Gardaí launch blasphemy probe into Stephen Fry

py2006 · 06-05-2017 12:02pm #1

.......on 'The Meaning of Life'

No, this isn't a new episode of FATHER TED. This is real!

The article is here

Independent.ie can reveal that a member of the public reported the allegation to Ennis garda Station following a broadcast of ‘The Meaning of Life’, hosted by Gay Byrne, in February 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo

frozenfrozen · 06-05-2017 12:05pm

Right well the guards should have told that member of the public to do a bit of homework and find that they would actually have to report it to RTE and then to the BAI if RTE didn't follow their complaints process.

Phoebas · 06-05-2017 12:10pm

Hopefully this will result in a conviction against Stephen Fry and RTE.

I think everyone concerned would be happy with that outcome.

endacl · 06-05-2017 12:12pm

The_Valeyard · 06-05-2017 12:12pm

One person made a complaint. He must have serious f*ck all to be doing with his or her life.

Why was the complaint now and not back when it aired? Something smells fishy about this.

endacl · 06-05-2017 12:14pm

Blasphemy. The only truly victimless crime.

06-05-2017 12:17pm

And yet not one member of the Irish public have gone to the guards about fair city?

Baffling

thee glitz · 06-05-2017 12:17pm

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Right well the guards should have told that member of the public to do a bit of homework and find that they would actually have to report it to RTE and then to the BAI if RTE didn't follow their complaints process.

It's a possible criminal offence and the allegation is partially against RTÉ

Harry Palmr · 06-05-2017 12:24pm

The trouble with public complaints to the police is that they are obliged to look into the matter under the laws of the land. Obviously the laws regarding blastfemy are ludicrous.

If it wasn't for the fact the complainant is from the Wesht I'd have believed this was a troll test of the law.

brock92 · 06-05-2017 12:26pm

They better not watch Life Of Brian

:D:D

Rumpy Pumpy · 06-05-2017 12:27pm

Is there any possibility that insufferable ballbag, Stephen Fry, could go to prison for this? I'd be in favour of that.

suicide_circus · 06-05-2017 12:30pm

Blasphemy is one of life's great pleasures. The fact that they've made it illegal here to pacify the zealots just adds extra relish. I recommend starting the day with a cup of coffee and a series of colourful blasphemous outbursts.

wordofwarning · 06-05-2017 12:30pm

I wonder was it reported in an attempt to create outrage and get it removed. A lot of TDs hate the law, most people hate the law and think it is right for removal.

If you look at if from a legal point of view. Who is God? The Christian belief of one God? The ancient Greek Gods? The 33, 33m or 330m Gods that Hindus believe in (there is confusion on the exact number)? Why don't we throw in a few thousand Gods that cluts and other dodgy religions have created

How can you prosecute someone for something we can't easily define and interpret with it is?

Patser · 06-05-2017 12:32pm

Brilliant! I actually hope it's a genuine complaint by a zealot, but suspect it's engineered as a protest by an Atheist group.

Either way it'll highlight that that stupid law hasn't gone away. A law that more fundamental places have pointed at and said, Hey Europe, don't hassle us, sure your own membership has similar laws. There was a referendum to get rid of it promised in 2014, and nowt done yet.

So hopefully this case will be followed to the letter of the law, with Stephen Fry brought to court, if only to make the law makers squirm in the International spotlight that follows about their own inactions

happyoutscan · 06-05-2017 12:34pm

Piss-take.

06-05-2017 12:34pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

If it wasn't for the fact the complainant is from the Wesht I'd have believed this was a troll test of the law.

I presumed it is a test case made to highlight the blasphemy laws.

It being Stephen Fry will bring lots of national and international attention.

06-05-2017 12:36pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

The trouble with public complaints to the police is that they are obliged to look into the matter under the laws of the land. Obviously the laws regarding blastfemy are ludicrous.

If it wasn't for the fact the complainant is from the Wesht I'd have believed this was a troll test of the law.

Ya being from the west could only means it's true

Peregrine · 06-05-2017 12:37pm

This is good. The more coverage this gets, the sooner this nonsense law can be removed.

kfallon · 06-05-2017 12:37pm

I'd like to report the person who complained under the Gobsh?tes in Public Act 1995!

Complete and utter f?cking moron!

expectationlost · 06-05-2017 12:38pm

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Right well the guards should have told that member of the public to do a bit of homework and find that they would actually have to report it to RTE and then to the BAI if RTE didn't follow their complaints process.

where does it say that in the blasphemy law?

