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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

British porn baron to close Irish paper over Kate Middleton pictures? -- “Goose-stepping” Richard Desmond is “very angry” at boob pictures

Posted on Monday, September 17, 2012 at 08:18 AM
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Richard Desmond threatens to shut down Irish Daily News of Kate Middleton mistake
Richard Desmond threatens to shut down Irish Daily News of Kate Middleton mistake

The hypocrisy of the British media mogul trying to close down the Irish Daily Star for showing the braless pictures of Kate Middleton is incredible. Over 100 jobs are at stake.

Richard Desmond is shocked, shocked I tell you, that the Irish newspaper he co-owns with the Independent Media Group is showing half naked pictures of the royal figure.

On Saturday night Desmond said he was “very angry at the decision to publish these photographs and [was] taking immediate steps to close down the joint venture."

But wait. Is this the same Richard Desmond who made his fortune from sex hotlines, Penthouse magazine, and other numerous pornographic titles?

Er yes, which must qualify him as the biggest hypocrite since Newt Gingrich had Bill Clinton impeached over Monica Lewinsky while carrying on an affair himself.

But wait there’s more, as the ginsu knife salesman on late night television says.

Here is what the Daily Telegraph reported about him in October 2011 after he was invited to a Chequers dinner with British Prime Minister David Cameron. The columnist Mandrake wrote;

“Mandrake hears that the Prime Minister is entertaining Richard Desmond, the porn baron, at Chequers this weekend.

“As well as making his fortune from pornography, Desmond delivered a damaging blow to the self-regulation of Fleet Street by withdrawing his four national newspapers from the press watchdog, the PCC.

“The tycoon, who once goose-stepped around a boardroom and accused all Germans of being Nazis during a meeting with executives of The Daily Telegraph, was criticized at the Leveson inquiry.”

Hmm goose-stepping pornographer attacks Irish Star over half naked pics. The stench of hypocrisy Is overwhelming here.

Irish Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte has leaped into the row.

Rabbitte said, “I cannot understand how Desmond could reconcile the rather timid move by The Star with what he’s prepared to do in some of his publications in terms of the way women are presented.

“Desmond’s response to the photos of the former Kate Middleton being published in an Irish paper, while he has no difficulty publishing photographs of women topless is hypocrisy.

“I wouldn’t have made the decision the Star made - I wouldn’t make a lot of the decisions the Star makes - I would still defend its right to continue to publish its newspaper.

“The Star has a following in Ireland, it has a readership in Ireland… there are, I understand, 70 to 80 people employed there. So let’s keep things in perspective.”

As for Princess Kate, c’mon girl, you are the most public figure in the world and you strip off and cavort outside, not far from a public road and you get photographed?

Well guess what, it could and did happen. Time to wise up.

Read more: Board meeting to decide future of Irish Daily Star as Minister Rabbitte enters row


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16 Comments

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JimmieM | Sep 21, 2012, 06:22 AM EDT
Sick dirty little creatures you who support peeping toms. It is possible that this poor little paparazzi had aspirations of being a decent human being?... but the only job it could get was stalking unwilling women and taking dirty pictures for the peeping toms of the world...so it will never make it...sad... and also this illustrates why Earth is passed when aliens come by looking for signs of intelligent life.....

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IrelandNorth | Sep 19, 2012, 08:30 AM EDT
An amicable settlement for this social indiscretion of invading the glitterati's privacy by paparazzi would be a fine of some description, matched and upped by Desmond & Co. The money could then be donated to a battered wive's refuge somewhere. Or shelter for prostitutes and other [s]exploited women. Maybe even Cáit (Coit) could officially open it with Samantha Fox and other socio-economically compromised English working class girls. Personally, wouldn't wipe my arse with The [Irish/Scottish/Welsh or English] Star. Too much respect for my anus.

