A crime of blasphemous libel is to be proposed in an amendment to the Defamation Bill, the Irish Times reports today:
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern proposes to insert a new section into the Defamation Bill, stating: “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 €100,000.”
“Blasphemous matter” is defined as 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 he or she intends, by the publication of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.”
“Blasphemous matter” is defined as 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 he or she intends, by the publication of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.”
ah for Gods sake....
Oh Christ :shock: am I in trouble for this.... ?!
Posted by: peter donegan | April 29, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Fuck the pope! Sorry, I just have a lot to get out of my system before this becomes law.
Posted by: Ciaran | April 29, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Fuck this retarded government....
the country going down the shitter under cowens fat ass and they have nothing better to do than try convict a talented artist having a laugh (with the rest of the country), and persecute any intelligent heathen. The nazi regime seems to be in this season.
Posted by: Liam | April 29, 2009 at 11:43 PM
This law is a joke and will be totally unenforceable.
Atheist Ireland (www.athiest.ie) will hopefully be able to organise some opposition.
Posted by: Jason S | April 30, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Is this a wind-up? Blaspheme and you could be stuck with €100K fine? For God's sake. Eff Kermit Ahern up the arse. Hope it isn't retrospective now. How open to abuse is this anyway. Blasphemy is going to be defined by the offended parties. Total rubbish.
Posted by: Paul Neilan | May 01, 2009 at 04:46 PM
Hope this new law applies to the FFers as it must be blasphemous to create jobs for the boys, i.e. junior ministers.
Posted by: Tom | May 02, 2009 at 11:42 PM