Martin Cullen spoke at a seminar on defamation today. He likened his experience of press intrusion [and false allegations about a relationship with adviser Monica Leech] with rape.
Minister Cullen said that he used the word ‘very carefully’ going on to say that he went to bed at night fearing ‘waking up every day and being raped’.
The Tallyman is worried that this remark will be taken out of context and detract from the Ministers comments.
Boo hoo.
It was a crass and extremely hurtful remark. I’m sure the Minister and his family suffered significant distress during the period but surely he could have found another situation to provide comparison.
There is no comparison between rape and the effects of press intrusion. Especially as the Minister himself handled the situation very badly in terms of managing the response.
Martin Cullen says media intrusion is like “rape” | gaelick // Jan 22, 2010 at 08:47
[...] brings us the news that Minister Martin Cullen, as a guest speaker at a seminar on defamation, described the media [...]
FF support increases, month will not be made entirely of Sundays | Twenty Major – Still smoking in Dublin bars // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:35
[...] we overlooking the fact a government minister compared being followed around by the press to violent sexual assault, saying he feared ‘waking up every day and being raped’? If that didn’t generate [...]
It’s unbelievable that he used that comparison?!! It’s just awful. If you try to look at what he said without that appalling reference, he deserves some sympathy and my heart goes out to his completely innocent kids but RAPE? RAPE? Christ.
Martin Cullen is an unraped dickhead. « Fatmammycat’s Blog // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:45
[...] By fatmammycat I should have know my jolly humour would not have lasted long. Head on over to Maman Poulet to read how being FF’s Martin Cullen whines about how being investigated by media was like [...]
Besieged, witch-hunt, being naked in public, a hare at a coursing meet, a fox at a hunt, even persecuted, all handy enough comparison he could have used but didn’t. Nope he felt raped every day.
shame on a minister to treat the rape of women and men and children the same as intrusion by the media. has he ever spoken or helped any man, woman or child that has been raped, or raped repeatedly, if he had he would never have made that insensitive remark. his statement will only add more hurt and suffering to the real victims of rape. SHAME ON YOU MARTIN
Cllr.Pauline Coonan, Fine Gael.
They just get worse and worse.
Maman Poulet » Riddle me this // Jan 22, 2010 at 18:05
[...] and about tendering processes etc. But surely Cullen should be naming them or indeed as I said yesterday responding appropriately at the time and not taking the ostrich position. Or did he just not have [...]
Well, Tallyman and pals are certainly beating the Cullen drum avec gusto – per his Facebook updates here and here.
So far we have them giving out about “angry lesbians,” “feminists” (as opposed to “genuine ladies” who sit quietly and don’t complain to Tallyman about the flippant use of the R word), and a variation on that old favourite attempt to silence others, “The tolerant liberal suddenly becomes very intolerant when their official religion is challenged. FACT.” Oh, and feminists are lesbians.
Everyone take a drink!
This from a man who was lgbt officer in USI and Equality officer no less – can’t see the updates but I’m not surprised at all. Remembering when I used to to get laughed at regarding gay men and misogyny. Exhibit 1! or make that 9999