Incoming UCC president open to Israel conference

The incoming president of University College Cork has no opposition to a controversial conference on Israel taking place on the campus but he supports last week’s decision that forced its postponement.

UCC has been accused of bowing to pressure over claims of an anti-Israeli imbalance in the list of speakers for the event, which was to have been held on March 31-April 2. But the college said the likelihood of protests meant it could only be held outside of term and if organisers help with security and other costs.

Patrick O’Shea stressed he had no role in the decision, but said that management concerns were about security rather than the conference content.