Ganley to sue RTE over Prime Time doc.

Run_to_da_hills

Anti Lisbon Treaty campaigner Declan Ganley has said he will sue RTÉ over last Thursday's Prime Time programme for slandere about his business activities.

If he wins this case it will give him enough funding to pay off debts on the previous campaign and also cover the cost of the next referendum.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1204/ganleyd.html

Gandalf23

The micro-second I saw this thread title I knew it would be by RTDH ...

oztots

Couldnt blame him for it, i mean RTE is just sucking up to the government.

I still think the mans a robot sent from the future though.

Mark200

I caught a good bit of that documentary. If I remember correctly Ganley even gave interviews himself for it didn't he?


On a side note, I love how RTE link to the documentary about him even in an article saying that he's going to sue them over it.

dresden8

If he loses will he get a deal on the costs like Beverly Flynn did?

Run_to_da_hills

oztots wrote: »

Couldnt blame him for it, i mean RTE is just sucking up to the government.

I still think the mans a robot sent from the future though.

RTE is the Government.

omad65

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

RTE is the Government.

thats what I was thinking the whole time I was watching this documentary, seemed like a complete hatchet job to me.

copacetic

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Anti Lisbon Treaty campaigner Declan Ganley has said he will sue RTÉ over last Thursday's Prime Time programme for slandere about his business activities.

If he wins this case it will give him enough funding to pay off debts on the previous campaign and also cover the cost of the next referendum.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1204/ganleyd.html

he is threatening to sue any politician or news organisation that says anything about him at all. Determined to use his financial resources to scare anyone who disagrees from speaking out..

niceirishfella

omad65 wrote: »

thats what I was thinking the whole time I was watching this documentary, seemed like a complete hatchet job to me.

+1
The olde boyz club in FF fear this energetic, intelligent,enagmatic,business savvy successfull man for some reason. If they had a brain in their head, they'd try and bring him into the fold. Keep you friends close and your enemies even closer as they say.

Aidric

Best of luck to him with that. I didn't see anything in that Prime Time piece that libeled him. RTE would have to have cleared this pre airing with their legal representatives in the event of such an eventuality coming to bear.

Mark200

copacetic wrote: »

he is threatening to sue any politician or news organisation that says anything about him at all. Determined to use his financial resources to scare anyone who disagrees from speaking out..

Soon we'll have "Do NOT reference or discuss any Declan Ganley event or campaign" stickied on the top of every forum

thelordofcheese

Mark200 wrote: »

Soon we'll have "Do NOT reference or discuss any Declan Ganley event or campaign" stickied on the top of every forum

I would murder for that rule to be brought in.

I can do without several hundred threads on the lisbon II 'debate'. Last time was horrible, as was the post result fallout.

fricatus

I can't believe that people are mesmerised by this guy, like a rabbit looking at a bloody snake. How naive are we?

He parachuted in from seemingly nowhere, with a load of money, and ordinary people don't stop to think that maybe he has an agenda that he's not telling us about. Then he refuses to disclose his funding, threatening to sue left, right and centre, using his financial might to bully people into shutting up about him.

And people still trust and support him?

This is the only sane comment I've seen so far on this discussion:

oztots wrote: »

I still think the mans a robot sent from the future though.

niceirishfella

fricatus wrote: »

I can't believe that people are mesmerised by this guy, like a rabbit looking at a bloody snake. How naive are we?

He parachuted in from seemingly nowhere, with a load of money, and ordinary people don't stop to think that maybe he has an agenda that he's not telling us about. Then he refuses to disclose his funding, threatening to sue left, right and centre, using his financial might to bully people into shutting up about him.

And people still trust and support him?

This is the only sane comment I've seen so far on this discussion:

I'm not mesmerised. I'm impressed. He beat the goverment and their PR machine, he's a self made multi-millionaire entrepeneur, a family man and comes from a working class west of Ireland family.
Re; his agenda........well, all policitians have agendas, he made his european one clear and i guess when and if he goes for office here as a TD, he'll set out his stall then too.
People are quick to judge him by the shoiite they see on TV and in the papers all trying to discredit him.
Be careful of the media and what is feed to you.

