asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been directed to the publication in certain English newspapers, circulating in this country, of articles containing attacks on the personal character of Roger Casement, and, if so, if he will take action to prevent the circulation of such defamations in future, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newspaper Articles on Casement.
Under the law as it stands I have no power to prohibit the importation of foreign newspapers which do not contravene the provisions of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, though the importation of a newspaper which is usually or frequently obscene may be prohibited by the Censorship of Publications Board. Moreover, it would not be easy to frame an enactment to exclude foreign newspapers on other grounds which would not do more harm than good and interfere unduly with the rights of the public to choose their own reading though, if national sentiment is to be affronted by scurrilous publications of the kind to which the Deputy has drawn attention, I will have to give the matter further consideration. Roger Casement's reputation is in need of no defence from me and I will say no more than that the article in question has outraged public opinion not merely in Ireland but, as I believe, amongst fair-minded people in England as well.