Tiernan again provokes deluge of complaints

Navan comedian Tommy Tiernan has landed in hot water yet again over a 'Late Late Show" appearance. Eight complaints to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) regarding the comic"s appearance on 24th October last were upheld at the December meeting of the board. Tiernan was appearing on the show to promote his DVD 'Bovinity", recordings of his most recent nationwide tour which played to more than 120,000 people, including a sold-out 56 nights in Vicar Street in Dublin. The Late Late Show was presented by Gerry Ryan on that night, in the absence of Pat Kenny, whose mother had died. Complainant Donal Lehane objected to air-time being given to Tommy Tiernan in which he made jokes about people in St Michael"s Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. Mr Lehane stated that he felt sickened by Tommy Tiernan"s comments. Aidan Murphy also complained that Tommy Tiernan made reference to the National Rehabilitation Hospital and, in particular, focused strongly on a story where he told of purchasing a motorcycle from a patient that was resident there. Mr Murphy was disgusted that the comic went on then to mimic this person in what he states, can only be termed as in a 'spasticated" fashion. Complainant Hazel Murphy said that Tiernan"s whole act in relation to Travellers was offensive. Such comments about the Traveller community only serve to reinforce stereotypes which can feed prejudice and discrimination, she said. Ms Murphy also refers to comments made about people who had sustained brain damage from motor accidents which were in extremely bad taste. The complainant felt, the presenter, Gerry Ryan, was actually egging him on. Pavee Point, the Travellers" representative group, also criticised his comments which were designed and engineered to insult members of the Traveller community, from which the presenter, Gerry Ryan, failed to distance RTÉ or the programme. RTÉ, in its response, said that Tiernan is one of Ireland"s most popular comedians, well-known for his eccentric story-telling. RTE said: 'Mr Tiernan told a range of jokes, including some fantasising about a movie he wanted to make about three gay Itinerant space travellers. He then went on to make some observations about how Ireland has changed. This was followed by the information that he had purchased a motorcycle from a man in the National Rehabilitation Centre. During the course of this part of his story, he mimicked a person who was disabled as a result of a motorcycle accident. It is this mimicry that has led to this complaint. 'It is RTÉ"s view that this particular joke did not stereotype or stigmatise people with disabilities. Mimicry is not stereotyping. Tommy Tiernan used this joke to tell a joke by the disabled person. The joke was that the person injured in the motorcycle accident resented his motorcycle so much that if Tommy Tiernan did not take it away, he"d shoot it. 'Tommy Tiernan"s humour embraces everyone and he includes in his humour disabled people. His joke on the Late Late Show provided an example of a person with disabilities telling a joke about his own situation. RTÉ believes this is not stereotyping or stigmatising. The motives in telling the joke were to embrace people with disabilities, not to stigmatise or stereotype them,' RTE added. In assessing the complaint, the BCC noted that in the opening sequence of the interview, the presenter acknowledged the fact that the comedian has the potential to offend regular viewers of the programme. The BCC noted that the presenter actively engaged in the jokes being told by the comedian and, in effect, urged him on, irrespective of manner or content. At no stage did he challenge or attempt to curb the presentation or what was being said by the comedian. The mimicry and punchline were likely to cause offence to regular viewers of the 'Late Late Show". The Commission said it found that the content was not sufficiently moderated and the broadcaster did not exercise due care and the manner and content of the joke were not appropriate or justifiable. The complaint was upheld with regard to the Code of Programme Standards, as were all eight complaints.