Brian Ceausescu? An Garda Stasi-chána? Irish fatwa issued against charicaturist
Tags: Welcome to Ireland, police state.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, a few weeks ago, charicatures of An Taoiseach Brian Cowen made their way into the National Gallery and the RHA Gallagher Gallery, in Dublin.
The Sunday Tribune ran the story on Sunday just gone, and RTÉ Nine News ran the story as fluff at the end of their broadcast on Monday.
Big deal, most people would say. But not “the powers that be”.
Last night, Eileen Dunne was made to read out a grovelling apology on last night’s Nine News, after pressure was applied from government sources. This morning, Gardaí visited the offices of Today FM requesting copy email correspondence which the station had received from the artist in question prior to the Tribune’s story appearing. Today FM rightly refused to provide the information to the Gardaí, who advised that they may return with a warrant. They are investigating on the basis of incitement, criminal damage and indecency.
Now, hang on. I was sure that Ireland is in a recession. I was sure that the public finances are in disarray (if they even could be said to exist anymore). I was sure that the government of this country is charged with sorting out our economic woes to the best possible effect.
Instead, we have the government abusing their powers and suppressing the public broadcaster, over what should be a light-hearted story. Jesus Christ, laugh it off. I would have thought that the government’s resources could be put to better use.
And instead of An Garda Síochána – civil servants, paid by the tax-paying public – investigating the corrupt fuckers who helped get Ireland into the state it’s in now, they’re going after some ordinary artist, who claims he didn’t even hang the pieces of work as he’d given them away previously.
This from a government that in 2004 when the present Tánaiste took away the rights of same-sex couples in the social welfare code, and when the rights of same-sex couples were firmly ruled out tenancy legislation and civil registration of marriages legislation.
The same government that has effectively shut down the agencies responsible for enforcement of equality and human rights standards by slashing the budgets of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission.
And now, they’re wasting everyone’s time and money attempting to silence and censor an artist because of a foolish prank. What will be next?
Shameful.
According to Today FM, there’s a third painting of Cowen. That, I’d like to see.
Twitter
Maman Poulet
Cearta.ie – Cowengate and freedom of expression: a legal analysis
Irish Election – “The powers that be want action taken”
Twenty Major
Beaut.ie – Moobs and Boobs
Irish Blogs
Caricatures Ireland is selling t-shirts – proceeds go to the Rape Crisis Centre
Popularity: 1% [?]
Loading ...
UPDATE:
According to RTÉ (they’re clearly allowed to report this), a man was questioned at Pearse Street Garda Station yesterday afternoon, and has handed 5 other paintings of well-known public figures. A file has been sent to the DPP. (Link)
Fucking outrageous.
(Twitter #picturegate)
Check this out: LINKY. Fabulous!
Must print and stick all over government buildings..
Leave your comments on the Taoiseach’s website.
Do it. You know you want to. Doooo itttt..
Fully with you on this one click here, this is PC gone mad, RTE need to be able to report any relevant news story in the state without fear or favour. Surely it is relevant that the public have clearly lost such faith/ respect in our top politician that this type of thing is happening?
Thanks for the comment, Sharon.
Absolutely – I’ve been following this on Twitter, and as a few people have said, RTÉ simply accurately reported the facts. RTÉ are now apologising for the actions of others (e.g. journalist Adam Maguire‘s letter of complaint to RTÉ).
It’s absolutely disgraceful the way the government/gardaí/RTÉ have all behaved.
Lets step back a bit and look at this again – the world is in total crisis, Ireland is on the brink of an economic abyss and the government/Fianna Fail are bothering themselves, our police force and our national broadcaster over some humerous paintings of the Taoiseach?!!
If this was happening anywhere else, I’d laugh and shake my head at the stupidity of the whole thing, but no- it’s happening right here, and it’s now been reported worldwide that the Irish government are a bunch of censoring pricks.
Fabulous, just what we all need at the moment.
[...] Alcoholic | Fústar | Gaius C | Gav Reilly | Gavin here, here, here and here | gaelick here and here | Gombeen Nation | Grand Gesture | Guardian | Head Rambles | Hugh Durkin | huffnpuffpolly | Holy [...]
[...] Gadget Republic | Gaius C | Gav Reilly | Gavin here, here, here and here | gaelick here and here | Gombeen Nation | Grand Gesture | [...]
Lunatics ! god help us !
These people dont do DEMOCRACY do they!
The only thing this artist is guilty of is putting a smile on our face.Well all except John” no sense of humour”
Walters ,(see his article in todays Irish Times)
[...] Saunders upon their retirement. The sudden, awful death of Natasha Richardson shocked us all. And picturegate / cowengate revealed the sinister side of Irish government and [...]