Why do so many heterosexual women have AIDS? Or do they?
And why is the Irish government (as in, the Irish public) paying for young women’s trans self-harm adventures abroad?
Myself and veteran journalist Paddy O’Gorman touch on our era’s most untouchable media taboos. Plus: prisons, perverts, and general institutional capture.
Enjoy.
Show notes (AI generated)
Host: Róisín Michaux
Guest: Paddy O’Gorman
Episode Overview
In this episode of Peaked, Róisín Michaux speaks with veteran Irish journalist and podcaster Paddy O’Gorman about journalism, Irish gender medicine, trans medical tourism, HIV/AIDS history, public health messaging, institutional incentives, and the role of international organisations in shaping domestic policy.
Rather than serving as a fact-check, these notes function as a forensic reference guide to the people, reports, court cases, studies, speeches, and media coverage directly referenced throughout the discussion.
Paddy O’Gorman
Former RTÉ journalist with approximately 40 years of experience.
Current affiliations:
🔗 Paddy’s Podcast
https://paddyspodcast.ie/
🔗 GRIPT
https://gript.ie/
🔗 Genspect
https://genspect.org/
Paddy’s reporting philosophy:
“Stand at a place. And listen.”
Journalism, Courts & Vulnerable Services
Shauna Kavanagh (Limerick Prison / Rathmines Refuge)
Referenced during discussions about domestic violence refuges and safeguarding.
Rathmines Refuge Assault
🔗 Irish Examiner
No jail for hairdresser who pulled clumps of hair in attack on homeless woman
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41222173.html
Previous Assault Conviction
🔗 Irish Times
Woman jailed for assaulting a family friend who was trying to break up a fight
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/woman-jailed-for-assaulting-a-family-friend-who-was-trying-to-break-up-a-fight-1.4498193
Barbie Kardashian
Referenced as another example of controversy involving placement, violence, and media reporting.
Threats to Kill Sentence
Acquittal
🔗 RTÉ
https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2024/1025/1477497-barbie-kardashian-verdict/
Commentary Referenced
🔗 Genspect
https://genspect.org/barbie-kardashian-and-the-gaslighting-of-the-irish-public/
Graham Linehan
Referenced in relation to Irish media framing.
Sophia Brooks Incident
🔗 BBC
Father Ted creator denies harassing trans woman
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx2vk4zx3xo
🔗 Associated Press
https://apnews.com/article/1f00e523d76c4ca3b54d0b5908c2d693
Irish Trans Medical Tourism
Kenneth O’Flynn
Independent Ireland TD Kenneth O’Flynn submitted parliamentary questions examining public expenditure on overseas gender procedures.
🔗 Oireachtas Parliamentary Question (7 May 2026)
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-07/510/
Treatment Abroad Scheme
🔗 HSE
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/treatment-abroad-scheme/
EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive
🔗 Directive 2011/24/EU
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011L0024
Mary Butler
Referenced extensively due to the contrast Paddy draws between youth body modification policies.
Under-18 Tattoo Bill
🔗 Oireachtas Bill
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/125/
🔗 The Journal
https://www.thejournal.ie/tattoo-piercing-ban-under-18-4342497-Nov2018/
“Behind the Scenes” Comments
🔗 Fianna Fáil Video
https://www.facebook.com/fiannafail/videos/all-theyre-looking-for-is-respect-and-support-and-theyre-not-harming-anyoneas-a-/1529474904915445/
Mary Lou McDonald
Referenced during discussions around lived experience and Sinn Féin’s evolving position.
Supporting Her Trans Sibling
🔗 GCN
https://gcn.ie/mary-lou-mcdonald-support-trans-sibling/
Late Late Show Discussion
🔗 The Journal
https://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-trans-healthcare-trans-policy-6687580-Apr2025/
“People Need to Cop On”
Dr Sidhbh Gallagher
Irish plastic surgeon practising in Miami.
Irish Times Profile Criticised by Paddy
🔗 Irish Times
Meet the Irish surgeon changing lives for transgender Americans
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/working-abroad/meet-the-irish-surgeon-changing-lives-for-transgender-americans-1.3561668
Response Referenced
🔗 GRIPT
https://gript.ie/what-the-irish-times-didnt-tell-you-about-dr-sidhbh-gallagher/
Simon Harris Connection
The GRIPT article notes Gallagher’s previous engagement with Simon Harris regarding trans healthcare discussions.
Cass Review
Referenced as a major international reassessment.
🔗 Cass Review
https://cass.independent-review.uk/
HIV / AIDS History
UNAIDS Global Report 2012
One of the central reports repeatedly referenced.
Key themes:
• concentrated epidemics
• generalised epidemics
• key populations
PrEP
🔗 Sexual Wellbeing Ireland
https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/sexual-health/prep/
HPSC
🔗 Health Protection Surveillance Centre
https://www.hpsc.ie/
HIV Criminalisation
🔗 UNAIDS Factsheet
https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2024/01-hiv-human-rights-factsheet-criminalization
Drug Decriminalisation
🔗 UNAIDS
https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2026/20260310_Decriminalization-drug-use-HIV
Sex Work Guidance
🔗 UNAIDS PDF
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/JC2306_UNAIDS-guidance-note-HIV-sex-work_en_0.pdf
MSM & Key Populations
🔗 WHO
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241500129
🔗 UNAIDS
https://www.unaids.org/en/topic/key-populations
Southeast Asia HIV Study
Referenced when discussing transmission patterns.
🔗 PubMed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23260128/
🔗 Full Text
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3956879/
Important correction:
The study reported approximately 49 times higher odds, not 49%.
Bridge Populations
🔗 PubMed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11287870/
Ryan White
Referenced as an example of public perception and stigma during the AIDS epidemic.
🔗 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/
Peter Piot
Likely the “Ebola Peter” referenced.
Belgian microbiologist involved in the discovery of Ebola and later Executive Director of UNAIDS.
🔗 Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/25/peter-piot-scientist-ebola-congo
🔗 Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Piot
Thabo Mbeki
Referenced during broader discussions of AIDS policy controversies.
🔗 Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thabo-Mbeki
Róisín Murphy
Referenced as an example of backlash following comments on puberty blockers.
🔗 Pitchfork
https://pitchfork.com/news/roisin-murphy-shares-statement-after-inflammatory-comment-on-trans-rights
🔗 Entertainment Weekly
https://ew.com/celebrity/roisin-murphy-apology-fire-brimstone-trans-rights-comments/
Maya Forstater
Referenced by Róisín.
Let Toys Be Toys
🔗 Hiyamaya
https://hiyamaya.net/2012/12/05/let-toys-be-toys/?ref=forstater.com
Patrick Kavanagh
Referenced quotation:
“Because the wise men have not spoken, I speak as a fool.”
🔗 Poetry Foundation
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/patrick-kavanagh
Pádraig Pearse
🔗 Oration at the Graveside of O’Donovan Rossa
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Oration_at_the_Graveside_of_O%27Donovan_Rossa
UNICEF / Liam Neeson
Referenced during discussions around messaging.
🔗 UNICEF Appeal
https://help.unicef.org/en/special-appeal-from-Liam-Neeson
Host
Róisín Michaux
🔗 X
https://x.com/RoisinMichaux
🔗 Peaked Substack
🔗 Apple Podcasts
Guest
Paddy O’Gorman
🔗 Paddy’s Podcast
https://paddyspodcast.ie/
https://gript.ie/
🔗 Genspect
https://genspect.org/paddy-ogormans-letter-from-ireland/
Listen & Subscribe
🎧 Peaked is available on Substack and major podcast platforms.
🔗
