Is claiming, as fact, that a named person pursues a "sexist policy", libelous?

horseburger

Jut wondering, if someone here can clarify this issue.

I recently made a response, in a thread on the Ray D'Arcy radio show, regarding a comment made by a poster, who stated, as fact - not opinion - that Dee Forbes, Director General of RTE, has a "sexist policy" in the hiring of TV presenters.

In my response I suggested that such a comment could be libelous, but I did not receive much of a response, from the poster, or from moderators.

I included in my reply, an example where a charge of sexism was successfully legally challenged. Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) had taken a legal action against a media outlet, that had accused him of sexism.

The poster also stated that "D'Arcy got Brendan O'Connor kicked off the Saturday Night Show so that he could have the show for himself".

I questioned the evidence for this claim, but got no reply.

Just wondering if anyone could clarify this. I have highlighted the particular sentences, in the post below:

anthonyjmaher wrote: »

God, I'm not sure that the show is actually deserving of all the pages of text recently, and the manifestos from horseburger. It seems like there is more thought put in to the show on this thread than there is on the actual show itself.

I think it's shameful that D'Arcy got Brendan O'Connor kicked off the Saturday Night Show so that he could have the show for himself, and now feels that he can take "time off in lieu" and bring in the "beast from the east" to replace him any time that he wants to take a week off. It seems like RTE always get the worst deal for the license payer. It should have been put to him "Ray, if you're working the Saturday Night show, there is no taking time off the radio show in lieu as this may affect the radio show"

I'd say with Dee Forbes sexist policy on hiring of presenters there is little chance of getting Brendan back now anyway. If D'Arcy should ever leave the Saturday night TV show, that spot will no doubt be given to a woman. Probably given to Miriam, to tell some two bit actress how lovely her dress is.

I'll be honest. The future for RTE TV and radio is bleaky. "RTE, supporting the mediocre".

Here is my reply:

horseburger wrote: »

How do you know that Ray D'Arcy is responsible for Brendan O'Connor, no longer presenting a live show on RTE on Saturday nights.

Perhaps Brendan O'Connor no longer presents a live show on Saturday nights, because of the way he handled the live interview with Rory O'Neill in January 2014, which ended up in RTE paying 80,000 euros, to settle a legal action taken against RTE?

Brendan O'Connor, during that live interview, did not clearly disassociate RTE, or himself, from the comments made by Rory O'Neill, about the Iona Institute, and Breda O'Brien.

Brendan O'Connor did try and counter what Rory O'Neill stated about John Waters, in that interview, but I think, it ended up sounding like he agreed with Rory O'Neill, regarding Rory O'Neill's comments about homophobia and the Iona Institute, and Breda O'Brien.

I think, the problem was, that Brendan O'Connor, didn't clearly disassociate RTE, or himself, from the comments made by Rory O'Neill, about the Iona Institute, and all the people mentioned by Rory O'Neill, regarding the accusation of homophobia.

I think, that might be why RTE paid compensation, rather than contest the legal action, that was taken by John Waters, and the legal action taken by members of the Iona Institute.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1b6rru

I suspect that you do not know, what the reasons are, for Ray D'Arcy, not presenting the radio show, for example this week.

How do you know that he "feels that he can take "time off in lieu"" and "bring" another presenter "to replace him any time that he wants to take a week off"?

How do you know, that Ray D'Arcy takes time off presenting the radio show, as a result of him presenting the TV show?

How do you know that Dee Forbes has a "sexist policy on hiring of presenters"?

What's wrong with TV presenters, not being men?

Perhaps, in your comment, in the way that you have written as fact, that Dee Forbes, has a "sexist policy" regading the of hiring television presenters on RTE, you are defaming Dee Forbes, by accusing Dee Forbes of sexism?

I reference this item regarding a successful action taken by Cat Stevens in 2008:

The text below, is on page 7 in this item:

http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/assets/hip/gb/hip_gb_pearsonhighered/samplechapter/140825414X.pdf

"Former pop star Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) accepted an out-of-court settlement from news agency WENN in 2008, over a story claiming that he was sexist and bigoted. Mr Islam is a Muslim and the story claimed that he refused to speak to any woman who was not wearing a veil. The story was said to have caused distress in painting him as sexist, and presenting a distorted picture of his religious views".

hullaballoo

It is not permitted to launch a collateral attack on a forum-specific decision by moderators on another forum.

You already have the appropriate lines of communication open to dispute your thread ban in Radio.

Thread closed. Do not PM me as this thread closure is final.