Chay Bowes

After completing school, Bowes joined the Irish Army medical corps in 1988.{{cite news |last1=Horgan-Jones |first1=Jack |title=Who are the main players in the Varadkar document leak? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/who-are-the-main-players-in-the-varadkar-document-leak-1.4398276 |work=The Irish Times |date=3 November 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1= Michael |title=Leo Varadkar, lawbreaker: Tánaiste transferred confidential document to friend |url=https://villagemagazine.ie/varadkar-leaks-confidential-document/ |work=Village Magazine |date=31 October 2020 |language=en}} In 1993, he was a phlebotimist in St. James's Hospital and following this, he set up a mobile phlebotomy service.{{cite news |title=Chay Bowes: HSE Perpetuating Dysfunction |url=https://cassandravoices.com/science-environment/science/chay-bowes-hse-perpetuates-dysfunction/ |work=Cassandra Voices |date=12 November 2021 |language=en}} 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. 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.{{cite news |last1=McDonagh |first1=Michelle |title=HSE 'outreach' decision criticised |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/hse-outreach-decision-criticised-1.990585 |work=The Irish Times |date=11 December 2007 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=22 March 2018 |title=Chay Bowes misses the target |url=https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/chay-bowes-misses-the-target/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=The Phoenix |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Mahon |first1=Brian |title=Leo Varadkar leak whistleblower Chay Bowes backs 'more inquiring' news site |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/leo-varadkar-leak-whistleblower-chay-bowes-backs-more-inquiring-news-site-x08mshz5k |work=The Times |date=17 August 2024 |language=en}}

Around 2017, Bowes founded Community Hospital Ireland with Neil Pope. 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 released information showing Leo Varadkar had provided a copy of a confidential document on GP contracts to Ó Tuathail, in a story which was broken by Village magazine in 2020.

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, urged Russia to slaughter Ukrainians and made homophobic comments. In 2021, Bowes initiated a lawsuit against Gript writers John McGuirk and Gary Kavanagh over the article.{{Cite web |title=Bowes sues Gript duo over ‘homophobe’ claims in article |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/news/bowes-sues-gript-duo-over-homophobe-claims-in-article/ |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.businesspost.ie |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-06-25 |title=CHAY BOWES VERSUS GRIPT |url=https://www.thephoenix.ie/2021/06/chay-bowes-versus-gript/ |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=The Phoenix Magazine |language=en-GB}}

In April 2021, Bowes co-created the Irish political news website The Ditch, alongside journalists Eoghan McNeill and Roman Shortall and his personal friend,{{cite news |last=Mahon |first=Brian |date=17 June 2021 |title=Leo Varadkar leak whistleblower Chay Bowes backs 'more inquiring' news site |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/leo-varadkar-leak-whistleblower-chay-bowes-backs-more-inquiring-news-site-x08mshz5k |access-date=12 August 2024 |work=The Times |location=}} businessman Paddy Cosgrave.{{cite web |title=Ditch Media Limited - Irish and UK Company Information - Vision-Net |url=https://www.vision-net.ie/Irish-Company-Report/701550 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=www.vision-net.ie}}{{cite news |last=Tighe |first=Mark |date=25 July 2022 |title=Hurlers on The Ditch: The small online news team who plunged An Bord Pleanála into crisis |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hurlers-on-the-ditch-the-small-online-news-team-who-plunged-an-bord-pleanala-into-crisis-41865535.html |access-date=12 August 2024 |work=Irish Independent |location=}}

Bowes resigned his directorship at The Ditch in June 2022.{{cite news |last=Sheahan |first=Fionnán |date=9 July 2022 |title=Paddy Cosgrave, Chay Bowes and the inside story of a scandal that imperilled a Taoiseach |url=https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/paddy-cosgrave-chay-bowes-and-the-inside-story-of-a-scandal-that-imperilled-a-taoiseach-41826510.html |access-date=12 August 2024 |work=The Irish Independent |location=}} He denied allegations that the Russian government was involved in the website.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Philip |last2=Moloney |first2=Eoghan |last3=Gataveckaite |first3=Gabija |title=Chay Bowes blasts Martin's 'utterly baseless conspiracy theories' of Russian involvement in The Ditch website |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/chay-bowes-blasts-martins-utterly-baseless-conspiracy-theories-of-russian-involvement-in-the-ditch-website/a1233986893.html |work=Irish Independent |date=28 April 2023 |language=en}}

Bowes addressed the UN Security Council at Russia's invitation in 29 June 2023.{{Cite web |title=On the UN Security Council briefing on arms supplies to Ukraine |url=https://india.mid.ru/en/news/on_the_un_security_council_briefing_on_arms_supplies_to_ukraine/?TSPD_101_R0=08765fb817ab200029f7073452c7710175f75b42204292767e8b2bbb6f3441a55fa38bbadbb3193008042ed5a6143000724bada8bde001ba8e3104f87f71892c7a6923a538e5ecebbc4a15d2a4c9e0d282bb1317a269032b393ca258f22abedc |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=india.mid.ru}} He was introduced as a "scholar specialising in small arms and munitions" and criticized NATO's role in the Russo-Ukrainian war.{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Yvonne |date=2023-06-30 |title=Who is Chay Bowes and why did he speak at the UN? |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2023/0630/1392098-un-chay-bowes/ |publisher=RTÉ|language=en}} He described the war as a NATO-driven proxy conflict, warning of unregulated arms flooding into Ukraine. Russia defended Bowes, while Ukraine's ambassador dismissed him as a "Russian stooge". His UN appearance was part of Russia's effort to shift blame for the war onto the West.

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-30 |title=Chay Bowes: Self-proclaimed Freedom Fighter and Journalist Spreading Kremlin Disinformation |url=https://uacrisis.org/en/chay-bowes-self-proclaimed-freedom-fighter-and-journalist-spreading-kremlin-disinformation |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Uacrisis.org |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-17 |title=Ireland "a victim of Russian disinformation", experts on Ukraine war say |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ukraine-russia-disinformation-china-campaigns-embassy-symposium-6224226-Nov2023/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=thejournal.ie |first=Shane |last=Raymond}} Following the invasion of the Kursk Oblast by Ukrainian troops, Bowes described it as "Ukraines last ditch roll of the Dice" (sic). He also said that the invasion by the "corrupt Kiev elites" was ordered by "their masters in London and Washington".{{Cite tweet |user=BowesChay |number=1822237563437899803 |title=Ukraines last ditch roll of the Dice will tellingly happen inside Russia}}

Bowes lives in Russia.

Bowes was detained on 1 May, 2025, on his arrival at Bucharest airport on his way to Romania, to cover the presidential election.{{cite news |last1=Pepper |first1=Diarmuid |last2=Walsh |first2=Andrew |date=1 May 2025 |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/chay-bowes-arrested-in-romania-upon-landing-to-cover-election-6693708-May2025/ |title=Irish journalist and RT correspondent Chay Bowes reportedly arrested in Romania |journal=The Journal |access-date=2025-05-03}} He was prevented from entering under a law that prevents foreign interference in Romanian politics.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Jack |last2=Ryan |first2=Órla |date=2 May 2025 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/05/02/chay-bowes-an-irishman-working-for-russian-state-media-is-deported-from-romania/ |title=Chay Bowes, an Irishman working for Russian state media, deported from Romania |journal=The Irish Times |access-date=2025-05-03}} He was provided with information how to challenge the charges, but decided to book a flight to Turkey instead.

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Category:Date of birth unknown

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Irish businesspeople

Category:21st-century Irish journalists

Category:Journalists from Dublin (city)

Category:RT (TV network) people