This guy could be good for our country?

Rob_l

fricatus wrote: »

I can't believe that people are mesmerised by this guy, like a rabbit looking at a bloody snake. How naive are we?

He parachuted in from seemingly nowhere, with a load of money, and ordinary people don't stop to think that maybe he has an agenda that he's not telling us about. Then he refuses to disclose his funding, threatening to sue left, right and centre, using his financial might to bully people into shutting up about him.

And people still trust and support him?

This is the only sane comment I've seen so far on this discussion:

Dont all politicians have an agenda?

MagicMarker

Who's this Deco fella?

niceirishfella

Rob_l wrote: »

Dont all politicians have an agenda?

+1 x 1000 .......could'nt agreed more.

mickdw

That programme was a disgrace, I couldnt really believe it while watching it. They went with all these sinister business arguments without proving any of them and then cutting to ganley having to 'explain himself' as if they actually had something on him. He will get an apology I bet!

thelordofcheese

niceirishfella wrote: »

I'm not mesmerised. I'm impressed. He beat the goverment and their PR machine

The PR machine that never actually did anything on the run up to the lisbon vote? Real impressive.

If they'd actually bothered to use their 'PR machine' they'd have drummed this charlatan and his campaign of fear, uncertainty and doubt into the ground.

Lord only knows why they didn't.

seamus

Hopefully this bankrupts him.

He's well known around his local area for being a complete asshat. He's a bit like Twink - nobody likes him, he has no social skills whatsoever and will kick up a stink and annoy everyone till he gets his way.

niceirishfella

thelordofcheese wrote: »

The PR machine that never actually did anything on the run up to the lisbon vote? Real impressive.

If they'd actually bothered to use their 'PR machine' they'd have drummed this charlatan and his campaign of fear, uncertainty and doubt into the ground.

Lord only knows why they didn't.

and you know all this from the Isle of Wright?
The gov did have a PR machine and tried to use it, but lost. He beat them, HAMMERED them in fact.

Ciaran500

niceirishfella wrote: »

The gov did have a PR machine and tried to use it, but lost. He beat them, HAMMERED them in fact.

They barely used it, there was no where near as much publicity from the government as the no side.

niceirishfella

seamus wrote: »

He's well known around his local area for being a complete asshat. He's a bit like Twink - nobody likes him, he has no social skills whatsoever and will kick up a stink and annoy everyone till he gets his way.

....says the mod for the east region?
Clearly you don't live in his locally and you're going on hear'say. I know his town of residence and he's impressed the locals - FACT.

Ciaran500

Putting FACT after a post makes you sound like a twat - FACT

thelordofcheese

niceirishfella wrote: »

and you know all this from the Isle of Wright?
The gov did have a PR machine and tried to use it, but lost. He beat them, HAMMERED them in fact.

Ohh you caught me, truth is i've never lived anywhere else in the world but here. Never. Certainly not ireland. Nope.

Still, i can tell a one sided contest when i see one, even from all the way over here. Infact wasn't one of the many arguments used by ganley and Co that the government weren't informing people and getting information out there?

(also: it's spelt 'Wight', by the way)

niceirishfella

thelordofcheese wrote: »

Ohh you caught me, truth is i've never lived anywhere else in the world but here. Never. Certainly not ireland. Nope.

Still, i can tell a one sided contest when i see one, even from all the way over here. Infact wasn't one of the many arguments used by ganley and Co that the government weren't informing people and getting information out there?

(also: it's spelt 'Wight', by the way)

it was a typo on the speeling, see i do it all the time:)

Re; your position and comment - you were not here to witness it on the ground. You comments are worthless on this matter.
You get your info and angles from the media, who have an agenda. Sorry:o

Guy:Incognito

niceirishfella wrote: »

it was a typo on the speeling, see i do it all the time:)

Re; your position and comment - you were not here to witness it on the ground. You comments are worthless on this matter.
You get your info and angles from the media, who have an agenda. Sorry:o

I was here and on the ground. I agree with him (lord of cheese)

Ganly's a tool.

niceirishfella

Stekelly wrote: »

I was here and on the ground. I agree with him (lord of cheese)

Ganly's a tool.

shure all politicians are tools;)

thelordofcheese

niceirishfella wrote: »

it was a typo on the speeling, see i do it all the time:)

Re; your position and comment - you were not here to witness it on the ground. You comments are worthless on this matter.
You get your info and angles from the media, who have an agenda. Sorry:o

wait, you know where i am at all times? That's not creepy in the slightest.

