I blogged my concerns about comments made on Manx Radio yesterday.
I'd like to thank all those who offered support and who agreed that the suggestion made by an Isle of Man government employee that I be 'taken out' by an assassination squad was unacceptable.
I note that many commenting in the Isle of Man seem to think this a flippant issue.
So too did Stuart Peters, the person who made the comment. Following my complaint to Manx Radio he broadcast an apology at 13.20 today for his 'flippant comment' and made clear it did not represent the view of Manx Radio or the Isle of Man government.
The difficulty is, it was not a flippant comment. It was an argument he very deliberately constructed, on air, during a debate on the importance of investigative journalism and why the lack of it was leading to a lack of effective political opposition in the Isle of Man.
For that reason I have, after taking advice, reported the matter to the police in the Isle of Man. I will now leave them to investigate it.
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Richard
I don’t blame you at all. And by the way I am not Stuart Peters!
Rightly so too Richard, good on you.
I’m not sure how much faith I’d have in the Manx Police though. Local feeling is that the police here are hand in glove with the establishment, nothing I’ve seen of their actions leads me think otherwise either.
They’re pretty good at protecting businessmen and harassing dissenters. They left no stone unturned in their recent, relentless pursuit of the youthful perpetrators of a bit of harmless, anti establishment graffiti, for example. Don’t hold your breath expecting a result from your complaint however.
With all due respect Richard, I think you are reading too much into this. If it happened as you reported, then I would suggest it was a tongue in cheek remark and a poor attempt at humour. Whilst I do not condone this type of verbal behaviour I would suggest you leave it to Manx radio to deal with. By going to the police you will, in my humble opinion, do more damage to your reputation and credibility.
Do you know that one about first they came for…..and I did nothing?
That’s why such action is needed
First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
No I’m not saying he’s a Nazi
But I am saying this happened on state radio
And it is very serious because it did
The radio station and presenter in question are well aware that not all of their listeners are rational. Richard is quite right to report this matter to the police in the UK. What is surprising is that our own authorities need to have such matters reported to them in the first instance to get them to act.
Yeah, but Manx Radio isn’t really “state radio” any more than Radio 4 is. You might argue (in fact I would) that it gives Government officials an easy ride but that’s different it being a mouthpiece of the state.
Declan id like to agree with you on all your post. apart from one part.
i think its Richard Murphy that is the mouthpiece of the state!!!!!!
Mr Murphy, I’m sorry but I don’t for a moment believe that you are a man in fear of his life. If I did, then I would back you to the full, as I am a great believer in Voltaire’s Dictum and would not accept anyone being threatened merely for stating their views, however much I may disagree with them.
However, I suspect you know full well that the comments were merely a silly joke in bad taste and are attempting to pull a stunt here. In overview, I presume you’re hoping that your complaint will be rejected – which it will, not because of the Manx Police protecting the establishment, but because the comments were clearly not intended as a threat – in which case you will start claiming that the rule of law does not apply here.
Insofar as this plan goes, all is fair in love and war – except for one thing. There is an outside possibility that your complaint could be followed through, and a man could end up with a criminal record for cracking an inappropriate and unfunny joke. I suggest you examine your conscience closely and ask yourself whether this is an outcome you really want.
As for the poem you suggested, let me give you a tailored alternative:
“When they came for the people cracking tasteless jokes, I said something – I made the complaint that got them arrested.”
You make a simple error of judgement.
I do not think he personally meant to harm me.
I do think he wanted others to harm me.
That will affect my behaviour.
So I do think he committed a crime.
That is why I have reported the matter to the police.
Richard, I understand your concern, these radio stations are proving to be enemy territory.
On the bright side this means you are getting to them and that is something to be pleased about.
Keep up the great work, we need you.
The guy making the statement may, or may not, have a dubious sense of humour.
He probably did not mean it seriously.
That does not mean that others may not take it seriously and act upon it.
The statement was not incitement, but it may have the same effect.
Insanity is catching !
Manx Radio is part owned by the Isle of Man government and death threats are nothing new to the PSG.
One of the PSG fraternity was warned:- “…. if you don’t stop poking into the Premier Fund your body would be found washed up on the beach one morning.” And he/she will swear an affidavit to this fact.
No point in reporting such matters to the Manx Constabulary as they are in thrall to the government who are in turn in thrall to the finance industry. So back to square one!
Should people take these threats seriously?
Such threats are usually made in the hope that the recipient does take them seriously!
Thoroughly unpleasant place the Isle of Man.
Let us hope that the message that these guys are a malevolent leaches on our society will one day get through to our government ministers one day.
I know they have a lot of sinister power at the moment but they are overreaching themselves and need to be put in their place.
Remember “Corruption is nature’s way of restoring our faith in democracy.”
Let us hope that the message that these guys are a malevolent leaches on our society will one day get through to our government ministers.
I know they have a lot of sinister power at the moment but they are overreaching themselves and need to be put in their place.
Remember “Corruption is nature’s way of restoring our faith in democracy.”
Manx Radio exists primarily to provide a public broadcasting service to the Isle of Man; its services are funded jointly through an annual Government subvention and by commercial means. Manx Radio is the principal trading name of Radio Manx Limited, the company licensed to operate the station.
This company was incorporated in 1960 by the Isle of Man Government.
All the shares in Radio Manx Limited are held by the Isle of Man Treasury.
Manx Radio is the National Public Service Broadcaster of the Isle of Man with a remit to inform, educate and entertain — or as some may say as a part of an insidious propaganda machine to keep the local population semi-comatose.