Free-2-Flow · 06-05-2017 12:39pm

If this goes to court will Jesus be representing himself?

expectationlost · 06-05-2017 12:39pm

kfallon wrote: »

I'd like to report the person who complained under the Gobsh?tes in Public Act 1995!

Complete and utter f?cking moron!

its clearly someone trying to test if the law is going to ever implemented.

sydthebeat · 06-05-2017 12:40pm

I like soup

maudgonner · 06-05-2017 12:41pm

From the article in the OP:

The viewer insisted that he wasn’t offended by the remarks but stressed that he believed Mr Fry’s comments qualified as blasphemy under the law.

Yup, definitely sounds like a test case, in which case fair play. AFAIR the government promised to look at having a referendum on abolishing this from the constitution, so this might get the ball rolling on that.

Heckler · 06-05-2017 12:45pm

I truly despair for this world as it is and the utter stupid ***** who populate it.

You can't breathe and someones down yer neck.

If you're born with a dick and balls you're male. If you're born with a vagina you're female. Thats it. Gender this gender that. Fluidity bull****.

I don't care if you "identify as an Insert Male/Female/ Baboon". Get over it.

****ing assholes.

Mod: banned

frozenfrozen · 06-05-2017 12:48pm

nobody has ever been convicted of this offence, and the criminal standard of proof applies. If you look at the wording of the actual blasphemy law section 36 of the defamation act 2009:

25k max fine, no jail time.

would need to proved without reasonable doubt that what was said was grossly abusive & caused outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion (one complaint to the gardai won't cut it)

they intended to cause such outrage

The only reason we have a blasphemy law is because it is in our constitution, and so the lacuna in the law was covered by the inclusion of the above.

We would need to have a referendum to remove that from the constitution.

There is zero room for the gardai to actually do anything about this. If they actually wanted something done they could have complained through RTE & the BAI as I said before because it could be approached from several angles which are much more open to something being done i.e. a fine or having to broadcast a correction.

high chance it's some athiest plus individual wanting to draw attention to the fact we have a blasphemy law

dav3 · 06-05-2017 12:49pm

50 lashes for the non-believer!

Why would we do away with it, it's only been introduced recently. Something to be proud of I'd say. /s

Ireland is the only country in the developed world to have introduced a blasphemy law this century.

frozenfrozen · 06-05-2017 12:51pm

expectationlost wrote: »

where does it say that in the blasphemy law?

If you wanted anything to actually be done the only way to approach it would be to complain through the proper channels to the broadcaster.

The blasphemy law can't do anything itself but it can when broadcasters are required to follow it because it exists...

Heckler · 06-05-2017 12:51pm

You wanna tuck yer dick up like Buffalo Bill and put on a dress ? Knock yerself out.

Just don't call me intolerent for not finding you attractive.

Tigger · 06-05-2017 12:52pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Ya being from the west could only means it's true

Ennis ffs
Full of wierdos

retro:electro · 06-05-2017 12:55pm

I'd wager that the complaint was made with the intention to highlight how ludicrous the law is.

Heckler · 06-05-2017 12:57pm

anna080 wrote: »

I'd wager that the complaint was made with the intention to highlight how ludicrous the law is.

I hope so.

06-05-2017 12:57pm

frozenfrozen wrote: »

If you wanted anything to actually be done the only way to approach it would be to complain through the proper channels to the broadcaster.

The blasphemy law can't do anything itself but it can when broadcasters are required to follow it because it exists...

Blasphemy is a criminal matter in this country thanks to the 2009 act. The Guards are the proper people to report it to.

spacetweek · 06-05-2017 1:02pm

Looks like classic trolling.
I hadn't forgotten about the promise to remove blasphemy from the constitution, am annoyed it's been forgotten by the government.

FunLover18 · 06-05-2017 1:07pm

The_Valeyard wrote:

Why was the complaint now and not back when it aired? Something smells fishy about this.

The complaint was made in 2015 when the programme aired. The complainant wrote to Garda commissioner in 2016 to see what was happening and received a call in 2017 from a detective in Donnybrook.

maudgonner wrote:

Yup, definitely sounds like a test case, in which case fair play. AFAIR the government promised to look at having a referendum on abolishing this from the constitution, so this might get the ball rolling on that.

The trouble is that the law states that the comments must have been made with the intent of causing offence or outrage. One may think Fry's a pompous ass but what he said was clearly his sincere opinion. Add to that that the complainant wasn't even offended, I can't see this going to court.

gramar · 06-05-2017 1:08pm

“publishing or uttering [of] matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion”

One complaint and the complainant themselves admits to not being offended just reporting a crime.

