Comments on: Police investigating homophobic MP Iris Robinson seek advice about prosection

By: Steve Leong

Steve Leong — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:53:21 +0000

It is one thing for religious people to correct and call on people within their religion to adhere to their religious doctrine … it's another for them to speak as "goverment representatives", and shove their religious beliefs down on everyone else. I speak as a Christian – born again. Jesus has never, and would never do such an ugly, hateful thing! In the end, what one sows, so shall they reap. The Robinsons choose to sow discrimination …

Steve Leong
Hawaii

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By: AndySam

AndySam — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:45:42 +0000

It seems to me that the police appear incapable of following their own policy …..
"A hate crime is defined as
'Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate. A hate crime requires a full and comprehensive investigation with a view to maintaining the confidence of the victim and detecting and prosecuting to offender.' This includes any incident perceived by the victim or any other person to be on the grounds of …..Sexual Orientation …."

"[Police]Officers MUST accept the perception-based view of the victim or any other person."
PSNI Policy Directive PD02/06

Last time I looked, incitement to hatred [whether intentional or not] was a criminal offence!!!

It is also worth noting that the offensive remarks were not made when the 'lady' was under the stress of Parliamentary proceedings, these was not responses to unexpected questions. The 'lady' accepted an invitation to appear on BBC Radio Ulster and was given every opportunity to tone down, alter or retract her views by Mr Nolan, something she stubbornly refused to do. As for the comments made in Parliament [and repeated outside], they were not made in the heat of Parliamentary debate but in Committee and not in response to a question, they were made when she was welcoming a Party colleague to the Chair of the Committee and bore no relation to the topic being considered at that time. Seems it's not the gays that need a 'lovely psychiatrist' … a certain MP seems to have a much greater need!

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By: Vincent

Vincent — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:16:59 +0000

It has only taken 8 months for the police to seek this advice…remember no actual investigation has actually taken place. If it wasn't for people in the Lgbt community here in NI harranging the PSNI I am not sure we would even have this result so far. They obviously hope for a 'not in the public interest' advice from the PPS! Substitute the word black for homosexual and there wouldn't be this debate…there is still an ecceptable prejudice in our society, never loose sight of the fact that whilst we may….MAY, be entitled to civil rights.. our right to exist as whole and healthy and legitimate human beings is officially debatable and questionable whilst we allow people like Iris Robinson to get away with her words of hatred.

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By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:15:01 +0000

I mean even the BNP councillors are more careful in the language they use once elected. Incitement to hatred is a crime. But religious bigots yet again want an exemption because of their vile, chosen beliefs.

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By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:12:48 +0000

I don't really care what religions thinks about homosexuality. But Robinson is an elected public representative who quite obviously believes that part of her constituency is an abomination. She then goes on to incite hatred against gay people by comparing homosexuality to paedophilia. As well as being prosecuted she should not be allowed to work as a public representative as her inability to fulfil her duties to the public makes her unsuitable.

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By: andy

andy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:04:57 +0000

this is why the "no god" bus campaign is so important…. as long as people believe in a biggoted/sexually obsessed and vindictive "almighty", we're going to have to put up with this crap……

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