National broadcaster scraps objectivity

DIFFICULT as it might seem in this era of changing moral and ethical standards throughout Irish society, a new low was reached in the interviewing of presidential candidate Martin McGuinness by Miriam O’Callaghan on the recent RTÉ Prime Time programme.

Her attack on Mr McGuinness was openly virulent and vilely hostile, and appeared to be more of a personal attack than probing journalism.

The national broadcaster abandoned principles of fairness and objectivity in its treatment of Mr McGuinness.

Posing the question, “How do you square with your god, Martin McGuinness, that you were involved with the murder of so many people?”, was appalling and was probably no different to calling Senator David Norris a child rapist because of his past association with a person convicted of the statutory rape of a child.

Media attempts to smear Mr Norris have been bravely faced down by the senator.

He has set an example which I hope Mr McGuinness will follow with an equal dignity, courteousness and good humour, qualities so sadly missing in RTÉ.

Tom Cooper

Delaford Lawn

Knocklyon

Dublin