Yes, facts do matter

The Journal's attempted take-down of the criticisms of the ALCI's invitation to Mr Jacob Engelsman is a distraction from the real issue: only women breastfeed. And child health and safeguarding should be the priority, not the ideology of adults.

Yes, facts do matter
Photo by The Climate Reality Project / Unsplash

Based on thread from 26th October 2026

The Journal's Stephen McDermott whose Twitter/X bio reads

"Editor @TJ_factcheck for @thejournal_ie. Any opinions are mine."

reported yesterday in The Journal regarding the recent controversy over Mr Jacob Engelsman's planned talks to the ALCI, the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland:

From The Journal 25th October 2026 Archived copy here.

But Mr Engelsman had provided a link to his CV through his website https://www.jacobengelsmanibclc.com/

And his CV clearly lists his conference presentations and also provides an email address:

Excerpt from Mr Engelsman's CV

The Journal is one of the members of a sub-group of the Government's National Counter Disinformation Strategy Working Group: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/national-counter-disinformation-strategy-working-group/

Representative organisations in the Subgroup membership of the National Counter Disinformation Strategy Working Group

It's just a distraction though from the really important issue, isn't it? One which the ALCI flunked.

Breastfeeding is only done by women.

Babies need breastmilk not ideology.

No one can change sex no matter what they think.

Most importantly: #ChildSafeguardingMatters @HSELive