Actually, unless you get your info from being everywhere in ireland at once, then you too get it from the 'media' and the media you've chosen to consume has just as much of an agenda.

Don't think you're some kind of enlightened crusader for truth, you've just nailed your colours to the Ganleys mast and in keeping with that theme you're insinuating that you're the only one that knows "the truth".

*shakes head*
You make me sad with your rubbish.

copacetic

niceirishfella wrote: »

it was a typo on the speeling, see i do it all the time:)

Re; your position and comment - you were not here to witness it on the ground. You comments are worthless on this matter.
You get your info and angles from the media, who have an agenda. Sorry:o

that is absolute crap, cheese is bang on, it was Libertas who spent all the money on PR and bought the vote. It shows how crazy the conspiracy theories are when they now even back up these scum as some kind of little guy against the establishment..

niceirishfella

thelordofcheese wrote: »

*shakes head*
You make me sad with your rubbish.

sorry to hear that, I'm sad too now.
Can we be sad together?

that ganley fella should go die.

niceirishfella

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Putting FACT after a post makes you sound like a twat - FACT

and what, if i know of somethings credibility i cant type the word FACT into my post.......ohhh dear, sorry not to have fallen into your criteria of posting.
And I'm not going to stoop down to calling you a TWAT - like you did.

Nehaxak

Reckon a lot of people will vote no again anyway when the second vote comes around, just out of the fact the yes camp are such sore losers and haven't stopped mouthing off about it since.

I think Ganley has a dubious past or at least it seems he has, but I actually don't care as he's stood up to the government and in turn the EU itself and beaten them, all of them, with his help to secure the no vote.

Morlar

I watched that programme and I am not surprised there is a legal case because of it (and I hope he wins). They made ridiculous far-fetched fantasy allegations about CIA /Neocon conspiracies looking to subvert/influence the european democracy. There was not a shred of proof of any sort whatsoever. Kind of ironic really - the CIA looking to subvert democracy by supporting a NO to lisbon campaign when its the YES campaign who are so opposed to national referenda across europe. The questions were straight out of the 'YES to Lisbon' smear campaign/character assasination and were taken by the RTE interviewer as being valid and substantive. For any other politician they would not have bothered repeating such nonsense/drivel nevermind treat them as credible. RTE attempted to throw doubt on the guys character at every possible turn.

It was a hatchet job, though in my opinion he held his own and responded calmly and in a reasoned manner throughout.

If any FF, FG, Lab politician was subjected to that sort of 'analysis' they would have walked out within seconds. If they were FF they would have been on the phone to have the RTE management to have the interviewer severely reprimanded.

Toiletroll

Ciaran500 wrote: »

They barely used it, there was no where near as much publicity from the government as the no side.

Maybe they let the no voters spend all their money on the first one, knowing that they will bankrup the country for the second one and nobody will have any funds to oppose them!

Also, imo only bleetlets listen and believe everything the media says!

RandolphEsq

What about when DG is quizzed on remarks he made about what Lisbon would have meant? He 'cannot recall making those statements, however . . . '

Tom65

I don't think he's been bankrolled by the CIA, but I think there's something dodgy going on with Ganley's background and his money. I think it's ridiculous that he's complaining that SIPO's investigation is "an extension of the Brussels agenda". He's bankrolled a major campaign in a referendum - he has to be held accountable like everyone else involved in politics. Political parties may get their funding from membership dues and whereever else, and Ganley can't throw the toys out of the pram just because he's gotten it somewhere else.

Toiletroll

thelordofcheese wrote: »

The PR machine that never actually did anything on the run up to the lisbon vote? Real impressive.

