Some 31 voluntary organisations have jointly refused to advertise in the Sunday In- dependent because of the controversial article by Miss Mary Ellen Synon on people with disabilities competing in the Paralympics, writes Colman Cassidy.
The group, which describes itself as "potential advertisers with Independent Newspapers", includes such disparate bodies as the UCD-based Women's Education Research and Resource Centre, the Irish Family Planning Association, the Traveller Visibility Group, MS Ireland, Comhdhail Naisiunta na Gaeilge, the Irish Refugee Council, the Irish Guide Dogs Association and Ballymun Community Action Programme.
"From the comments made by the management of the Sunday Independent, it appears that they have no intention of taking action against her," the group said in a statement yesterday.
"We have decided that we will not spend our advertising budgets on a newspaper that stands by this abuse of freedom of expression."
Asked to comment, a spokesman for Independent Newspapers said: "It is worth bearing in mind that the author, the editor and the company all apologised unreservedly." Contacted at her home last night, Miss Synon did not comment when asked about the group's reaction to her article.