Lockdowns Destroy Lives

This is John's story. He lives in the province of Munster in the Republic of Ireland. My story is not extreme. It will not bring anyone to tears, nor will it make any headlines. I share it only as an example of the insanity we’re all going through, in all its minute, specific, banal detail. I live in Ireland and my partner works in England, as a paramedic. During the lockdown, we were apart for three months; in recent months, he has been able to return once every three weeks, for about three or four nights. Otherwise, I’ve been alone for most of the year. In the initial period of this insane overreaction, I immediately lost all of my work, which I don’t see returning. I am self-employed and my sources of work have largely accepted the idea that ‘things will never be the same again’. Without going into the details of my job, that basically takes away 90% of my income. My mother is also alone. A fortnight ago, she fell over and fractured her wrist. I have not been able to help her as...

The purpose of this blog is to highlight the suffering that lockdowns and excessive restrictions are causing individuals and families throughout Britain and Ireland. If you have lost your livelihood, are suffering with your mental health, or are facing a delay in receiving other vital health treatment then this blog can host your story. In what ever way lockdown may be impacting your life then I would like to hear from you. (See below for contact details) There isn't enough focus in the mainstream media on the individual costs of lockdowns and excessive restrictions and the suffering and devastation it is bringing or will bring to people's lives. All of which will become more pronounced when government supports are cut back and furloughed staff are let go when inevitably more businesses go to the wall.   Too many people, including much of the legacy media, seem to blindly accept that the UK and Irish governments are acting in the best interests of  public health by imposi...