co. Meath.

These premises are just off the N2. If travelling from Dublin, just beyond the village there is a Shell Station. Kilmoon Cross is exactly four miles from the petrol station. At Kilmoon Cross you take a right, the next right and the next left. There will be sign posting in place to help you find it, all are welcome.

Dundalk 21:33hrs 11th June 2004
EU election candidate Liam Ó Gógáin calls for resignation of Returning Officer in East constituency. read all about it here

Dundalk 22:00hrs 10th June 2004
Just a short word of thanks to my campaign team and supporters for all their efforts during the last few weeks. And dont forget everyone, Vote Liam Ó Gógáin number 1, thanks again.

Dundalk 14:00hrs 9th June 2004
Dont forget this evenings show 'I'M A DAD GET ME OUT OF HERE' in the Dundalk Institute of Technolgy @ 8pm, be there or be [square]

Dublin 09:45hrs 8th June 2004
With just 3 days to go to the European Elections, Independent candidates still receive very little coverage, with just 148 words in todays Irish Times given to describe yesterdays protest.

Dublin 13:00hrs 7th June 2004
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES' COMPLAIN OF MEDIA CENSORSHIP
In an unprecedent show of solidarity this morning at the Headquarters of the European Parliament Offices in Dublin, 4 Independent Candidates complained bitterly of the National Public Broadcasting Service, namely RTEs failure to cover and report fairly on Independent candidates in the forthcoming Euro election. View Press Release here and listen to RTE radio1 news at lunch time here (clip to 25 minutes to hear radio interview) and TV news coverage here clip to 2:25 secs. You need to download real player if you dont already have it.

Dundalk 09:40hrs 5th June 2004
Independent candidate Liam O Gogains web site receives more hits than Avril Doyles, lots more. Since the start of Liams Campaign at the begining of May the site has received almost 50,000 hits. This is against Avrils whose site received only 6158 hits. Liams 'we dont do bill boards..but if we did' campaign focused on increasing awareness of the issues through his website and by all acoounts it would appear to be working.

Dublin 17:30hrs 4th June 2004
The Irish Times today launched an election special on their website click here for details of Liams Election Manifesto on their site

Dundalk 17:15hrs 4th june 2004
Download your copy of Liams Election Manifesto here

Tullamore, Co.Offaly 11:00hrs 2004
Liam to be interviewed on Midlands Radio this morning, if you want to call or comment you may Tel. 1850 715 103 or email goodcompany@midlandsradio.fm

Dublin 13:00hrs 3rd June 2004
Liam to be interviewed on Raidió na Gaeltachta today at 13:30hrs listen hear for full interview in Irish

Dublin 11:30hrs 3rd June 2004
The Vincent Brown programme broadcast from Langton House Hotel in Kilkenny last night gave Liam another opportunity to raise his campaign issues again click here to listen

Dundalk 17:30hrs 2nd June 2004
On Wednesday next June 9th 2004 at 8pm in the Dundalk Institute of Technology---Tony Coleman presents.... I'm a Dad? Get Me Out Of Here! an exciting new one man show written and performed by Tony which had its World Premiere in Droicheaed Arts Centre Drogheda on 20th April 2004.

Kilkenny 17:00hrs 2nd June 2004
Dont forget that Liam is on the Vincent Brown Show tonight starting at 10pm you can tune in to RTE radio 1 in the normal way or access the programme via the web through the link here (you need real player to listen).

Dublin 12:00hrs 2nd June 2004
As a follow on from last Mondays show (see below) RTEs Marian Finucane reads out letters from disavowed Fathers click here to listen (clip from 5mins to 9mins)

Dundalk 10:15hrs 2nd June 2004
Liams Interview on East Coast Radio went very well. Please text in 087-612-5000 or email your comments to news/morning show production at treacy.clifford@eastcoast.fm

Dundalk 18:00hrs 1st June 2004
Liam O Gogain to be interviewed on local radio stations:

Tomorrow June 2nd on East Coast Radio at 10am on The Morning Show
Tomorrow June 2nd on RTE Vincent Brown Show at 10pm

Thursday June 3rd on Radio na Gaeltacht at 1 pm (Nuacht)

Friday June 4th on Midlands Radio FM 103 at 11 am

Dont forget to listen in and call the shows to express your views and support.
Further Stations and media contacts may be accessed through this link

Dublin 10:25hrs 31st May 2004
RTE continues to discriminate and show bias against Fathers...This morning, RTEs Marian Finucane Show broadcast a piece on Fathers and their treatment in the secret Family Law Courts. To discuss the issue RTE did not include Fathers in the discussion but brought in 'experts' Ann O' Neill and Peter Quinn who, as solicitors, have a toxic incentive to promote and promulgate the view that Joint Custody does not work, despite the fact that since 1991 I was the first person, according to the legal profession, to receive Joint Custody of my two sons against the wishes of their mother.

