Update 12 Referendum Challenge Day 3 & 4

Dear Friends,

It seems that the case gets more and more interesting though I was not able to be present the last two days. To catch up on the hearing I spoke to Mark McCrystal about Thursday and Joanna Jordan about Friday.

On Thursday, Professor Whitely, a UK political scientist testified. As part of his presentation various radio clips were played including the infamous interview with Minister for Justice Alan Shatter which took place immediately after the McCrystal preliminary ruling was handed down by the Supreme Court just 24 hours before the childrens rights referendum media black out.

In testimony and cross examination that took all day, Professor Whitely analysed the illegal government “information” campaign and showed how it urged a Yes vote. He also discussed the reaction of the government to the McCrystal judgment. He pointed out that they made no attempt in the short time available to rectify the situation. Instead of admitting that they had illegally used public funds to run a campaign that was not fair and mislead the voter and then apologising for doing so, government ministers made statements designed to maintain the Yes vote and minimise the impact to the McCrystal decision.

The governments team in cross examination of Dr Whitely tried several tactics but in particular they tried to make the case that as a UK political scientist, he did not understand Irish politics. (Do any of us understand Irish politics? Anytime I think I do something crazy happens and I have to admit I don’t!)  However the professor demonstrated a very good understanding of Irish poltics.

On Friday, our advertising expert testified. (I won’t give you his name in case I get it wrong but will give it to  you in the next update, sorry!.) Joanna tells me he was excellent and that he too went through the government’s illegal campaign showing how the colour, layout, words and especially images and slogans would have had an powerful emotional affect that directed the viewer, listener and/or reader toward a Yes vote. He also was attacked by the government’s legal team for not being Irish! But then what else have they got.  Because McCrystal Judgment proved they were wrong so they now are having to try to say that their crime had no effect!!!!! That will be difficult so I suppose they are desperate for other arguments.

Gerry Fahey a psychologist then got up to testfy for our side and wait for it ……. the government objected to him being a witness mainly on the grounds………are you ready…..that he was IRISH!!!! and that he supported a No vote in the referendum.

To this end government argued away the last hour of the court (at a cost of ????). Justice McDermott is going to decide and let us know if Gerry can be a witness on Tuesday. There is no hearing on Monday.

Here are some clippings

ttp://www.irishtimes.com/mary-carolan-7.1837414

Remember that there is no hearing tomorrow Monday. Things kick off again on Tuesday, I expect John Waters to be up then but who knows.  10:30 Court 11, Four Courts, Dublin. All welcome!

Thank you for all the support and prayers. Please keep them up!

God Bless

Kathy