If they'd actually bothered to use their 'PR machine' they'd have drummed this charlatan and his campaign of fear, uncertainty and doubt into the ground.

Lord only knows why they didn't.

Everything I have read so far which has been posted by you has been a load of nonsense. imo

Its easier to stand against something that to stand for something. Every post I have seen you reply to you stand against it. Taking the easy route will not get you very far.

humanji

Toiletroll wrote: »

Everything I have read so far which has been posted by you has been a load of nonsense. imo

Its easier to stand against something that to stand for something. Every post I have seen you reply to you stand against it. Taking the easy route will not get you very far.

So it was easy for Ganley to stand against Lisbon? Then why hold him up as a hero?

I'm not surprised he's threatenign to sue. The program was fairly one sided. But I hope to f*ck he doesn't win. If he does then nobody will be able to question anyone in politics without fearing reprisals. If anything I just hope RTE put a bit more effort into their programming.

justcallmetex

thelordofcheese wrote: »

The PR machine that never actually did anything on the run up to the lisbon vote? Real impressive.

If they'd actually bothered to use their 'PR machine' they'd have drummed this charlatan and his campaign of fear, uncertainty and doubt into the ground.

Lord only knows why they didn't.

Perhaps cause the Government knew they couldn't put an argument to the Irish people in support of the yes campaign that would swing the vote. It's not like they're shy about throwing away public money now is it?

Biggins

What we have is a person who took on a bunch of backstabbing freeloading hypocrites, who bet them at their own game, who actually put his money where his ideas where!
We have a person who decided he had enough and said the equivalent of "stuff this" - we just don't have to accept just any hogwash the SUPPOSED betters in the Dail are forcing on us!
Now I don't agree with some of his ideas but at least he got up off his ass and did something about what he believes in.

As for backing by the CIA! For gods sake, the man has been investigated by the E.U. twice now. Add to that - you can bet your backside that at LEAST France and England have investigated him as well, and the most they can come up with is... NOTHING except to try and dirty his name by throwing mud - hoping that we are that stupid that enough of it would stick!
We are that stupid as a herd of people to be shepherded around, some of it will!

As a man, he's running a number of huge multinational companies both in Europe and America - successfully we should notice.

Who would I prefer running the country right now as we are up the creek and our present politicians are too busy with their perks, high wages, closing of vital services - I think I would prefer him, someone who actually knows how to handle money - again successfully!

As for RTE - they are clearly the right hand of the Government. How many times now has RTE given into demands for people to be pulled from the Late, Late? How many times has interviews been one sided? Now the government in changing broadcasting law so that the opposition can not get a fair share of air-time to voice opposition of the next referendum we all know is coming!
If a T.D. from Fianna Fail asks them to jump, the question comes back "How high?"
(then quietly the grovelling favour is asked in return like Dicken's Oliver "Please Sir, can I increase the licence sir?)

I hope he sues their ass off, if only to show that if your going to throw mud, make sure its high quality mud and not some mucked up clap-trap that is the best or (worst!) they can invent or regurgitate from the bitter losers of Europe who want a single Euro-state.

copacetic

I must have wandered in the conspiracy theories forum without noticing, I don't even have to go in there to know that most of the above muppetry must come from regular posters there..

justcallmetex

Biggins wrote: »

What we have is a person who took on a bunch of backstabbing freeloading hypocrites, who bet them at their own game, who actually put his money where his ideas where!
We have a person who decided he had enough and said the equivalent of "stuff this" - we just don't have to accept just any hogwash the SUPPOSED betters in the Dail are forcing on us!
Now I don't agree with some of his ideas but at least he got up off his ass and did something about what he believes in.

As for backing by the CIA! For gods sake, the man has been investigated by the E.U. twice now. Add to that - you can bet your backside that at LEAST France and England have investigated him as well, and the most they can come up with is... NOTHING except to try and dirty his name by throwing mud - hoping that we are that stupid that enough of it would stick!
We are that stupid as a herd of people to be shepherded around, some of it will!

As a man, he's running a number of huge multinational companies both in Europe and America - successfully we should notice.

