Alison O'Connor: Razor-thin public tolerance for boys at top tier of arrogance league

There is a mean atmosphere running through many aspects of our public discourse. This is directly connected to the scarcity of tolerance that can exist during a frightening pandemic

Michael Cullen has remained in his role at the Beacon Hospital despite publicly-owned vaccines being given to teachers and staff at the private fee-paying school attended by his children. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

I wanted to impress upon the consultant that my elderly relative was really sick, despite fronting up well when doctors or nurses were in the hospital room. A day or two after surgery there was a real issue with delirium. This was a person who in normal times was totally “with it”.

“You know”, I told the doctor, trying to give a sense of the paranoia going on, “there are some crazy delusions going on, not least an entire conspiracy theory surrounding Denis O’Brien". Quick as a flash, as he leaned against the wall of the Denis O’Brien-owned Beacon Hospital, he responded: “Well who doesn’t have one of those going on?” Touché Doctor.