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Irishman charged with inciting hatred of Travellers on Facebook

Man on trial for 'Promote the use of Knacker Babies as Bait' page

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, July 21, 2011, 7:51 AM

Updated Thursday, July 21, 2011, 7:51 AM

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Patrick Kissane charged with inciting hatred through his Facebook page

Photo by Google Images

In the first case of its kind in Ireland, a 27-year-old Kerry man has been accused of inciting hatred on Facebook using an anti-Traveller page.

The accused Patrick Kissane, Knockasarnett, from Killarney, County Kerry, is charged under section 2 of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act. The page, allegedly established by Kissane, was called "Promote the use of Knacker Babies as Bait".

According to reports in the Irish Independent the page also said "Instead of using animals for shark bait, they could use knack babies. Also as food at feeding time in the zoo and for testing new drugs for viruses."
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It has been alleged that this content was viewed by other parties outside of Kissane's household and therefore can be considered as inciting hatred.

The Kerryman's lawyer, Patrick F O'Connor, told the press outside court that he would be contesting all accusations. He also said that the case would be "extremely technical".

A similar case took place in Canada in 2010, according to journal.ie. According to CBC news a 17-year-old form Quebec used his Facebook page to "disseminate hate and propaganda against different ethnic groups”.

Nster.com

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16 Comments

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Sparklet | Aug 09, 2011, 11:55 AM EDT

There are decent Travellers. Unfortunately, the ones who leave a trail of filth and destruction behind them, are the ones who get remembered.

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cillowen | Jul 24, 2011, 04:51 PM EDT

as a kid i witnesses the behaviour of those on the go nomads in drunkeness and throwing a baby around as if it were a football. thieving, conning - their presence had the stay puts on edge whenever they happened by to stay by the side of roadway with smells amd garbage strewn around. love it or leave it - turn the other cheek - get a life are unaffected plead. more milk for my babies ...and please these momadic angels - so the do gooders who

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cillowen | Jul 24, 2011, 04:49 PM EDT

as a kid i witnesses the behaviour of those on the go nomads in drunkeness and throwing a bay around as if it were a football. thieving, conning - their presence had the stay puts on edge whenever they happened by to stay by the side of roadway with smells amd garbage strewn around. love it or leave it - turn the other cheek - get a life and please these momadic angels - so the do gooders who are unaffected plead. more milk for my babies ...

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sirpeter | Jul 22, 2011, 11:14 PM EDT

By the way Paul after 3 comes 4.;))

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sirpeter | Jul 22, 2011, 11:12 PM EDT

Education time for Paul123.A knacker is a person who kills old horses as in sending an old horse to the knackers yard.They strip the hide and boiled the bones and made glue ect in the old days.Travelers took over that job years ago, therefore they are now called knackers.They don't like it.A knacker baby is a baby born of a traveler.Like any small minority in a Christain country we tar them all for the sins of a few.It's the Christain way to suck the pride out of them and treat them like sh*t so alot of the time they act like sh*t because it's expected and they don't let us down alot of the time.So then we have proof then they are sh*t and that makes us even more happy to treat them like crap.And so the cycle goes.It's a great world really-not.

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paul0123 | Jul 22, 2011, 08:24 PM EDT

'Promote the use of Knacker Babies as Bait'. What are "Knacker Babies"?

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sirpeter | Jul 22, 2011, 04:23 PM EDT

And to think those Orange bast*rds up North have been inciting hatred for years with their banging and a-clanging and shouting and a-roaring through Catholic areas for 300 years and nothing is done about it.

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islenita | Jul 22, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT

@biggles-there is enough editing don't go there

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eiriamach | Jul 22, 2011, 09:17 AM EDT

The cure for hate-filled free speech is more free speech that points out the mindlessness of the hater and that warns other people not to be drawn into the lynch-mob mentality of the person who indulges in hate speech.

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mamaginnty | Jul 21, 2011, 09:01 PM EDT

Scrivner, a or e, the message is there, free speech or inciting hatred by language. There is a differeeeence

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hyattsville | Jul 21, 2011, 03:34 PM EDT

This 27-year-old Kerry man sounds like a real loser and ignoramus. Actually come to think of it his rant seems really familiar, I’m sure I’ve read the same sentiment in many comments to various Irish Central articles. Guess there's a lot of hateful cretins claiming to be Irish. Aren't we so lucky!

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Scrivner | Jul 21, 2011, 03:18 PM EDT

Mamaginnty, such language! You are inciting hatred towards those who can spell.

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mamaginnty | Jul 21, 2011, 01:45 PM EDT

BryanTim..There is a differance you aso.

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biggles008 | Jul 21, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT

Is there anyone in Facebook to edit anything.

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BryanTim | Jul 21, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT

If someone is offended by words, that's their problem. So you don't have free speech in Ireland either?