Five complaints against RTÉ radio upheld

Five complaints against RTÉ radio programmes, as well as a complaint about an advertisement broadcast by the station, have been upheld by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC).

One complaint against a local radio station was also upheld. A further 12 complaints against national and local broadcasters were not upheld.

Two of the upheld complaints dealt with a Liveline programme broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on February 12th last. Presented by Evelyn O'Rourke, it dealt with the rights of homosexuals to adopt or foster and followed an article in the Irish Mail on Sunday by Hermann Kelly.

Harry Rea and Dónal O'Sullivan both complained of a lack of balance in discussion on the subject. The BCC concluded that "the subject matter was not treated fairly in this programme".

There were also two complaints upheld concerning an item on the Marian Finucane Show, broadcast on April 1st last.

The complaints, by Frank Burke and Fr Harry Toner, related to a review by Dave Fanning of the film Deliver Us From Evil, a documentary about child sex abuser Fr Oliver O'Grady and how his case was handled by Catholic Church authorities.

Mr Burke complained that Dave Fanning launched an attack on the church, on Pope Benedict, his age, and his then recent comments on Hell.

He said Mr Fanning's continued invective subjected his listeners to a description of the church as "an evil institution" and showed a total lack of respect for listeners who held the church and pope in high esteem.

Fr Toner complained that Mr Fanning described the church as "evil incarnate" which he (Fr Toner) felt was slanderous and promoted hatred for the church. He accused Mr Fanning of a lapse of professional judgment and of going beyond his remit.

The BCC, in response to both complaints, concluded that "the opinions expressed by Mr Fanning went beyond the bounds of his brief" and that he was not sufficiently challenged in doing so.

A complaint about an advertisement, also against RTÉ, was upheld. Catherine Duffy complained that a Stena Line advertisement, broadcast on April 11th last, offered a fare of €70 for a car and driver travelling to England.

She tried to book the fare and found that the cheapest ticket for relevant dates was €320.

The BCC determined that the advertisement was in breach of general advertising codes, "and in particular, the requirement to be truthful and honest".

RTÉ told the BCC it broadcast the advertisement in good faith.

A complaint by Aidan Canny about a discussion on vibrators, broadcast at 9.30am on 2FM's Gerry Ryan Show on April 16th last, was also upheld.

Mr Canny said he listened to 2FM when delivering his daughter to her creche but, on the morning in question, he had to turn it off.

He felt it was a totally inappropriate time to broadcast a discussion which included explicit references to masturbation and sex toys.

Upholding his complaint, the BCC concluded: "The style and nature of the broadcast piece was inappropriate and totally unsuitable for the time of broadcast."