When I say that I won't allow any more illegal posts, I mean it.

Dav wrote: »

The Blasphemy law in Ireland is a load of nonsense.

I'm glad we agree on something

Dav wrote: »

Being compliant with this law is not up for discussion. When the company is officially notified about something that is in breach of the law (as we were by an email earlier today), we have to act or we become responsible for it and we are not going to court for your ignorance (I'm speaking directly to you valknut).

The enacted law is here:

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2009/en/act/pub/0031/sec0036.html#sec36

Irish Statute Book wrote:

36.— (1) A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €25,000.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person publishes or utters blasphemous matter if—
(a) he or she publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion, and
(b) he or she intends, by the publication or utterance of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.
(3) It shall be a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section for the defendant to prove that a reasonable person would find genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific, or academic value in the matter to which the offence relates.
(4) In this section “ religion ” does not include an organisation or cult—
(a) the principal object of which is the making of profit, or
(b) that employs oppressive psychological manipulation—
(i) of its followers, or
(ii) for the purpose of gaining new followers.

Now, I haven't read back through every post in this thread, nor have I seen the thread or email which triggered the original post, but from a legal perspective it would require a considerable effort, probably with the full, if secret, co-operation of the "offended" and "offending" parties, to prove that victimless crime of blasphemy had actually happened, for a conviction to take place, and for the fine therefore to be levied. I'm wonder in passing, what would happen if somebody were to declare the existence of a "religion" of free speech which finds, for example, Mr Ahern's legislation blasphemous itself. Or indeed, any of the offensive articles that appear in gutter publications like "Alive!" and the like should be subject to this law. Similarly, it might be worth debating what site rules should apply to user accounts used to deliver apparently serious legal threats to the organization which provides them with the facility to do so. In any case, it might be an idea to speak with a lawyer before making too many far-reaching changes on account of whatever threat or notification was made.

Anyhow, by this post, I'm herewith offering up to €1,000 to help defend any prosecution that might arise, or to settle any fine levied, under this preposterous, ludicrous, hostile and primitive law.

Is anybody else prepared to match that?