Pro-life groups have criticised the Irish media for their failure to carry out basic fact-checking in their rush to demonise pro-life activists.
Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said that media reports that pro-life activists had carried out a protest at Enda Kenny's home were "entirely incorrect and had no basis in fact", and that the Irish media had engaged in "sloppy and unprofessional journalism".
In fact, the Fathers' rights group who carried out the protest had posted it on the internet where it was easily available https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=543399225717127&set=vb.445207898869594&type=2&theater for any journalist who wanted to check the facts. Ms Ui Bhriain said that reporters had got the facts inexcusably wrong.
"There was no masked pro-life protest at Mr Kenny's home," she said. "This is a false claim, entirely manufactured by the media. If there was a protest because of some other issue, the media need to investigate and establish the facts rather than jumping to conclusions. "
"It is inexcusable that the media are printing misinformation of this sort, and it smacks of a rush to try to demonise pro-life activists," she said.
"The media need to get their act together and politicians need to discuss the reality of this cruel and unacceptable abortion legislation and stop trying to deflect from the issue with unsubstantiated claims and false allegations," added the Life Institute spokeswoman.
"Last week we saw that Fine Gael TDs were upset when attempts were made at the top level of the party to carry out a 'political hanging' of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Now we are seeing similar dirty tricks where baseless allegations and false stories are being circulated in order to try to silence genuine pro-life people who are fully entitled to make their voices heard against abortion," she said.
"The notion of former Worker's Party members, who now run Labour, complaining about imagined intimidation was deeply, deeply ironic," she said, adding that it was no surprise that such people supported the taking of innocent unborn life.
UPDATE
So here is what really happened as opposed to what the Independent reported (with glee)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=543399225717127&set=vb.445207898869594&type=2&theater
Category | Abortion Advocates, Abortion in Ireland
Published By | Life House
Comments on this post:
Comments(5)
Irish Citizen on Jun 17, 2013 9:53pm
Fathers have a right to peacefully protest against abortion, they did not damage property of Enda Kenny.
It is their unborn baby equally right to life as well as the mother. Fathers and the unborn are given no rights, no justice
I note that there is silences from Doctors, Nurses, and institutions on the issue of being ordered by the State to carry out abortions pending the Gov pro abortion inhumane bill, many babies on death row.? Where is their protest or is it that pending repeal of 1861 offenses against the person Act
Guest on Jun 18, 2013 2:08am
YD you are respected experience established professional pro life Organisation,when media unfounded allegations and pro abortionist dangerous legislation bill by the hypocrite, and liar Taoiseach Enda Kenny smears are to demonise pro life campaigners of every group, who have every right to confront him face to face with the facts including the fathers rights group peaceful protest out side his home, and Ballinalee pro life I congratulate them. May it continue, because he ignores medical opinion, Churches, legal experts and pro life Org and pro life majority in this State and it is he and media who should be ashamed. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin should not be controlling pro life campaigners of language they used to dictator Enda Kenny who abused his position and broke every promises to people and our State is being destroyed by his corruption and he had no mandate to legislate for liberal abortion kill bill to accommodate his greed with a multi million abortion industry that our taxes would be used for his evil, abortion bill
CG on Jun 18, 2013 9:05am
Absolutely disgraceful reporting from ALL the major news organs of this state. Honestly, the media here are just an extension of the pro-abortion lobby.
I've complained to RTE. The Irish Times have admitted the truth (sheepishly), no admissions from the Indo or from Minister Noonan.
Guest on Jun 19, 2013 12:39pm
Fathers have rights to save their unborn babies from being aborted, and are denied human rights as well as the destruction of unborn baby who suffers torture, their limbs torn apart by the blunt knife. I agree that media was demolishing to pro-life Organization and pointing fingers wrongly with out investigation by lying journalists saying the group were wearing masks. and it turned out a fathers group seeking rights to protect their unborn child
Aidan Murphy on Jun 22, 2013 3:40pm
Shame, shame forever on FG & Labour to propose such a barbaric bill. What gutless TDs we have on all sides bar the number of courageous TDs who cannot be threatened ! It is unspeakable to propose killing an unborn baby in the case of threatened suicide which itself can not be predicted.