Martin Cullen says media intrusion is like “rape”
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MamanPoulet brings us the news that Minister Martin Cullen, as a guest speaker at a seminar on defamation, described the media intrusion he experienced over false allegations concerning Monica Leech as akin to “rape.”
According to RTÉ News and The Irish Times, he said that the media treatment he received was “like waking up every morning and being raped.”
Really? I don’t think it was like that at all because it couldn’t possibly be anything like rape. Certainly, and as he described it yesterday, he and his family may have gone through “horrendous” experiences during this time. Those are the terms to describe what they went through, not violent sexual assault.
His experience with the media could not possibly be comparable to any form of violent sexual assault.
You would think, really, that a cabinet fucking Minister – who would have been advised in detail over the Ryan and Murphy reports concerning endemic child rape and abuse in Ireland, and who ought to be very much aware of issues around rape in Ireland through his colleague responsible for justice and criminal law – would know better. But no. Poor fucking Martin.
I wonder if any of Ireland’s NGOs/networks who work with survivors of rape and abuse will have any comment today. Blogger Mór Rígan describes how it feels to hear his crass comments as a survivor of rape. Cullen should have a read.
Martin Cullen’s contact details (you know, if you want to tell him what you think, like):
8 Ballinakill Crescent, Ballinakill, Waterford
Tel: 051-844860.
Fax: 051-876943.
Email: ministersoffice@dast.gov.ie
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I heard this on the radio coming in to work this morning. He used the word twice. Twice! It was a pre-written speech too so he can’t say he got lost in passionate rhetoric.
He was asked about it and said that he has thought long and hard about using the word but stood by it.
At best this is ignorance, at worst total disregard for victims of sexual assault. Coming from a government minister it’s just unacceptable.
I feel for any said victims who hear this trash from him; esoecially his constituents.
He did go through an awful ordeal, and so did his family, but rape? FFS Minister, don’t throw that word around.
Rang up to make a complaint…totally blown off
I emailed to complain. Got a bullshit automated response.
Go team!
@AvaK – Really? Do you know who you were speaking to? e.g. was it a press officer, constituency staff? What did they say to you?
@Stephie – That’s disappointing, although I think automated responses are common enough when emailing politicians. Let us know if you get a follow-up reply or acknowledgment from a real human!
@mozzer – Apologies! Your comment was accidentally caught by our spam software, so it’s just been released.
Bloody hell – I wasn’t aware of those important details: prepared speech, making a conscious decision to use the word and then defend that decision. Utterly atrocious.
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@click here didn’t catch the name, he interupted me as I was making the point. I did start quite camly by saying that while what he went through was awful it couldn’t be compared to rape, I was horrified etc and the chap who answered the phone burst out and started saying that he was justified in saying it after what he went though. Got a bit upset and had to hang up.
Wait, what?! The guy in Cullen’s office got upset? God’s sake.. What the hell?
No, Cullen would be justified in using the word “rape” if he had gone through such an experience. End of.
Right, I’ve to head back to work, but I’ll see if I can get on to anyone myself.
(Incidentally, this has p*ssed me off no end. He’s the author of this.)
no no, I got upset. Couldn’t believe the guy was defending the comment.
@AvaK – Oh yeah, I got you – I was referring to him blurting out at you about poor Martin.
Also, for anyone who hasn’t read the links I’ve mentioned in my last comment, “angry lesbians” complain about using the word “rape” flippantly, “genuine ladies” sit quietly and don’t complain, and his pal says that feminists are by definition lesbians. Oh, and “The tolerant liberal suddenly becomes very intolerant when their official religion is challenged”
All this from Steve/Tallyman, a gay man and former USI LGBT Rights Officer, now with pretenstions of playing with political “big boys” (his words). I’m sure he’s proud of himself.
[...] of women in this world: whether it’s discrimination in the workplace; whether it’s politicians equating rape with media coverage of their public lives; or whether it’s murder, mutilation, torture, rape and other violations of women’s most [...]