4 December 2003 Edition

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Adams book ad banned again

A radio advertising campaign for Gerry Adams' new book, Hope and History; Making Peace in Ireland, has been banned by the broadcasting authorities in Ireland. The book was published at the end of September and went immediately to number one in the bestsellers. This is the third occasion on which Adams' publisher, Brandon Books, has sought to advertise books by Gerry Adams on radio, and the third occasion on which the advertisements have been banned.

The decision to prohibit the 25-second advert, due to begin on Friday 28 November and continue until 7 December, was made by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), on the grounds that it breaches guidelines governing political advertising.

A statement issued by the Commission said: "The advertisement is for a book written by the current leader of a political party and is his perspective of on real events, of a political nature in which he and his party, have been and continue to be involved.

"According to the flysheet, the book aims to 'provide the first authentic account of the principles and practices underpinning Irish republicanism'. As such, it might be considered to have a political dimension."

Brandon said that the ad, which consists of the author saying: "This is Gerry Adams. My new book is called Hope & History; it's on sale in good bookshops in all 32 Counties. It's the story of the effort to bring about change in this country. It's the story of the difficult and ongoing struggle for peace and justice. That's Hope & History and this is Gerry Adams. Slán agus beannacht," is factually correct and that banning it infringes the freedom of expression and obstructs its right to trade effectively.

Speaking in Dublin last Monday, Steve MacDonogh of Brandon said: "It's a shock, and I think it's ludicrous, but it illustrates just how hostile to free speech the political, legal and broadcasting establishments are. Hope and History is the personal memoir of Mr Adams's involvement in the peace process, covering the period from the end of the Hunger Strikes to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Banning a straightforward ad for it is a nonsense - a dangerous nonsense."


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