RTE lands "Grimetime" tag in
Mayo 5 seater coverage
21 May 1997
by Tom Sheil
The liberal use by RTE "Primetime" producers of All-Ireland footage showing the fracas between Mayo and Meath players in order to underline the mounting political tension in Mayo has been condemned as "sad and despicable".
In the controversial programme screened on Monday night, as each of the sitting TD's used words such as "tension" and "battle" to describe the gripping contest which lies ahead in the crucial 5 seater, numerous clips of running battles between players in Croke Park were shown.
Fianna Fail's Director of Elections in Mayo, Mr. John O'Dwyer led the criticism. "This is sad and despicable behaviour by RTE", he stated.
RESPECT AND DIGNITY
Mr. O'Dwyer, speaking at the press launch of the Fianna Fail campaign in Mayo, added: "I can only describe the comparison that was made as unfortunate. Mayo people, regardless of whether they are Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Independent or otherwise treat each other with respect and dignity".
One of the 12 candidates in Mayo, Deputy Seamus Hughes (FF) agreed: "We are extremely proud of this county and what it has achieved down through the years. We did so without any help from RTE".
Another candidate, Fine Gael's Enda Kenny commented: "I don't think that it shows so much a bias against Mayo as a bias against the GAA.
"I think the producers could have introduced this programme in an entirely different and more appropriate way".
UNNECESSARY
Fine Gael's Director of Elections, Pat O'Connor said it had been unnecessary to show the violent scenes from Croke Park. It gave a bad image of both politics and the GAA, he said.
Mr O'Connor added: "Neither is it proper or correct to juxtapose a field game with the very serious business of politics".
However, the producer of the "Primetime" constituency profile, Ms Angela Ryan said they had got the idea of using footage from the All-Ireland because of the strong language used by candidates to use describe the upcoming contest, words like "bloodshed", "struggle" and "battle".
Ms. Ryan did not accept that any slur could be interpreted from the item on either the people of Mayo or those who will be contesting the election locally.
