"Fry’s prosecution is unlikely, given that there have been no cases of blasphemy brought to the courts since the law’s enactment in 2010."

I know nothing about Irish law, but this sounds like a crazy law to enact in 2010...

Bit on the nose to enact religious legislation in the light of this kinda thing:  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/03/mass-grave-of-babies-and-children-found-at-tuam-orphanage-in-ireland 

The Catholic Church has so much to answer for in Ireland, and now Africa!  I grew up in an Irish Catholic family, so I'm not bitter or anything :)

I'd refuse to answer the charge unless the principle complainant could be subpoenaed to appear....

Geektastic:

 

I'd refuse to answer the charge unless the principle complainant could be subpoenaed to appear....

 

A bit like The Big Yin in The Man who Sued God!

I don't imagine Mr. Fry is too concerned.

In fact, he may well relish the opportunity to 'give it some air' - imagine the (bad) publicity for the Irish lawmakers here.

Their problem is their constitution requires blasphemy laws.  This means they can't remove them without a referendum - which most have agreed is a waste of money considering there haven't been any prosecutions anyway.

Still tho - weird.

How can they prove god was offended by the comments?

Per the Irish Independent, an unidentified member of the public made a complaint at the time, arguing that Fry’s speech constituted criminal blasphemy. “I told the Garda that I did not want to include this as I had not personally been offended by Fry’s comments — I added that I simply believed that the comments made by Fry on RTÉ were criminal blasphemy and that I was doing my civic duty by reporting a crime,” he explained. After hearing nothing about his complaint, the man followed up with the police, who then took his statement and now say they have launched an investigation.

For someone who wasn't offended, this guy has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that police did investigate.

Someone with far too much time on his hands... think Patricia Bartlett.

And I thought our laws were backwards. What about freedom of speech are the Irish not entitled to it?

Also where was the episode filmed, if it was filmed in England then the issue should be with the broadcaster who broadcast it in Ireland. Mr Fry may not have been aware that it was going to be broadcast there.

BTR:

 

What about freedom of speech are the Irish not entitled to it?

 

 

 

You'd be surprised how many countries don't have freedom of speech specified by law, I was.  I think NZ is one of them - we have freedom of expression which includes speech.  In some places it's treated like more of a common sense thing that doesn't need legislating.

I think for Ireland it should be more a question of the separation of church and state.  

frankv:

 

For someone who wasn't offended, this guy has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that police did investigate.

 

Someone with far too much time on his hands... think Patricia Bartlett.

 

Or someone who thinks this stupid law is stupid, so figured that going after a celebratory is a great way of getting the absurdity of it noticed.

frankv:

 

For someone who wasn't offended, this guy has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that police did investigate.

 

Someone with far too much time on his hands... think Patricia Bartlett.

 

He might be trying to put the current law into the media limelight and trigger the call for a referendum.

We have a similar law. http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM329036.html 

slingynz:

 

 

 

We have a similar law. http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM329036.html 

 

 

Wow!

At least we have a defense... (if you have 'decent language'):

It could be worse!