Stephen Fry investigated for blasphemy
A GARDA investigation was launched after a viewer claimed comments made on RTÉ’s The Meaning Of Life by Stephen Fry were blasphemous.
The news attracted widespread criticism from Irish secular and human rights organisations last night.
A man made the allegation at Ennis Garda Station following the February 2015 broadcast of the RTÉ show hosted by Gay Byrne.
The complaint relates to Fry’s answer when asked what he might say to God at the pearly gates. He replied: ‘How dare you create a world in which there is such misery? It’s not our fault. It’s not right. It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid god who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?
‘Because the god who created this universe, if it was created by god, is quite clearly a maniac, an utter maniac, totally selfish. We have to spend our lives on our knees thanking him. What kind of god would do that?’ An online clip of the interview has been viewed over seven million times. The man told Independent.ie a garda took a written statement from him. He said he was not personally offended but was doing his ‘civic duty’. It is an offence to publish or utter blasphemous material under the Defamation Act 2009 that attracts a fine of up €25,000. The man later wrote to the Garda Commissioner to ask if his allegation was being pursued and got an acknowledgement. A garda in Donnybrook station later contacted him and said he may need a more detailed statement. The man reiterated he was not offended by Fry’s remarks but believed they qualified as blasphemy under the law.
Ireland is the only country in the developed world to have introduced a blasphemy law this century. The law was introduced in January 2010.
No cases of blasphemy have been before the courts since then and it is unlikely Mr Fry will be prosecuted. Despite this the news made headlines internationally last night.
Atheist Ireland’s Michael Nugent welcomed the investigation saying: ‘It highlights a law that is silly, silencing, and dangerous.’
Amnesty International’s Colm O’Gorman said ‘blasphemy laws are a barrier to freedom of expression, and to freedom of religion and belief’.
Stephen Fry made no comment last night but, in 2012, he tweeted: ‘I’m afraid I don’t believe there is such a thing as blasphemy, just outrage from those insecure in their own faith.’