asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been drawn to a report in a Dublin daily newspaper of 3rd March, 1953, of the Whiteabbey murder trial; whether, having regard to the provisions of Section 14 (1), Part III, of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1929, he will state what action he has taken or proposes to take, or if he has submitted the case to the Attorney-General for action under Section 15 of that Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report of Murder Trial.
Mr. Boland
I have seen the report in question. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.
Surely the Minister will agree that the publication of the sordid details referred to in the particular paragraph should not go at least without protest from the Minister provided that he is not statutorily debarred from making a protest to the Censorship Board? In the interests of the clean journalism practised in this country, very laudably practised I must say, surely the Minister should not allow the publication of sordid details like these to pass——
The Deputy is making a speech, not asking a supplementary question.
I am asking the Minister does he agree that this should not pass without protest or does he intend to make a protest? Does he agree that the publication of sordid details of this nature should be allowed to pass without some kind of protest?
Mr. Boland
I had the matter examined at the time and the officers of the Department did not think it was an offence or that it was a matter the publication of which would be calculated to injure public morals. It would appear that if there had been a complaint from people outside it could have been referred to the Attorney-General.
Without going that far at all, surely the Minister for Justice, as Minister, should make a personal protest, where it would not be a case for reference to the Attorney-General, in matters of that kind?