Limerick County Council launched a scathing attack on the national media coverage of the death of former Dublin TD, Liam Lawlor in Moscow, last week
November 8, 2005 (Press Release) --
Referring to "despicable reports” in recent weekend newspapers that said the woman who was travelling in the doomed car with him may have been a prostitute, Cllr Richard Butler said it was "an absolutely horrific attack on a human being only a couple of hours after his death”.
It was later confirmed that the Ukrainian woman, who was the sole survivor in the crash, which claimed the lives of Mr Lawlor and his driver, is a legal secretary and interpreter who worked with the former TD.
Speaking at the October County Council meeting, Cllr Butler said that "money, greed and sensationalism are behind it, and it just sickens me to the stomach”.
The general consensus amongst the councillors was that the integrity and ethics of journalism appears to be slipping, in favour of more commercial rewards. Councillors also hoped that the setting up of an independent press council, would be prioritised, in the wake of the misleading coverage.
Cllr Patrick O’Donovan said that it was just "totally unnecessary” to discuss anyone in public life in that manner.
"If they had just waited to hear the truth of the circumstances, they would have spared the family the indignity of reading those reports. There is no-one holier than thou here but I just think the dead should be allowed to rest in peace,” he said.
Cllr Eddie Wade, said that he "couldn’t believe his eyes” when he looked at the headlines from the national newspapers at the time.
Extending his sympathies to the Lawlor family, he said: "Whatever about letting the dead rest, at least the dead should be allowed to be buried. The media are always taking a cut at politicians. Only recently they were taking a swipe at councillors’ expenses. I shared the floor with Liam Lawlor for years when I was in the Dáil and he was a true friend. The newspaper coverage was just outrageous conduct and extremely hurtful for his wife and family”.http://www.limerick.com
It was later confirmed that the Ukrainian woman, who was the sole survivor in the crash, which claimed the lives of Mr Lawlor and his driver, is a legal secretary and interpreter who worked with the former TD.
Speaking at the October County Council meeting, Cllr Butler said that "money, greed and sensationalism are behind it, and it just sickens me to the stomach”.
The general consensus amongst the councillors was that the integrity and ethics of journalism appears to be slipping, in favour of more commercial rewards. Councillors also hoped that the setting up of an independent press council, would be prioritised, in the wake of the misleading coverage.
Cllr Patrick O’Donovan said that it was just "totally unnecessary” to discuss anyone in public life in that manner.
"If they had just waited to hear the truth of the circumstances, they would have spared the family the indignity of reading those reports. There is no-one holier than thou here but I just think the dead should be allowed to rest in peace,” he said.
Cllr Eddie Wade, said that he "couldn’t believe his eyes” when he looked at the headlines from the national newspapers at the time.
Extending his sympathies to the Lawlor family, he said: "Whatever about letting the dead rest, at least the dead should be allowed to be buried. The media are always taking a cut at politicians. Only recently they were taking a swipe at councillors’ expenses. I shared the floor with Liam Lawlor for years when I was in the Dáil and he was a true friend. The newspaper coverage was just outrageous conduct and extremely hurtful for his wife and family”.http://www.limerick.com
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