'How on earth could you rate Suicide Squad 16?' among complaints to Irish Film Censor

The father of a teenager not allowed to see the movie, Suicide Squad, said “stupid decisions” had ruined their night. Photo: PA/Warner Brothers

A ban on a child going to see the Suicide Squad, and one person’s “terror and guilt” about bringing their child to see an unexpectedly violent movie were among the criticisms received by the Irish Film Censor last year.

However, the number of complaints to the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) tumbled last year with cinemas forced to close for long periods due to Covid-19 restrictions. Figures from IFCO reveal that 20 formal complaints were lodged in 2019, but there have been just nine in the period since then.