Comment: Should the individual who posted racist video be given publicity or silence?

MANY people will have seen a video which was widely shared during the week of election canvassers in Limerick city being subjected to a barrage of racist, sexual and misogynistic verbal abuse.

Four members of Suzzie O’Deniyi’s team were out canvassing for support for the Fianna Fáil candidate on Sunday, May 12 in Clareview when they were accosted by a man who verbally abused them.

The man recorded the scene. He provides an expletive-ridden commentary - shouting questions and insults at the canvassers. The footage goes on for 60 seconds. Ms O’Deniyi is understood to have been canvassing on a nearby street at the time.

The footage has, as they say, gone viral. Gardai have also launched an investigation into the video. 

Ms O'Deniyi, a health care professional and a former pupil of Scoil Mháithar Dé Primary School and Scoil Carmel secondary school in the city, is aiming to be the first black woman elected to Limerick City and County Council. 

Last Thursday, this writer took a phone call from a man looking to speak to a reporter. He claimed to have lost the place he was living in as it was becoming an IPAS centre. When asked if he had anything to do with the video which had gone viral, he said he was the person in question.

This writer had first seen the video earlier that Thursday morning. And, like many, this writer was filled with disgust, anger and embarrassment.

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Fianna Fail election hopeful and her team subjected to tirade of abuse

With the supposed perpetrator now at the other end of the phone line, a parking of emotions was required to try and understand this man’s perspective without immediately passing judgement.

From the outset it was clear that the man (who gave a first name) was easily riled. What is at the root of his prejudice? Are there mental health issues? Are there addiction issues?  Or, are these simply the views and feelings of a Limerick man who has lost the roof over his head and is not happy with the changing local landscape?

After an 18-minute phone call - which saw some gentle to moderate probing in an attempt to establish the underlying beliefs that led to his behaviour - it’s impossible to tell. 

When asked if he wished to apologise for his conduct he said he would apologise for the words he used in the last seconds of the clip but would not be apologising for his behaviour during the rest of the video - he said he was simply expressing the views of many.  

Attempting to in some way explain away his behaviour he reiterated how he was after learning he was going to be losing his accommodation,when he encountered the canvassers. He was livid, he said. He said he was raised to be respectful. He said he spoke four languages, has a very hard job and now would have nowhere to rest his head at night. He referenced the huge support he has received locally and internationally. He had sent the video to a friend, he said, and after that it took off.

The video has clocked up 835,000 views on one X handle alone.  After saying he would apologise for the comments he made at the end of the footage, he alluded to doing so because he needed to be smart and needed to play the game.

Around half way through the 18-minute phone call he told this writer that he was recording the phone call, and spoke of how good social media was for situations like this. 

The next question was, do we, as a local newspaper and website, conduct an interview with this man with a view to doing a story or referencing some of his comments, or his “apology”? The story would, no doubt, be widely read. The Facebook comments section would be inundated.  

It’s a dilemma that more and more newsrooms are facing in an increasingly divided society - how do news outlets fulfil their roles of informing the public of the views of people like this individual who are anti-democratic or may even be violent, while refraining from validating or spreading their extremist views? Striking the correct balance is not straightforward. Should this person be silenced / ignored, or given a platform? 

In the end, the decision was taken to use this platform - an editorial - to publish the sentiments of the individual involved in the incident, giving context on how they were conveyed while also providing some context on the challenges facing the media in terms of delivering information in a responsible manner while trying to maintain balance and fairness. 

Meanwhile, despite the hostility encountered by her team, Suzzie O’Deniyi is determined to continue with her local election campaign which aims to break down barriers and set an example for future candidates not to be discouraged by hate-driven opposition.