RTE Receive Complaints Over Prime Time Debate

RTE have received complaints over a televised Presidential debate, during which its host is said to have treated Sinn Fein candidate Martin McGuinness "unfairly".

The broadcaster said they have received over 100 telephone and email complaints over the debate aired on RTE’s Prime Time Tonight, which alleged the debate’s host Miriam O’Callaghan, treated Mr McGuinness differently than the other candidates.

Ms O’Callaghan asked McGuinness a series of questions about his IRA membership and his knowledge of IRA murders, including that of Private Patrick Kelly.

Mr McGuinness spoke out yesterday and said that he felt the debate was unfair and for him amounted to "trial by television".

The Sinn Fein candidate said he was upset after being called a murderer and felt the debate was handled badly- and in his words- "totally out of order".

"I was accused of being a murderer. That was wrong," said Mr McGuinness adding that he was then "subject to a show trial on television.

"Miriam went round all the other candidates and asked each and every one of them if I was suitable to be president.

"She didn't ask me if I thought any of them were suitable for the President of Ireland."

Mr McGuinness' IRA past came under scrutiny again as the debate turned to issues of faith, with the debate's host, Ms O'Callaghan, asking him how he squared his religious beliefs with having been "involved in the murder of so many people".

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland said it has also received a number of complaints about the programme, which it would investigate.

Too Late to Back Out

Independent candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon also made waves during the same TV debate-taking the spotlight this time - to deny "false" allegations made against her family - and to hint she may withdraw if the issue escalates.

The Department of Environment has however claimed that it is too late for a candidate to remove their name from the ballot papers.

During the debate Ms Scallon said that it had been brought to her attention that new allegations of "a most untrue, malicious and vile nature" had been levelled against a family member.

She declared a wish not to 'give in to malicious intent', but that she has expressed an intention to pull out of the race if more allegations are made.

The announcement made toward the end of the debate left heads spinning when the independent candidate read from a prepared statement and refused to go into detail about the allegations.

The statement followed a possible story that newspapers had got hold of, but for now it seems the story will not be published for legal reasons.

Dana was not campaigning yesterday but it is understood that she was go back on the trail at the weekend.

(LB/CD)