Chay Bowes is an Irish businessperson, journalist and internet personality. He was a co-founder of The Ditch website. He often writes about his pro-Russian and anti-West views on his social media pages, mainly X (the former Twitter).[2]
Chay Bowes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bowes in 2021 | |
| Born | Dublin, Ireland |
| Education | Master's degree in strategic studies[1] |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Known for | Co-founder of The Ditch |
Career
editAfter completing school, Bowes joined the Irish Army medical corps in 1988.[3][4] In 1993, he was a phlebotimist in St. James's Hospital and following this, he set up a mobile phlebotomy service.[4][5] This company expanded its services to include other procedures, such as vaccinations, and provided services to the HSE.
Around 2004, Bowes founded Tara Healthcare with Dr. Gerry McElvaney.[4][6][5] This company was an early provider of home treatments for complex illness in Ireland and won valuable state contracts. The HSE was criticised for using Tara Healthcare for providing services that were already available in the public system at a lower cost.[7] Tara Healthcare was subsequently acquired by Vhi Healthcare. Bowes went on to become head of the VHI homecare division before selling his stake and leaving in 2011. Bowes owned and ran several other business in the following number of years including an outdoor store chain, which also sold firearms.[6][8]
Around 2017, Bowes founded Community Hospital Ireland with Neil Pope.[4] While promoting the business, he made contact with Maitiú Ó Tuathail, then president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP). The project ran into what Bowes viewed as political opposition. While acting as chief executive of the NAGP, Bowes supplied information about Leo Varadkar providing a copy of a confidential document on GP contracts to Ó Tuathail, in a story which was broken by Village magazine in 2020.[9]
In 2020, right-wing media outlet Gript published an article linking Bowes to an anonymous Twitter account that had expressed views supportive of Vladimir Putin and made homophobic comments. In 2021, Bowes initiated a lawsuit against Gript writers John McGuirk and Gary Kavanagh over the article.[10][11]
In April 2021, Bowes co-created the Irish political news website The Ditch, alongside journalists Eoghan McNeill and Roman Shortall and his personal friend,[9] businessman Paddy Cosgrave.[12][13]
Bowes resigned his directorship at The Ditch in June 2022.[14] He denied allegations that the Russian government was involved in the website.[15]
Connections to Russia
editBowes addressed the UN Security Council at Russia's invitation in 29 June 2023.[16] He was introduced as a "scholar specialising in small arms and munitions" and criticized NATO's role in the Russo-Ukrainian war.[2] He described the war as a NATO-driven proxy conflict, warning of unregulated arms flooding into Ukraine.[2] Russia defended Bowes, while Ukraine's ambassador dismissed him as a "Russian stooge".[2] His UN appearance was part of Russia's effort to shift blame for the war onto the West.[2]
Bowes has worked for the Russian state media network RT, and portrays the West as the antagonist in Russia's war on Ukraine. His views, aligned with Kremlin viewpoints, positions him as a key figure in disseminating pro-Russian narratives.[1][17] Following the invasion of the Kursk Oblast by Ukrainian troops, Bowes described it as a "last desperate roll of the dice for Ukraine". He also said that the invasion by the "corrupt Kiev elite" was ordered by "the masters in London and Washington".[18]
Bowes lives in Russia.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Chay Bowes: Self-proclaimed Freedom Fighter and Journalist Spreading Kremlin Disinformation". Uacrisis.org. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Murray, Yvonne (30 June 2023). "Who is Chay Bowes and why did he speak at the UN?". RTÉ.
- ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (3 November 2020). "Who are the main players in the Varadkar document leak?". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Michael (31 October 2020). "Leo Varadkar, lawbreaker: Tánaiste transferred confidential document to friend". Village Magazine.
- ^ a b "Chay Bowes: HSE Perpetuating Dysfunction". Cassandra Voices. 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Chay Bowes misses the target". The Phoenix. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2024.}
- ^ McDonagh, Michelle (11 December 2007). "HSE 'outreach' decision criticised". The Irish Times.
- ^ Mahon, Brian (17 August 2024). "Leo Varadkar leak whistleblower Chay Bowes backs 'more inquiring' news site". The Times.
- ^ a b Mahon, Brian (17 June 2021). "Leo Varadkar leak whistleblower Chay Bowes backs 'more inquiring' news site". The Times. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Bowes sues Gript duo over 'homophobe' claims in article". www.businesspost.ie. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "CHAY BOWES VERSUS GRIPT". The Phoenix Magazine. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Ditch Media Limited - Irish and UK Company Information - Vision-Net". www.vision-net.ie. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Tighe, Mark (25 July 2022). "Hurlers on The Ditch: The small online news team who plunged An Bord Pleanála into crisis". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Sheahan, Fionnán (9 July 2022). "Paddy Cosgrave, Chay Bowes and the inside story of a scandal that imperilled a Taoiseach". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Ryan, Philip; Moloney, Eoghan; Gataveckaite, Gabija (28 April 2023). "Chay Bowes blasts Martin's 'utterly baseless conspiracy theories' of Russian involvement in The Ditch website". Irish Independent.
- ^ "On the UN Security Council briefing on arms supplies to Ukraine". india.mid.ru. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Raymond, Shane (17 November 2024). "Ireland "a victim of Russian disinformation", experts on Ukraine war say". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "The attack on the Kursk region will end with the complete defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces — Whose Bowes". EADaily. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.