An appeal by a pastor attached to the Irish Faith Centre, a Bible-based Christian ministry, over the refusal to permit the broadcast of an advertisement for the showing of a video "on the evidence of the Resurrection" failed in the Supreme Court yesterday.
The pastor, Mr Roy Murphy, had challenged a refusal by the IRTC in March 1995 to permit Dublin radio station, 98FM to broadcast the advertisement, which had been submitted by the centre. The station was prepared to broadcast the advertisement but the IRTC refused permission under the 1988 Radio and Television Act, which prohibits the broadcast of any advertisement "directed towards any religious or political end".
In proceedings against the IRTC and the Attorney General in the High Court, Mr Murphy challenged that decision. Mr Justice Geoghegan rejected those arguments and upheld the IRTC's decision.