This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33685330
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Frankie Boyle: Gerry Adams says organisers did not intent to hurt anyone | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said the organisers of the West Belfast Festival had no intention of hurting anyone about the decision to invite the comedian Frankie Boyle to perform. | |
| The controversial Scot is due to perform at the part-publicly funded Féile an Phobail in Belfast next month. | The controversial Scot is due to perform at the part-publicly funded Féile an Phobail in Belfast next month. |
| Opponents have called for the event to be cancelled because of jokes the Scottish performer has made about people with Down's Syndrome. | Opponents have called for the event to be cancelled because of jokes the Scottish performer has made about people with Down's Syndrome. |
| Mr Adams said the comedian was the right type of act for the festival. | Mr Adams said the comedian was the right type of act for the festival. |
| "I didn't know myself that he had made whatever offensive remark he made about people with Down's Syndrome and of course, that's reprehensible," he said. | "I didn't know myself that he had made whatever offensive remark he made about people with Down's Syndrome and of course, that's reprehensible," he said. |
| "I understand exactly why the family members of citizens with Down's Syndrome have been annoyed about that, but, you know, Féile an Phobail has a very, very, very good record of inclusivity." | "I understand exactly why the family members of citizens with Down's Syndrome have been annoyed about that, but, you know, Féile an Phobail has a very, very, very good record of inclusivity." |
| The opposition to the show has been based on remarks Boyle made during a live show in 2010. | The opposition to the show has been based on remarks Boyle made during a live show in 2010. |
| The mother of a girl with the condition said he had "made fun of the way people with Down's syndrome speak" and "made a number of references to people with Down's syndrome dying early". | The mother of a girl with the condition said he had "made fun of the way people with Down's syndrome speak" and "made a number of references to people with Down's syndrome dying early". |
| Féile an Phobail, an annual community arts festival, has said it is the fastest-selling comedy gig it has ever put on. | Féile an Phobail, an annual community arts festival, has said it is the fastest-selling comedy gig it has ever put on. |
| A group of parents of children with disabilities and a number of disability charities had said they were supported by thousands of people in calling for the comedian's appearance at the festival to be scrapped. | A group of parents of children with disabilities and a number of disability charities had said they were supported by thousands of people in calling for the comedian's appearance at the festival to be scrapped. |
| A protest against the gig was held outside Féile an Phobail's offices in west Belfast on Friday and objectors met festival representatives on Monday. | A protest against the gig was held outside Féile an Phobail's offices in west Belfast on Friday and objectors met festival representatives on Monday. |
| Members of the protest group left after more than an hour of talks and said it had been a "frank and useful meeting". | Members of the protest group left after more than an hour of talks and said it had been a "frank and useful meeting". |
| They added that they would be consulting with the rest of the group. | They added that they would be consulting with the rest of the group. |
| A spokesman for the festival said the meeting was "positive" and both parties were "happy with the outcome". | A spokesman for the festival said the meeting was "positive" and both parties were "happy with the outcome". |
| Féile an Phobail has said about 2,000 tickets have already been sold and it is expecting a capacity crowd of 2,500 at the show. | Féile an Phobail has said about 2,000 tickets have already been sold and it is expecting a capacity crowd of 2,500 at the show. |
| The BBC has contacted Frankie Boyle's representatives but has yet to receive a response. | The BBC has contacted Frankie Boyle's representatives but has yet to receive a response. |