Who would I prefer running the country right now as we are up the creek and our present politicians are too busy with their perks, high wages, closing of vital services - I think I would prefer him, someone who actually knows how to handle money - again successfully!

As for RTE - they are clearly the right hand of the Government. How many times now has RTE given into demands for people to be pulled from the Late, Late? How many times has interviews been one sided? Now the government in changing broadcasting law so that the opposition can not get a fair share of air-time to voice opposition of the next referendum we all know is coming!
If a T.D. from Fianna Fail asks them to jump, the question comes back "How high?"
(then quietly the grovelling favour is asked in return like Dicken's Oliver "Please Sir, can I increase the licence sir?)

I hope he sues their ass off, if only to show that if your going to throw mud, make sure its high quality mud and not some mucked up clap-trap that is the best or (worst!) they can invent or regurgitate from the bitter losers of Europe who want a single Euro-state.

At last the perfect post!!

Toiletroll

Biggins wrote: »

What we have is a person who took on a bunch of backstabbing freeloading hypocrites, who bet them at their own game, who actually put his money where his ideas where!
We have a person who decided he had enough and said the equivalent of "stuff this" - we just don't have to accept just any hogwash the SUPPOSED betters in the Dail are forcing on us!
Now I don't agree with some of his ideas but at least he got up off his ass and did something about what he believes in.

As for backing by the CIA! For gods sake, the man has been investigated by the E.U. twice now. Add to that - you can bet your backside that at LEAST France and England have investigated him as well, and the most they can come up with is... NOTHING except to try and dirty his name by throwing mud - hoping that we are that stupid that enough of it would stick!
We are that stupid as a herd of people to be shepherded around, some of it will!

As a man, he's running a number of huge multinational companies both in Europe and America - successfully we should notice.

Who would I prefer running the country right now as we are up the creek and our present politicians are too busy with their perks, high wages, closing of vital services - I think I would prefer him, someone who actually knows how to handle money - again successfully!

As for RTE - they are clearly the right hand of the Government. How many times now has RTE given into demands for people to be pulled from the Late, Late? How many times has interviews been one sided? Now the government in changing broadcasting law so that the opposition can not get a fair share of air-time to voice opposition of the next referendum we all know is coming!
If a T.D. from Fianna Fail asks them to jump, the question comes back "How high?"
(then quietly the grovelling favour is asked in return like Dicken's Oliver "Please Sir, can I increase the licence sir?)

I hope he sues their ass off, if only to show that if your going to throw mud, make sure its high quality mud and not some mucked up clap-trap that is the best or (worst!) they can invent or regurgitate from the bitter losers of Europe who want a single Euro-state.

+1 ... Good post!

Highsider

Biggins wrote: »

What we have is a person who took on a bunch of backstabbing freeloading hypocrites, who bet them at their own game, who actually put his money where his ideas where!
We have a person who decided he had enough and said the equivalent of "stuff this" - we just don't have to accept just any hogwash the SUPPOSED betters in the Dail are forcing on us!
Now I don't agree with some of his ideas but at least he got up off his ass and did something about what he believes in.

As for backing by the CIA! For gods sake, the man has been investigated by the E.U. twice now. Add to that - you can bet your backside that at LEAST France and England have investigated him as well, and the most they can come up with is... NOTHING except to try and dirty his name by throwing mud - hoping that we are that stupid that enough of it would stick!
We are that stupid as a herd of people to be shepherded around, some of it will!

As a man, he's running a number of huge multinational companies both in Europe and America - successfully we should notice.

Who would I prefer running the country right now as we are up the creek and our present politicians are too busy with their perks, high wages, closing of vital services - I think I would prefer him, someone who actually knows how to handle money - again successfully!

As for RTE - they are clearly the right hand of the Government. How many times now has RTE given into demands for people to be pulled from the Late, Late? How many times has interviews been one sided? Now the government in changing broadcasting law so that the opposition can not get a fair share of air-time to voice opposition of the next referendum we all know is coming!
If a T.D. from Fianna Fail asks them to jump, the question comes back "How high?"
(then quietly the grovelling favour is asked in return like Dicken's Oliver "Please Sir, can I increase the licence sir?)

