A man has appeared in court in relation to the alleged publication of racist material on the social networking site, Facebook.

Patrick Kissane (27), pictured right, of Knockasarnett, Killarney, Co Kerry, is accused of actions likely to stir up hatred on December 1, 2009.

Judge James O’Connor adjourned the matter at Killarney District Court yesterday until July.

Inspector Martin McCarthy requested the case be adjourned to get the views of the Director for Public Prosecutions because of the unusual nature of the case.

It relates to the setting up of an anti-Traveller Facebook page called ‚Promote the use of knacker babies as bait‘.

The site is understood to have attracted 664 fans before it was removed by Facebook last July following a number of complaints. If the case goes ahead, it will mark the first time that anyone has been brought before the courts for publishing online racism.

Among those who filed the original complaints were members of Pavee Point, the Kerry Travellers‘ Development Group and the Waterford Travellers‘ Development Project.

Quelle: Belfast Telegraph
Stand: 20.04.2011