TV viewers object to Kenny’s interview with paedophile

THE Broadcasting Complaints Commission received more than 25 phone complaints before lunchtime yesterday regarding Friday’s Late Late Show featuring convicted American paedophile Jake Goldenflame.

On the programme, Goldenflame told host Pat Kenny how he had abused children, including his own three-year-old daughter and a number of boys, over a 25-year-period.

He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and served five years. The 69-year-old admitted on the show he would always be a “potential danger”.

The interview has sparked a wave of complaints to both RTÉ and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC).

A spokeswoman for the BCC said yesterday it had received 25 phone calls about it. However, she said the BCC could only officially receive written complaints and had advised people to fill out their online complaint form. It also posted out a number of forms.

Those wishing to lodge an official complaint have 30 days from the date of broadcast.

According to the BCC, that complaint is forwarded for response to the broadcaster. If that response does not deal with the concerns of the complainant, the BCC will request a tape of the broadcast and that tape, together with all the correspondence, is circulated to the nine members of the commission for consideration and decision.

Meanwhile, Colm O’Gorman of the One in Four organisation has criticised RTÉ for airing the programme without any expert therapist to challenge Goldenflame’s views.

In particular he rejected claims by the American that it was common practice for therapists working with victims of child sexual abuse to advise them to ensure they avoided contact with children as they might themselves sexually abuse children.

“That Pat Kenny conducted such an interview without ensuring input from a professional, qualified and experienced therapist to challenge the distortions of this convicted paedophile was grossly irresponsible,” said Mr O’Gorman.

“During the interview Kenny allowed his guest to assert that it was common practice for therapists working with victims of child sexual abuse to advise them to ensure they avoided contact with children as they might themselves sexually abuse children.

“At no point did Pat Kenny challenge that suggestion, nor did he seek to explore the basis for such an extraordinary and unfounded suggestion. I know that this will be a cause of great distress to victims of abuse and their families.

“I am appalled and frankly, sickened by such thoughtless and ignorant disregard for the hurt that this is likely to cause many people,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“One in Four wishes to refute any such suggestion that victims of child sexual abuse are likely to abuse children.”

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) also said it would be lodging a complaint.

“When we at the DRCC heard about this forthcoming interview we called RTÉ to ask them to put up our helpline phone number, which fortunately they did,” said DRCC chief executive, Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop.

“After the programme, we received an unprecedented number of calls from victims who were heartbroken to have been reminded of what they thought had been dealt with and was now part of their past, to victims who were very angry that this topic was being used for entertainment,” she said.