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Section 31

  • 10-08-2025 10:47AM
    #1
    Glaceon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭


    I was reading this article on the use of Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act to ban paramilitaries from TV and radio during the Troubles.

    https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/0119/1217560-section-31-broadcasting-ban-censorshop-troubles/

    One quote struck me:

    A number of myths have been dispelled, such as that it was ‘created' by Conor Cruise O'Brien, or that actors’ voices were substituted for those of figures like Gerry Adams on RTÉ news bulletins, but some misunderstandings have remained difficult to dislodge.

    I don't think this is a Mandela Effect thing, I definitely remember an actor's voice substituting that of Gerry Adams in the early 90s. Was that BBC Northern Ireland's (or UTV's) policy rather than RTÉ?



Comments

  • #2
    KaneToad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,815 ✭✭✭KaneToad


    It was British TV that did the voice ban and used actors.

    Ireland's Section 31 forbid entirely the views of members of banned organisations on the public airwaves. Irrespective of topic.

    There was a farcical scenario where RTE radio (I think it was Marian Finucane) fell foul of this law. There was a live phone in, possibly Live Line, and the discussion was something bland - for some reason, it's in my head that it was growing mushrooms! Anyways a specific caller spoke knowledgeably & extensively on the subject. Just before he hung up he said "by the way I'm a member of Sinn Féin" (who fell under the Section 31 ban at that time).

    There was lots of panic as well as wailing & gnashing of teeth. RTE were *technically* in trouble. But it really just highlighted the futility of the legislation.

    Edit: the British ban was under their specific broadcasting laws and wasn't called Section 31. It was under their Broadcasting Act of 1981.



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