O'Reilly hits out at RTE NYE ‘rape joke’

Aontú Councillor Sarah O’Reilly is calling on RTE to remove a controversial sketch in the broadcaster’s New Year's Eve countdown programme, from its online iPlayer.

She stated: “Apologising for material, while still making it available online, feels like an empty gesture from senior management in RTE.”

Cllr O’Reilly’s statement comes as thousands of people have signed an Aontú petition, and more than 1,000 complaints have been received by the national broadcaster directly about the 'blasphemous' clip.

The 'Waterford Whispers' news report, presented by former RTÉ News presenter Aengus MacGrianna, where God is described as being "the latest figure to be implicated in ongoing sexual harassment scandals”. The clip ended with a line that movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year sentence in the US for rape and sexual assault, had "requested for a retrial in Ireland".

Cllr O'Reilly, who is cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, said: “In an effort at cheap laughs, the programme delivered a sketch in which God was accused of raping a migrant girl, Mary. The sketch was completely offensive to millions of practising Christians in Ireland. It is inaccurate according to any book of faith. It makes little of sexual crime at a time when it is a real, serious and prevalent issue for so many.”

She said that it is “hard to believe” that RTE would deliver such an offensive sketch targeted at any other religion. “Imagine the outrage that would emerge if RTE broadcast a sketch caricaturing Allah, Krishna or the Dali Lama as a rapist. At a time when Christians are being targeted, attacked and killed all over the world, this is not acceptable,” she said.

Cllr O’Reilly concluded by noting that Ireland is a “pluralist republic” and that “diversity” is part of its richness. “All our citizens should be allowed to be who they are to the full extent without having to hide. Yet this casual discrimination and continuous ridicule against many who hold the Christian faith dear is creating a chilling effect, pushing religious expression into the closet. This is wrong and RTE should remove the material.”

Following backlash RTE issued an apology to all those offended.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland also called on RTÉ to remove what he described as the "deeply offensive and blasphemous clip".