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bunkerhill | Sep 18, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT
What about Harry? Doesn't Desmond consider Harry's nudies as important as Kate's? I would think that would make Harry feel bad. Is Desmond suing the Las Vegas papers and media? Desmond has no place in Irish papers as he comes across as a total phony. Look at all the publicity garnered for this tour by Kate prancing topless on the balcony of a 642 acre chalet in France while so many English are homeless. That is the real story here but this fluff is taking everyones' attention off that. Was Kate forced to prance around topless? Was Harry forced to party bottomless? God bless our American GI's, so many disabled while this guy is spending $8000 for a room. What is he doing here anyway. As Silling commented the beautiful Irish Rosanna Davison said posing nude for playboy was liberating. Actually maybe the comparison with Rosanna was embarassing. I also think old charles may have more to do with Diana's problems than the photographers. Tell the queen to advise her family to keep their clothes on in public and that will solve their problems.

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cillowen | Sep 17, 2012, 08:29 PM EDT
brit outrage

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weeknocky | Sep 17, 2012, 05:01 PM EDT
Ho-hum. Why is it necessary to equate Newt Gingrich to President Clinton in relation to this story?

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merefalow | Sep 17, 2012, 04:21 PM EDT
a social climbing lowlife with his head right up where the sun don't shine establishment a,,e.first class 24 carrot hypocrite.

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Gypsies | Sep 17, 2012, 02:38 PM EDT
The editor of The Irish Daily Star should have thought about all the jobs he was putting on the line, when he made the decision to print those photos. He was the loudmouth on the radio, stating that Kate Middleton would never rule over this country etc, etc, so why shouldn't he publish the photos.. He deserves to lose his job. The relationship between Ireland the Britain was enhanced over the past few years, with royal visits and feelings of goodwill. Prince William lost his mother because of the actions of the papparazzi - imagine how he feels now - it's like deja vu, with his wife being hounded by greedy low life people, looking to make a quick buck..

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Silling | Sep 17, 2012, 12:43 PM EDT
Rosanna Davidson said that posing topless helped her confidence

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Silling | Sep 17, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT
Fair game is not foul in France.

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paddyRanger | Sep 17, 2012, 11:46 AM EDT
Patrick Roberts....this article is disgusting! do you know the difference between free will and being paid.......Did Kate Middleton, pose willingly for these photo's and get paid for it........did the models who Desmond has had model in his magazines get paid and posed willingly........that is the issue, nothing else............."not far from a public road" how many miles for you is not far from a public road, the photographer had to use a telescopic lense over half a mile.........you don't think that is invasion of privacy, if I take a photo of your missus in your back yard from half a mile away would that not piss you off......

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POL O L | Sep 17, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT
This guy Desmond is seemingly looking for a Knighthood!Big ass wipe in my view.Who really cares what was published once it wasnt illegal.Just another Brit paper with an "OIRISH VIEW".

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willieric | Sep 17, 2012, 11:19 AM EDT
hich is more important, safeguarding up to 80 jobs by apologising for an error of judgement, or continuing to maintain that the photos were appropriate copy......which patently was not the case. Sadly, the editor of the star compounded his mistake by dissing the royal couple..........not queen of ireland, for goodness sake..... This editor's attitude may curry favour with anti-monarchists, but as a consequence of his actions,he and his fellow journalists may never be afforded the opportunity to report on visits to ireland by the royal couple.

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Helen Ferone | Sep 17, 2012, 10:39 AM EDT
Even though she married into royality I think its sad they never have any privacy, and cameras are always lurking about. I suppose they must think about Diana and they don't want they same thing to happen to Kate. Concentrate on the movie stars.

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Arthur Cola | Sep 17, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
The issue here is not who owns the paper. The issue is good taste and abuse of Freedom of the Press. Had the Duchess of Cambridge been sunbathing on a public beach then go for it. But she was in the privacy of her vacation home at her own pool and the photographer had to climb up on (what is reported) a garagae type of building to take the pictures. Desmond may not have good taste in his choice of creating his wealth but he does understand abuse of privacy since he had to make sure that those risque photos he used in his climb up the media ladder were done with consent or in a public place.

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kateomprint | Sep 17, 2012, 09:45 AM EDT
Does anybody really care about Kate's boobs being on display. She is supposed to be the future Queen of England could she not have used some discretion. I'm sure she must be aware that some cameraman is in tree or bush somewhere with a long lens camera. Is she stupid, naive or what. Anyway most of the men i know that asked about the pictures said they weren't worth looking at because she is not very well endowed - stick insect was the word they used.

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