They then went on to further state that Father's are not disciminated in the family courts. Where is RTE's concept of "Fair and Balanced" coverage? Listen to the interview here and judge for yorself. If you wish to make a complaint to RTE you can do so by clicking here for complaints procedures or Telephone Marian 01-2083257

Dundalk 12:10hrs 28th May 2004

Liamog's Let's Beat the Bill Boards Campaign starts here today..... A new young voter said to me yesterday “How am I supposed to know what they stand for when all I can see is a face, not even a web address. I have committed to try to compete in the Elections using the web instead of the Billions of Billboards with nothing but peoples mugs on their posters.
Why not visit campaign HQ

Cork 26th May 2004
Man who set himself on fire in solicitor’s office ‘was
not a client’ read Examiner article here

Cork 10:42hrs 25th May 2004
Tragic Dad consumed in custody battle read latest reports here and here

Cork 09:15hrs 25th May 2004
Father of three driven to despair read the Irish Indo and Irish Times and The Examiner

Dublin 08:15hrs 25th May 2004
Fathers' act was deeply responsible by John Waters click here

Dundalk 14:20hrs 21st May 2004
Further proof of Liam O Gogains statement to the press below is revealed by clicking on the link here or over at at the lop left hand side.<<

Dundalk 10:45hrs 21st May 2004

RTE's Prime Time Blocks Independent Thinking!

Last night’s Prime Time coverage of the EU election Southern Constituency was a further example of the Democratic deficit in this election. RTE is a public service Broadcaster, paid for by the taxpayer and licence fees. The coverage last night discriminated in favour of the Big Parties.

The final insult to independents was when THEY (Who are THEY the thought police !) slapped up a short clip of three “ALSO RANS”. Almost as an afterthought Miriam O’Callaghan briefly mentioned these three valid candidates in the EU election (taking around 9 seconds for all three), each of whom had to collect 60 signatures from assenters, under deliberately confusing conditions (The DOE have still failed to produce an organisational plan and structure for managing this election).

To emphasise the irrelevance (as determined by the RTE editors) of the independent voices in our society, Miriam O’Callaghan correctly named all three, including ANTHONY O’Connor, but the title clearly but incorrectly identified him as ANDREW O’Connor (what does it matter I hear them say. Sure, he won’t be relevant to the outcome of the election).

Having seen this abuse of Public service broadcasting and casting aside of independent voices in the South, I contacted RTE Prime Time this morning to ensure that my voice in the EAST Constituency will be given equal opportunity (I keep thinking that’s what the EU does, you know EQUALITY!!). Should I be surprised to know that they told me filming is proceeding in preparation for the show next Thursday 27th May but that I am not included in their filming schedule.

I have spoken at length to Peter Feeney RTE and I have requested the copies of the criteria used by RTE in determining fairness of coverage, which I will post here.

Basically their philosophy is that exposure is based to a large degree on legacies from previous elections (5 year intervals in a fast changing world) Note 5 years ago. 1999, Last EU Election was before broadband, pre-Bin Laden, pre September 11th, almost pre mass mobile phone and when a huge number of voters were then underage. What a joke!! More importantly what a threat to representative democracy.

Contact Peter Feeney RTE at 01-2083122 or email: peter.feeney@rte.ie to demand equal coverage for father's issues and my independent campaign.

Dundalk 23:00 19th May 2004
The first of many emails arrives declaring support for Liam's campaign. A Father of two wrote this morning that having received Liams election flyer, it prompted him to email telling his story and wishing Liam well in the campaign. "It is my intention, that with the permission of these individuals who send in their stories, that I will publish them on my site" said Liam.

