Anti-censorship - Ireland - Picturegate

"Picturegate"

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen disgracefully threatened freedom of speech in Ireland in Mar 2009, when half-naked paintings of him were hung by a guerilla artist in Dublin art galleries. Shockingly, the police were called in to investigate "indecency" and "incitement". I don't find this waste of police time funny. I find it sinister.

I actually think the pictures are silly, and I am actually a fan of Fianna Fail (who could not be a fan of a government that raised Irish GDP per capita in 1990 dollars from $17,143 when they took office in 1997 to $27,801 as at 2006), and I think Bertie Ahern is the best Taoiseach ever, but this is not about that. This is about freedom of speech.

This is about the legality of offensive cartoons and caricatures in Ireland. Making caricatures of public figures is a fundamental part of free speech in a democracy. Shame on Brian Cowen for threatening this important freedom.

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The Banned RTE report is still online

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From here.

• "Picturegate" or "Cowengate" or "Portraitgate"

• Video search:
  • Picturegate
  • Brian Cowen naked
  • Brian Cowen nude

• Google search:
  • Picturegate
  • Brian Cowen naked
  • Brian Cowen nude
  • Brian Cowen photoshop

• Image search:
  • Picturegate
  • Brian Cowen naked
  • Brian Cowen nude
  • Brian Cowen photoshop

• irishblogs.ie
• Twitter

• Photoshop Cowen extravaganza (more here)
• T-shirt of Allan Cavanagh's caricature (see full size).
• Facebook group (and another)

• Damien Mulley: "It's amazing. It's the first time all quarters of the internet [in Ireland] have come together en masse and shared the same opinion."
• He's right. I've been enjoying being in total agreement with Ireland's left-wing blogs. I even agree with Fintan O'Toole! It's great fun.

The NGI picture.
From here.

The above picture hanging in the NGI.
From here.

The RHA picture.
From here.

The RHA picture.
From banned RTE report.

Banned RTE report on the pictures.
From Nine News, Mon 23 March 2009.
Removed by RTE under pressure.

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The Banned RTE report is still online

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Return to Anti-censorship page.