I hope he sues their ass off, if only to show that if your going to throw mud, make sure its high quality mud and not some mucked up clap-trap that is the best or (worst!) they can invent or regurgitate from the bitter losers of Europe who want a single Euro-state.

Excellent post. There can be no doubt that this man deseves credit for standing up to the political ruling class.

ShooterSF

copacetic wrote: »

It shows how crazy the conspiracy theories are when they now even back up these scum as some kind of little guy against the establishment.. claiming he's some secret agent sent here from the CIA

Fixed

Terry

If he has nothing to hide, then why doesn't he just come clean about where he got his funding?

Also, he might be one of th lizard conspiracy.

humanji

Biggins wrote: »

What we have is a person who took on a bunch of backstabbing freeloading hypocrites, who bet them at their own game, who actually put his money where his ideas where!
We have a person who decided he had enough and said the equivalent of "stuff this" - we just don't have to accept just any hogwash the SUPPOSED betters in the Dail are forcing on us!
Now I don't agree with some of his ideas but at least he got up off his ass and did something about what he believes in.

As for backing by the CIA! For gods sake, the man has been investigated by the E.U. twice now. Add to that - you can bet your backside that at LEAST France and England have investigated him as well, and the most they can come up with is... NOTHING except to try and dirty his name by throwing mud - hoping that we are that stupid that enough of it would stick!
We are that stupid as a herd of people to be shepherded around, some of it will!

As a man, he's running a number of huge multinational companies both in Europe and America - successfully we should notice.

Who would I prefer running the country right now as we are up the creek and our present politicians are too busy with their perks, high wages, closing of vital services - I think I would prefer him, someone who actually knows how to handle money - again successfully!

As for RTE - they are clearly the right hand of the Government. How many times now has RTE given into demands for people to be pulled from the Late, Late? How many times has interviews been one sided? Now the government in changing broadcasting law so that the opposition can not get a fair share of air-time to voice opposition of the next referendum we all know is coming!
If a T.D. from Fianna Fail asks them to jump, the question comes back "How high?"
(then quietly the grovelling favour is asked in return like Dicken's Oliver "Please Sir, can I increase the licence sir?)

I hope he sues their ass off, if only to show that if your going to throw mud, make sure its high quality mud and not some mucked up clap-trap that is the best or (worst!) they can invent or regurgitate from the bitter losers of Europe who want a single Euro-state.

How is this guy being held up as a paradigm of virtue? At best he's the same as every other politician. He used lies and money to trick people. Just like the government. The only difference is that Ganley is refusing to let people know where his party got their money. If he can be completely transparent and show that he really does have Irelands interests at heart, then he can be admired for standing up to be counted. But so far, all he's done is be as mysterious as he can be and voted against a treaty which, to be honest, will make f*ck all of a difference to our lives.

Run_to_da_hills

copacetic wrote: »

he is threatening to sue any politician or news organisation that says anything about him at all. Determined to use his financial resources to scare anyone who disagrees from speaking out..

Speak out? How, the Media is censored. :rolleyes:

RTE=State sponsored propaganda channel synonymous with the TASS News agency of the former USSR.

The EU is the up and coming USSR.

The Government had the gun to its head to put on this show the other night y the EU commission unfortunately it has backfired and they have shown up their true colours.

nyarlothothep

Most people who voted no didn't even bother to read the treaty. Rather than praise Ganley in defiance of the government, which the majority in this country voted in, read up on the Lisbon Treaty. Ganley orchestrated a blatant misinformation campaign. Being a self made millionaire "who gets things done" regardless of the ethical factors, does not immediately qualify him as being someone who understands the state, democracy etc, ruthless business acumen =/= a wise leader. And what has he got to hide if hes so reluctant to disclose his finances. He appears out of nowhere and his involvement with neo cons in telecommunications during the Iraq war naturally casts suspicions.

If Ireland doesn't want to be part of a stronger Europe then it should leave, or be kicked out.

There are many ways to "get back" at the government here, all it takes is a little self motivation, apathy and self interest and the main causes of our lamentable public services. But people shouldn't take out their anger in this situation as we're basically fcking ourselves.