Complaints about Tiernan on 'Late Late' upheld

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) has upheld eight complaints from the public about comedian Tommy Tiernan's controversial comments about Catholicism on RTÉ's Late Late Showlast October.

Tiernan caused outrage by his comments about the Catholic Church in Ireland. He described Catholic priests as "mainly white and mainly shite". Presenter Pat Kenny was also criticised for not challenging Tiernan during his tirade.

RTÉ received around 300 phone calls and e-mails complaining about the comedian's performance, as well as a number of letters. The comments were described by a spokesman for the Irish Bishop's conference as "bordering on blasphemy".

The BCC announced today that it had upheld eight complaints about the programme. One complainant described Tiernan's performance as a "vile attack on Catholic priests", another said it was "obscene" and one person accused Kenny of having "egged" him on.

The Commission said RTÉ conceded Tiernan's performance "may have crossed the line" between humour and offence and apologised for any hurt that may have been caused.

Ryan Tubridy also ended up in hot water over comments he made about Canadian art students skinning a cat and the hunting ban in England on his Full Irishbreakfast show on 2FM.

A listener complained that she was appalled and deeply offended by the fact a "national broadcaster would promote cruelty as an acceptable topic for attempts at humour", the BCC said.

RTE responded that it was clear at all times that Tubridy was only joking. The complaint was upheld by the BCC, which said "including humour that was based on cruelty to animals was inappropriate and offensive".

In total, the BCC upheld 16 complaints out of the 57 received at its January meeting. Thirty-four complaints were declined after consideration and seven were dismissed without investigation as "frivolous and vexatious".

Three complaints about Eircom's sponsorship of weather forecasts on RTÉ, TG4 and TV3 were also upheld.

The complainants argued that such sponsorship disregards or circumvents the directive issued by Comreg on advertising. One said Eircom's sponsorship of the forecasts was clearly designed to promote its 11811 directory inquiry line. The BCC upheld the complaint under Section 24(e) (advertising, sponsorship) of the Broadcasting Act 2001, despite protests from the three stations.

TG4 and Spin1083 also had complaints against them accepted on grounds of decency, while the broadcasting of a graphic ad on 2FM about a violent Playstation game was also condemned by the BCC as "unreasonable and inappropriate for broadcast at a time when children were likely to be in the audience".