Neil Prendiville may face criminal charge following 96FM broadcast

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday October 07, 2004 22:04

by Dave McCarthy - Traveller Visibility Group

tvgcork at hotmail dot com

11 Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork.

021 4503786

Radio chat show host may have gone too far this time

Court in Cork hears reference to irresponsible broadcast facilitated by 96FM. Complaint to Broadcasting Complaints Commission to follow, and file to be sent to the DPP.

The Traveller Visibility Group welcomes the announcement that a file will be sent to the DPP following Neil Prendiville’s morning chat show on 96FM today October 7th.
During the show, Mr. Prendiville facilitated a live broadcast of the intentions of a member of a feuding family, who said he would behead a member of the opposing family. Thousands of shocked listeners heard the live interview which took place in mid morning on Mr. Prendiville’s chat show.
In Court no. 2 of Cork District Court this afternoon, Superintendent Michael O’Loughlin of Gurranabraher Station assured the court that a file regarding the broadcast would be going to the DPP. A shocked court room had heard details of how Mr. Prendiville (who was not named in court) had facilitated the broadcast of material which could have incited and inflamed an already unstable situation. Judge Con O’Leary condemned the broadcast in strong terms, referring both to the responsibilities of a licensed broadcaster, and the possibility that a crime was committed by facilitating the broadcast when the radio station was aware that there was a background of feuding between the two families.
The Traveller Visibility Group was present at the court hearing to observe proceedings as one of the families involved in the feud has historical links with the Traveller community. Earlier, the Traveller Visibility Group objected to the radio station for allowing racist remarks against Travellers by callers to the show.
It is not the first occasion that racist remarks on a 96FM show were allowed go unchallenged. On the last occasion, it was also Mr. Prendiville who failed to challenge racist remarks, or to distance himself and 96FM from them.
The Traveller Visibility Group is preparing a complaint against the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, which requires that every broadcaster must ensure that it does not broadcast anything which may reasonably be regarded as likely to promote or incite to crime. Members of staff and management of the organisation, who monitored the broadcast, are also considering if they will make complaints to Gardaí with a view to pressing criminal charges against Mr. Prendiville under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act.

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Comments (7 of 7)

Deal with the Issue

by penny 4 da babbie

Fri Oct 08, 2004 02:27

penny4dababbie at inthemarsbarsbox dot ie

Why doesn't the Traveller Visibility Group deal with the substantive issue at hand here and condemn the "member of a feuding family, who said he would behead a member of the opposing family "?

It's A substantive issue.

by R. Isible

Fri Oct 08, 2004 02:43

The other one is clearly that Prendiville is some sort of sensationalist wanna-be shock-jock seeking to gain notoriety regardless of the damage he causes. It's painfully obvious that he's irresponsible at best. A not very cute hoor.

No Suprise About Prendy

by Anarchist Old Tar

Fri Oct 08, 2004 10:49

Prendy of 96 FM has a history to stirring up trouble, in particular anything that will get him quality air time. He's not a shock jock but he likes to give airtime to 'listeners' who are quite willing to regurgitate the lastest slurs about just about anyone. But in particular targetting ayslum seekers etc. I've no sympathy for him...

Just a bit of fun and Free Speech

by righteous pragmatist

Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:44

Prendeville knows there are legions of cranks and nutjobs out there with no girlfriends and a chip on their shoulder about every thing from urinals to American foreign policy.

In a free democratic society all opinions however bizarre should be expressed and if some lunatic wants to talk about beheading somebody then give the sap a chance.

Free Speech or Fair Speech?

by Jack Whte's Tights

Fri Oct 08, 2004 12:50

Prendeville! Free Speech! You just have to listen to the show a few times to realise that 'certain' views get a lot of airing and 'others' don't.

Prendeville has an agenda and it targets the weakest and most vulnerable - who have no or little voice (as it turns out).

The worst thing for me - speaking as a Corkonian (BTW that was a great win in the All Ireland hurling, right!) - is that Prendeville tries to dress a lot of his 'vile' opinions up with 'members of the public' who are 'ordinary decent Cork people' that 'are just having their say'. He's a skilled operator, and he brings the dosh in for his radio... and that's what it's about for me: capitalism and racism hand in hand.

talk radio

by judie1

Fri Oct 08, 2004 14:56

This kind of talk radio has been around for ages. Its as acceptable and as popular as tabloid newspapers. What's not acceptable is the people who wnat to cut the heads off other people.

fair question

by brko

Fri Oct 08, 2004 16:55

Prendeville may be reprehensible, but is anyone investigating or likely to make a charge against the the man who threatened to behead?

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Neil Prendiville may face criminal charge following 96FM broadcast

Comments (7 of 7)