24 September 1997
The "Connaught Telegraph" wishes to strongly criticise last week's national and British newspaper intrusion into the private life of Mayo GAA Board Chairman, Noel Forde who has announced that he is seeking laicisation after over 20 years service to the Church.
Our view that raking up the matter again and using long lens to unfairly photograph Noel Forde and a companion is unspeakably unfair to both individuals involved and their families and a gross indictment of journalistic standards in certain quarters.
Over the past year, "Connaught Telegraph" reporters have been frequently rung, even harrassed, for information by the national media on the matter of Noel Forde's private life. We have always, and will always, refuse co-operation on the grounds that if we won't print such material ourselves we'll be damned if we'll assist in its appearance elsewhere.
