Through the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), the EU supports a European network of factcheckers, including TheJournal in Ireland. For a monthly roundup of European factchecks, visit the main EDMO website. Here, we highlight recent pieces by TheJournal FactCheck team.
Debunked: Story of a Cork woman being knocked out after smelling perfume is an urban legend
Published: 26 August – by Shane Raymond
A viral story about a Cork woman being knocked out by perfume and robbed is an urban legend. It contains Americanisms, references nonexistent local places, and gardaí found no matching incident. Similar versions have circulated online since the early 2000s.
Debunked: The UK has not agreed to accommodate ‘4,000 Moroccans’ who illegally entered Ceuta
Published: 27 August – by Shane Raymond
The claim that the UK agreed to accommodate 4,000 Moroccan migrants from Ceuta is false. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made no such announcement and said it’s “a matter for the Spanish government.” The additional claim that migrants murdered Spaniards in Ceuta is also baseless, with no reported murders.
Debunked: Weeks-old videos falsely said to show ‘second wave’ of migrants entering Ceuta
Published: 21 August – by Shane Raymond
Videos shared online as evidence of a new mass migration into Ceuta were actually recorded during the July crisis. While smaller groups have since attempted to cross from Morocco, they were stopped before reaching the Spanish enclave. The footage was misleadingly reshared by prominent right-wing figures, gaining millions of views on social media.