"The viewer insisted that he wasn’t offended by the remarks but stressed that he believed Mr Fry’s
comments qualified as blasphemy under the law"

So it would appear that no law has been broken.

namloc1980 · 06-05-2017 1:08pm

py2006 wrote: »

.......on 'The Meaning of Life'

No, this isn't a new episode of FATHER TED. This is real!

The article is here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo

Gaybo's face in that video is priceless!

expectationlost · 06-05-2017 1:11pm

frozenfrozen wrote: »

If you wanted anything to actually be done the only way to approach it would be to complain through the proper channels to the broadcaster.

The blasphemy law can't do anything itself but it can when broadcasters are required to follow it because it exists...

where does it say in the blasphmey law that they have to complain to RTE first?

seamus · 06-05-2017 1:13pm

Heckler wrote: »

I truly despair for this world as it is and the utter stupid ***** who populate it.

You can't breathe and someones down yer neck.

If you're born with a dick and balls you're male. If you're born with a vagina you're female. Thats it. Gender this gender that. Fluidity bull****.

I don't care if you "identify as an Insert Male/Female/ Baboon". Get over it.

****ing assholes.

Just a hunch, but maybe, just maybe, I think you might have some issues there fella.

vicwatson · 06-05-2017 1:22pm

Is there anything to be said for another mass?

frag420 · 06-05-2017 1:22pm

Ok we get that you don't have time for people different from yourself but why finish your rant by including your favourite hobby??

I just hope you go gentle on those àssholes...lube up at least!

Heckler wrote: »

I truly despair for this world as it is and the utter stupid ***** who populate it.

You can't breathe and someones down yer neck.

If you're born with a dick and balls you're male. If you're born with a vagina you're female. Thats it. Gender this gender that. Fluidity bull****.

I don't care if you "identify as an Insert Male/Female/ Baboon". Get over it.

****ing assholes.

Sterling Archer · 06-05-2017 1:28pm

"Lads lads, I got locked the other night and reported Stephen fry for that oul Blasphemy law, some craic hai"

Ted Plain · 06-05-2017 2:08pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

Blasphemy is one of life's great pleasures. The fact that they've made it illegal here to pacify the zealots just adds extra relish. I recommend starting the day with a cup of coffee and a series of colourful blasphemous outbursts.

Whilst fornicating.

Fornicating while blaspheming and blaspheming while fornicating. Coffee afterwards.

ricero · 06-05-2017 2:18pm

Hopefully this knocks Fry's ego down a peg or two

Free-2-Flow · 06-05-2017 2:22pm

ricero wrote:

Hopefully this knocks Fry's ego down a peg or two

Seriously?

Christy42 · 06-05-2017 2:24pm

ricero wrote: »

Hopefully this knocks Fry's ego down a peg or two

I think it just makes Ireland a joke. I doubt Fry cares much either way. Nor should he really. Some backwards bumpkin law might have been broke by him over the possibility of some fine just in case some snowflake got offended? Or an atheist using it to remove said silly law in which case he probably supports the effort.

Stephen Fry was right in what he said btw. Plenty do seem to love their catholic laws

blinding · 06-05-2017 2:54pm

Is this an ecumenical matter....Anyway Holy fooking jaysus.....

CeilingFly · 06-05-2017 2:59pm

Why do people believe everything published in the media.

Independent is known for having several BS stories in storage for slow news days - especially weekends.

Its hardly "breaking" news - the complaint was made 2 years ago.

Its not an exclusive - its such a non story no other media would take it up.

A crank has made a complaint, unfortunately gardai have to follow up. It will go no further. Non story.

Sensationalist sh1te from indo as usual.

theoneeyedman · 06-05-2017 3:04pm

CeilingFly wrote: »

Why do people believe everything published in the media.

Independent is known for having several BS stories in storage for slow news days - especially weekends.

Its hardly "breaking" news - the complaint was made 2 years ago.

Its not an exclusive - its such a non story no other media would take it up.

A crank has made a complaint, unfortunately gardai have to follow up. It will go no further. Non story.

Sensationalist sh1te from indo as usual.

Absolutely.
BTW, why do Gardai have to follow up? I know there is politics at play here, but have they no discretion? Do they not prioritise? Could they not say 'we'll look into it when we solve all the burglary cases etc.' Are there not laws that are just not enforced, you know like banking regulations, fraud etc.

Omackeral · 06-05-2017 3:15pm

"I'm issuing a restraining order; religion must stay 500 feet away from science at all all times"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0a7aXUXvw

Academic · 06-05-2017 3:18pm

It’s deeply embarrassing that a western democracy has such a Taliban-esque law at all. Unbelievable.

Gardaí launch blasphemy probe into Stephen Fry

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