Jim Fitzpatrick

Belfast

Investigative Reporter, Presenter, and Editorial Consultant at Freelance

Journalist, presenter, event host and editorial consultant. Chair @peaceplayersni. Consulting Editor @irish_news and host of business podcast Trading Up.

Articles

Juice Jar founder Sam Shephard talks for first time about snorkelling tragedy for which he was awarded George Cross

2 months ago | msn.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

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Juice Jar founder Sam Shephard talks for first time about snorkelling tragedy for which he was awarded George Cross

2 months ago | irishnews.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

The entrepreneur behind the Juice Jar chain has talked for the first time about the tragic incident for which he was awarded the George Cross for extraordinary bravery. Sam Shephard, who has a chain of six juice bar outlets throughout Northern Ireland and England and is opening his seventh venue on Dublin’s Dawson Street next month, previously served in the Royal Marines with tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Many factors play into finding right amount of development

Nov 20, 2024 | gmtoday.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

As a member of both the City of Cedarburg Plan Commission and the Common Council, I've paid particular attention to the "Stop Over Development" signs popping up throughout the city. I happen to share this concern but also worry the sentiment of many may actually be "Stop ALL Development." As this debate begins in earnest, the commission and council will be tasked with striking the right balance between preserving the charm of Cedarburg while fostering responsible growth via economic development.
OCCRP Investigation Prompts Calls to Strengthen UK Party Financing Laws

Jun 25, 2024 | occrp.org | Peter Geoghegan |Jim Fitzpatrick

The appeal comes as the Conservatives, who have faced accusations of failing to stem the flow of foreign money into the country’s politics, gear up for a general election on July 4. “Independent bodies and security experts agree that U.K. electoral law has serious weaknesses that make our democracy vulnerable to undue influence,” said George Havenhand, a senior legal researcher at the advocacy group Spotlight on Corruption.
Tories accepted £50,000 donation from firm linked to Baroness Mone’s husband

Jun 23, 2024 | thetimes.com | George Greenwood |Peter Geoghegan |Jim Fitzpatrick

Labour has called for an investigation into the source of a £50,000 donation to the Conservatives from an accounting firm with links to Baroness Mone’s husband. Pulse Accounting made the donation to the Tories in October 2020. At the time it was controlled by a business associate of Doug Barrowman, Mone’s financier husband. Barrowman and Mone have come under scrutiny after PPE Medpro, a company which Barrowman invested in, received £203 million in PPE contracts in June 2020.
Small Time Angel: Ch. 2

Jun 10, 2024 | medium.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

Ryan was greeted by the waitress and seated in a booth by a window. Outside a light rain had begun falling, and water that dripped off the glowing red neon tubing that spelled 'Guido's' formed rivulets down the glass.
A Small Time Angel was Kicked off His Cloud to Manage Hades' Australian Territory. It's not good.

Jun 10, 2024 | medium.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

Just a small time angel, who's avoided sin. / They kicked me off the cloud to manage hell for them. / Then they tried everything to take my soul from me. / They call me the devil, the evil one, a tempter, / Lucifer, seducer and a master liar. / They laid a darkness on humanity, / turned around, blamed it on me. The office was large and substantial, essentially an archive, thick timber shelves laden with papyri, medieval manuscripts, banned books.
Zulu Child '71

May 18, 2024 | medium.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

I took the photograph in 1971, and it has hung on my wall for most of the past forty years. As with numerous people I have met or known in my 81 years, I occasionally wonder, is he still alive? I have no way of knowing. But his stare has never wavered over the years, so I had to resolve the asking. Natal, South Africa, 1971 - by author. Took me a photograph in 1971, been hanging on my wall all these years. A sixtieth of a second of eternity, your face has always been there to see.
Small Time Angel

May 13, 2024 | medium.com | Jim Fitzpatrick

Dev has managed hell's Australian franchise for a century, but Aussies are a tough mob to deal with, and few now believe in him. If he doesn't turn things around, he loses the franchise. A new chapter every few days. Heaven, Hell. Facets of postulated, problematic, post-life existence. Locations uncertain. Rumoured to have contrasting environments, portrayed in detail by some who have been to neither. Occupants reportedly assume irrevocable leases.
I Fought the Law and the Law Lost Because My Father is Rich

Feb 2, 2024 | thehardtimes.net | Jim Fitzpatrick

I’d never considered myself a hero until I was staring down the prison industrial complex and made the law relent, all it took was unwavering courage, and the best lawyers on the West Coast all hired by my rich father. Let me paint the scene, it was a Saturday night and I was driving home from a show at the DIY venue/cocaine empire I manage when tragedy struck. I may have been crushing Four Lokos and speeding, I may have swerved into oncoming traffic, I may have hit a guy crossing the street.