Dundalk 13:25hrs Wednesday 19th May 2004
I am considering threats of action which I may face for my exposing multimedia material recordings on this website. I believe that officials cannot hide their abuse through threats of legal action. This same approach prevented exposure of the planning scandals for years. I want to ensure that you the public get to see and hear the hidden abuse and professional misconduct. Keep in touch

Dublin 09:15hrs Tuesday 18th May 2004
44 to seek 13 Euro seats as nominations close
read Irish Independent Article here and Irish Times here

Dublin 23:00hrs Monday 17th May 2004
44 candidates to contest European elections
As the deadline for nominations for the European Elections closed today a total of 44 Candidates will contest this years Election on June the 11th.The East constituency, which is a three-seater, has 13 candidates , including six independents one of which is Liam O Gogain. read RTE news item

Trim, County Meath 14:58hrs Saturday 15th May 2004
This afternoon in Trim Circuit Court, Ms. Maire Tehan the returning officer for the East Constituency in the upcoming euro elections officially declared Liam O Gogains nomination papers valid.

Before she did so Ms. Tehan struck out the term 'Father' and accepted 'College Lecturer' as Liams occupation. Liam then asked Ms. Tehan to sign the adjusted document but Ms. Tehan rufused to do so, she also refused to grant Liam a copy of the nomination papers complete with assenters. In a statement to the press afterwards Liam said that he found Ms. Tehan's attitude most unhelpful and the whole process very intimidating and disheartning .

This is the third time in running for elections that Liam has been abused and obstructed by state officials, the last time it occured was in the Dail and Seanad elections of 2002. Liam further stated that the refusal by Ms. Tehan to accept 'Father' as an occupation was the ultimate insult for his 60 assenters who went out of their way by giving up their precious time and energy to assent to his nomination form in the first place.

Dundalk 16:57hrs Friday 14th May 2004
The O Gogain Campaign team were in Jubilant mood late this afternoon as they heard news that all 60 assenters have signed up to the nomination papers allowing for Liam to be accepted as a candidate in Euro Election 2004. Liam expressed his heartfelt thanks to all those who very kindly gave their time and effort to sign the necessary paperwork. Speaking shortly after the final name was added to the list, he wished to extend a special thank you to Luke Martin and Sean Kelly for their trojan efforts in organising and driving people to the Council offices.

Dublin 17:30 Thursday 13th May 2004
European Conference on family policy takes place in Dublin
Euro Candidate Liam O Gogain attended the presidency's conference on Family Policy today in Dublin Castle. Mr. O Gogain in a statement to the press said that the conference once again totally neglegted the plight of fathers not only in Ireland but across the whole of the extended European Union.

Dundalk 16:00hrs Thursday 13th May 2004
Thanks to Luke Martin in Dundalk the list of assenters has risen to 51 and still remains at 3 in Navan. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon Liam will officially be declared and accepted as a candidate for the june 11th European Elections.

Dundalk 17:00hrs Wednesday 12th May 2004
The list of assenters to Liam's Nomination form has increased to 31 in Dundalk and 3 in Navan. The call has gone out to rally the troops and round up as many assenters as possible to sign up.

Dundalk 17:00hrs Tuesday 11th May 2004
By the close of business today in the County Councils offices the Campaign team had gathered 15 signatures for Liam's nomination form, this is good work and bodes well for the coming deadline of receipt of nominations which will take place from 10.00am on Monday May 10th through to 12 noon on Monday May 17th 2004.

Navan, County Meath 16:00hrs 11th May 2004
Liam O Gogain lodges his paperwork with Meath County Council spreading his net wider in order that he can comply with the 60 assenters rule.

Dublin 11:30hrs Tuesday 11th May 2004
Final preparations are made to the Election Flyer as Liam and his team in Dundalk continue to gather 'assenters' for his nomination form.

Dundalk 17:00hrs Monday 10th May 2004
Nominations process inhibits independent candidates
Euro candidate Liam O Gogain Experiences difficulties.... read here

Dundalk, County Louth 10:00hrs Monday 10th May 2004
Father of two Liam O Gogain is the latest candidate to throw his hat into the €uro ring. Announcing his candidature today Mr. O Gogain says that he will be bringing the fight for Justice for Fathers all the way to the European parliament should he be elected.