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“The Powers That Be Want Action Taken” on Brian Cowen’s Nude Pictures **Picturegate T Shirt**
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According to Ray D’Arcy on Today FM, whose researcher had been in touch with the artist of the paintings at the centre of #picturegate, the Gardai were in to the offices yesterday looking for email communications between the team and the artist. According to D’Arcy the team were told by gardai who showed up that “the powers that be want action taken”. Listen and share:
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So the task of Gardai is to preserve the dignity of the office of the Taoiseach? Wonderful.
Why not show your support for satire and get a t-shirt with Allan Cavanagh’s caricature on it? Proceeds to him entirely. Allan has been in touch, proceeds to the charity. We also have a women’s tee. Sorry about the delay on it. I am hoping that soon the design will be in the marketplace so you make your own tee with it.
Exactly what criminal offence has taken place here that the Gardaí are involved?
Trespassing in the National Gallery?
I do not wish to live in a country where the police pursue investigations because ‘powers that be’ wish them to.
This artist may have produced the most powerful and effective satire in Irish history. First the Government, then RTE and now the Gardai have reacted by exposing their real natures.
Had this appeard on the Late Late during Gay Byrnes day, he would have told them where to go.
I believe the crime is defacing the Gallery
Well maybe the Today FM offices are beside the headquarters of the banks and the Gardai were in the area anyway arresting all the bankers who ruined the international reputation of the State? Or perhaps one of the big property developers live next door and they were questioning him about fraud and unpaid unsecured loans helping to bankrupt the nation? Or perhaps the office is beside a politicians house and the Gardai have gotten an early copy of the Mahon report so they were arresting the politician for corruption?
Why do we assume the government is just trying to silence its critics? Trying to use the forces of the state to scare the national media? Trying to subvert the right to free speach and expression?
Or perhaps we should ask why do we think that since the music industry and Eircom were allowed to censor the internet a couple of weeks ago that the government itself should not now be allowed to censor the regular media.
I heard that piece on the radio this morning and I couldn’t believe it.
I believe the charges were mentioned as being
Criminal Damage (hammering in a nail to hang the portrait)
Incitement to hatred (I kid you not)
And the third is something about indecency.
I would have thought that Brian was doing more than enough to incite hatred in his direction. Using the Gardai as your own personal enforcement squad for one. I wonder how much my taxes will increase to pay for this investigation and governement time……
Proceeds to charity Cian please. I’ve DM’d you.
no problems Allan, I updated the post to reflect it.
Fair play to Ray and gang for a mature handling of the story.
I’m just curious….were the pictures of Brian Cowen well hung?
So the Gardai are into Today FM within hours of this, but it took them months to go near Anglo? Are they completely extracting the urine here? Is someone scripting this nonsense for laughs or is this the real world?
Fingleton can’t be touched because contracts must be honoured but we can magic up charges of indecency for a fake nude in a gallery?
Frak me, I mean, really frak me.
What a disgrace. So, we now live in a police state like China. God forbid the Gardai would turn up on politicians doors on suspicion of corruption, but no. Protecting the ‘image’ of the Government leader (who is NOT even the leader of this country, our President is) is now the role of the police.
This smacks of breeching civil liberties though censorship of satire. I love how all of a sudden the police get involved, they never before raided the offices of Pheonix magazine for their potrayals of Bertie Ahern or CJ.
Yet, Biffo thinks he can abuse police powers by ordering this? Who the fuck does he think he is – Kim Jong Il?
If these pictures were simply ignored they would have been a vague memory by the end of the week. Now they are becoming an international news item. Bad judgement call on behalf of the government. A look at the Defamation Bill of 2006 might be no harm to all involved though.
Join the facebook petition! http://www.new.facebook.com/posted.php?id=61052337940&success#/group.php?gid=61052337940
Pretty please, could we get the “Censor this!” image onto a ladies t-shirt as well? I really want one, but men’s shirts don’t flatter and it would only end up at the back of the wardrobe unworn….
Sarkozy doesn’t have much of a sense of humour either…took a court action trying to bar sales of voodoo dolls representing him!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/29/sarkozy-voodoo-france
It is now in Women’s Contrast T-Shirt
1) Who are the “powers that be”?
2) Do they, the Taoiseach, the Gardai and everyone else involved in this farce not feel ANY shame?
3) Shouldn’t Brian Cowan be pleased that his naked body demands any sort of attention?
To Kate bopp,
Anything specific in the 2006 bill?
If anyone has incited hatred here it is the government – After the actions taken on Cowen’s behalf I must say I hate both RTE’s spineless journalistic apology and the Gardai’s abuse of power.
This is crazy. It took months for the authorities to raid Anglo’s offices but they’re marching into Today FM after a few days? About a satirical painting? Seriously?
Cowen would be best served to announce that although he does not condone what was technically a criminal act (hammering a nail into the gallery wall… give me a break!), both he and the country have more important problems to be dealing with at this present time.
He needs to distance himself from this, and quickly.
Cowengate…. hmmm… I think the baby food manufactures may want to change their name so as not to be associated to such a farce!! Only the bloody Irish Government can make such a fool of themselves.. I cringe for the Garda that are being forced to work on this matter.. they must know that this is the butt of all Irish jokes right now.. and I dare say in any other country too, that is watching close enough who also have no other worries then the free expression of art!!! What great times we live in.. what recession?? Oh screw that.. this is much more important to be concerned about!! Jesus get that Muppet out of power!!!
I followed the link to try to buy one of those brill t-shirts (and support the Rape Crisis Network), but got a message back today from Spreadshirt telling me that the design “was almost certainly protected by copyright” and that the order couldn’t therefore be processed … it’s a pity, cos it’s a winner
Bummer, the t-shirt seems to be no longer for sale on the site!
i have the tee back up – a mixup today over the other shops using allans design. anyhow they are back and selling again – do head over to show support.
Hi Cian
I discovered the banned RTE report is still online at RTE’s site:
http://markhumphrys.com/picturegate.rte.html
Mark Humphrys