Something considered offensive to God or someone’s religious beliefs
In 2015, the English actor Stephen Fry appeared on an Irish TV programme and was interviewed by Gay Byrne. During the interview, Mr Fry remarked that he could not respect: “a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world … full of injustice.” This statement prompted an official complaint from a viewer that the words used by Mr Fry amounted to an offence under the country’s 2009 blasphemy legislation.
The Irish police have now dropped a pending prosecution for the alleged offence because a single complainant is insufficient to support a prosecution under the blasphemy law. The complainant has since stated: “I did my civic duty in reporting it. The guards did their duty in investigating it. I am satisfied with the result.”
blasphemy
something that is considered offensive to God or someone’s religious beliefs
