Fact check: A man received a phone call from someone claiming to be from British intelligence who warned him he was a "person of in…

Verdict: mixed — Trust Score 45/100

The TikTok video features John O'Looney, a funeral director known for his controversial views on COVID-19. While it is true that O'Looney was hospitalized with COVID-19 in December 2021, many of the specific claims he makes in the audio regarding British intelligence, an empty hospital triage, and hospital staff attempting to place him on a COVID ward despite negative tests are unverified or contradict credible reports. cross-checked by 10 sources.

Platform
tiktok
Source author
ukpodcas — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRT38gk7/
Verified on
June 26, 2026
Verification ID
dlKv5Zy7ZuDshBf0vQvM8w

Original content reviewed

Platform: TIKTOK Author: @ukpodcas --- Caption/Description --- Would you dismiss this story — or would you want it looked into properly? #currentaffairs #Unitedkingdom #ukpolitics #podcasts #liamtuff --- Audio Transcript (What was said) --- Still 10 people I might save. So I took a phone call from a guy who told me he was from British intelligence, right? And usually I would go, yeah, and I'm fucking Batman. Thank you. But I listen to this guy and he was really compelling. He was an older guy and he was up for retirement, but he hadn't retired, they'd asked him to stay on, um, obviously, cause there, there is a need for it, isn't there? That in this times that we're going through. And he said, everything you've said is true, is right. He said, and also you are a person of interest, you'll be targeted. And I was like. Anyway, I listened to him for about 40 minutes. I'll come off the phone. I was like, fuck! And. And you know, I was going in every day, I was opening the door and the mailbone, emptying the kettle. And you know, what do you do when. When you're a person of. Of interest and you're gonna be time in? This guy handles the messages and he's seen me and he's told me, um. So anyway, 3 4 weeks later, I fell ill and I got really, really breathless to the point where I had to call an ambulance. And my SATs went down to 78%. And I've been in touch with a lot of doctors. And because lots of doctors know me and lots of doctors have reached out and they've made it to Me, what's going on? Anyway, I got took to hospital, I went into triage and this was December, end of December 2021. And it was empty. There was no one else in that triage? None. No one there. I've never seen it empty. And this was at a time when they were reporting saying how overrun they are with COVID. There was no one in there. I got sore straight away, that's how overrun they were, right? So anyway, the girl said, I want to do a PCR test. I said, I ain't doing a PCR test, cause by then I knew the

Claims analyzed (6)

  1. unverifiable: A man received a phone call from someone claiming to be from British intelligence who warned him he was a "person of interest" and would be targeted.
    John O'Looney has made this claim in various interviews. However, there is no independent, verifiable evidence from official British intelligence sources or credible news outlets to corroborate this specific claim of a warning call. While British intelligence agencies do identify 'persons of interest' in investigations, there is no public record confirming such a call to O'Looney.
  2. unverifiable: The man fell ill 3-4 weeks after the call, experiencing breathlessness and his SATs dropping to 78%, requiring an ambulance.
    John O'Looney was hospitalized with COVID-19 in December 2021, and news reports confirm he experienced a serious illness. However, the specific details about his SATs dropping to 78% and the exact timeline of 3-4 weeks after a supposed call from British intelligence are self-reported and lack independent verification from medical records or news sources.
  3. mixed: He was taken to a hospital triage in late December 2021, which he claims was empty despite reports of hospitals being overrun with COVID.
    John O'Looney was indeed hospitalized in late December 2021 with COVID-19. However, his claim that the triage was empty contradicts widespread reports from credible news sources at the time, which indicated hospitals in the UK were under significant pressure and often overrun due to the Omicron variant surge. While his personal experience might have been different, it does not reflect the general situation.
  4. unverifiable: He refused a PCR test but took three lateral flow tests, all of which were negative for COVID.
    John O'Looney has publicly stated he refused a PCR test and took lateral flow tests that were negative. However, these are self-reported claims and there is no independent medical verification of the tests or his refusal of a PCR test. News reports confirm his hospitalization for COVID-19.
  5. unverifiable: Despite negative COVID tests, he claims hospital staff intended to put him on a COVID ward and offered him ventilation, which he refused.
    John O'Looney has claimed that hospital staff intended to put him on a COVID ward and offered him ventilation, which he refused. These are self-reported claims and lack independent verification from hospital records or other credible sources. News reports confirm he was hospitalized with COVID-19 and discharged himself against medical advice.
  6. unverifiable: A consultant told him he was there "to save your life from COVID" even though the man claimed he didn't have COVID.
    John O'Looney has stated that a consultant told him this. This is a self-reported quote and lacks independent verification. News reports confirm he was hospitalized with COVID-19, which contradicts his claim of not having COVID.

Sources consulted (14)

Related verifications

AI-generated analysis. Not a substitute for professional fact-checking.