Patrick Kissane, Killarney. Found NOT Guilty. Freedom Of Speech Has Prevailed. DRM Ireland

A Victory Also For DRM. As We Were The ONLY Group In The Country Who Publically Supported Mr Kissane And His RIGHT To Freedom Of Speech. DRM Leading the Way. HAIL DRM. 30 Sep 2011 Killarney man found not guilty of incitement to hatred

A Kerryman has been found not guilty of inciting hatred against Travellers on a social networking site. 27-year-old Patrick Kissane of Knockasartnett, Killarney was accused of publishing material offensive to Travellers on a Facebook page between October and November 2009. It was the first case in this country to deal with online material under the 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act. Patrick Kissane told Killarney District Court that he had set up the site 'Knackerbabies for Shark Bait' after being threatened by a number of members of the Traveller community. He said he had been working in a bar in the town when a number of men in a group of Travellers became aggressive after he refused to serve drink after closing hours. Mr Kissane said he felt powerless and harassed and as a result set up the Facebook site in the early hours of that morning. He apologised and said he intended to remove the site but forgot about it until he was asked by Facebook to delete it a number of months later. Members of the Traveller community, Patricia O'Brien and Mary Boyne said the site's contents and the fact it had been created in Killarney, had made them frightened for their children. When questioned by Judge O'Connor, Ms Boyne said she had not been subjected to threatening behaviour as a result of the site. Judge O'Connor said what Mr Kissane had done was revolting but that he hadn't posted any more material after that night nor did he reply to messages posted to the site. He said the defendant had succeeded in rebutting the charge of incitement to hatred. http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/